Though the slopes at the Searchmont Resort north of Sault Ste. Marie were bare in early December, early figures for season passes and accommodation bookings were shaping up to be better than last winter's figures. Resort officials say bookings early last month were 75 per cent of last year's total bookings in reservations for chalets, villas and passes. The ski hill is being run by a community not-for-profit group this winter, after the resort went into receivership in July 2000. Employing about 150 full- and part-time staff, the resort was kept open this winter thanks to a coalition effort of the Sault Chamber of Commerce, the city's economic development corporation and the community development corporation, who struck a deal with the CIBC and BDO Dunwoody.
