Published online December 17, 2025, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
Deborah Powell
BRISTOL – Ski Pontiac has moved to a new home hosted by Bristol Auto Performance on the Front Road, just west of Pontiac Village.
The volunteer-run organization had been based at the Norway Bay golf course (Astra Estates) for the past three ski seasons, but earlier this year was informed by Astra’s owners that the arrangement had come to an end. The search then began for a new location to establish ski and snowshoe trails.
While the Municipality of Bristol was willing to host equipment storage, it did not have land available for trails. Bristol Auto Performance, however, offered both storage space and suitable land. With additional cooperation from neighbouring landowners, Ski Pontiac says it is confident trails can be established for the coming season.
“Ski Pontiac has a strong core of volunteers who work very hard to bring cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to residents of the Pontiac,” said Ski Pontiac president Ariane Cloutier. “The community has been very supportive over the years, and the new partnership with Bristol Auto Performance is a demonstration of this. We are hoping to provide three to five kilometres of trail this year, with possible expansion over time.”
Riley MacGregor, owner of Bristol Auto Performance, said supporting the organization was an easy decision.
“We love the people of the Pontiac,” he said. “We have always been a strong supporter of Ski Pontiac, and anything we can do to give back to our community humbles us. We look forward to working with Ski Pontiac on the new trails.”
Founded in 2011, Ski Pontiac is a 100% volunteer-run, donation-based organization that develops and grooms networks of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in the Municipality of Bristol.
For more information and updates, visit Ski Pontiac’s website at www.skipontiac.ca or follow the organization on social media.
Photo – Ski Pontiac volunteer Anne Freemark works on clipping, cutting, and marking the new snowshoe/backcountry ski trail south of Bristol Auto Performance. (DP)
