New group revives interest in cross-country skiing

December 22, 2025

A new cross-country ski group in the Margaree Valley is working to revive interest in a sport that 40 years ago brought skiers from all over Cape Breton to the area.

Ski Margaree Trail Society, recently incorporated as a non-profit group, has been meeting since last spring and recently began initial trail work. It hopes to host a family ski day in either January or February to further spark interest in the sport.

“Last winter there was such great snow in the Margaree Valley,” recalls Jennifer Watts, president of the society. “We had at least six to eight weeks of wonderful snow for cross-country skiing.”

That prompted an effort to revive the sport in the area, and Watts says she’s encouraged by the response to that effort.

“Since about March we’ve had about five or six meetings,” she says. “There are well over 30 people who at different times have come to our meetings.”

In October, the group began initial trail work on Watts’ own property, but she’s quick to point out that this project will probably take several seasons to complete.

“It’s just the initial phase,” she explains. “We’ve had great interest, all the way from Belle Côte, all the way up to Lake O’Law, and out to Big Intervale. It’s an exciting opportunity.”

“People who had skied, historically, in the community have come out once again, but there have also been newer people. We’re beginning to look at some trail developments. We’ve talked to a couple of local landowners, and we’re looking at the possibility of developing something in the Margaree Valley.”

She says the group has had the support of Ski Nova Scotia, particularly that body’s Cape Breton ambassador, Michelle Richards, who she hopes will be on hand for the family ski day to provide tips for beginner and experienced skiers alike.

Watts says Emery Ferraro, trails coordinator for the Municipality of Inverness County, has provided guidance and expertise to the project, along with local municipal councillor Blair Phillips. But support has also come from other areas as well.

“We do have, from the Cape North Nordic Club, the loan of a small groomer,” she adds. “It can be hauled behind a skidoo, so that’s great to sort of get us started.”

“We’re not looking at having the trail groomed all the time,” she says, noting they don’t yet own the type of equipment other similar groups enjoy. “We’ll groom when we can and let people know through our Facebook group.”

Watts says her group is also looking at supporting those who want to use the trails for snowshoeing. But whether the trails are eventually open for year-round uses, such as hiking, will depend on the participating landowners.

“That certainly depends on the landowners and what they’re open to,” she says. “As we move along, I think people are very interested in having an active lifestyle and being able to do that in all seasons, so that would certainly be something we would explore.”

“We’re just getting started, but there’s a great deal of enthusiasm, so we’ll build as we go, and we’re hoping for snow! Last year was great, it was just unbelievable the snow. It was magical.”

Ferraro says the well-established history of cross-country skiing in the community will be “vital” to the success of this project.

“It’s the whole reason we were in those rooms together to begin with,” Ferraro recalls of the planning sessions. “We knew there was that history and for various reasons it had fallen to the wayside, but there are so many people who are excited to see it come back and have it become a core part of the community in Margaree.”

One of those people is Anne Morrell Robinson, who was among those attending the meetings. She says interest in the sport peaked in the late 70s and early 80s.

“We didn’t initially formalize the group,” she recalls. “We were just a bunch of people who got together and skied, and then when we decided to start doing things like loppets (cross-country ski races) and family ski days, we became more organized as Ski Margaree.”

“The people who were grooming the trails all got older or they moved away, and it got to be too much. So, it’s nice having new blood to revive it again.”

Morrell Robinson remembers a loppet circuit in the 80s that involved groups from Margaree, Baddeck, Chéticamp, Inverness, Iona, Cape North and Middle River.

“It was almost every weekend from mid-January to mid-March,” she says. “It was something you could go to and ski in a different place. There was a meal and awards and there were door prizes. It was a lot of fun, especially for the kids.”

Along with her enthusiasm for the sport, Morrell Robinson also recently brought something else to a recent meeting, and that was a bag of coins.

“We had a bank account and, when the group kind of dissolved, the treasurer said, ‘here’s what’s left of the account,’” she laughs, noting that she inherited the bag because she was continuing to host family ski days on her property.

“I just kept it in a kitchen drawer and every time we had a ski event, I’d pull a little out to buy hot apple cider and apples and treats. So, all that was left after all those years was about $30.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the project is encouraged to check out its Facebook group.