This was in fulfilment of the Regional District of East Kootenay’s (RDEK) repeated requests for the creation of a mountain resort municipality, beginning in 1996 with a unanimous vote and reaffirmed in 2009 and again on June 8, 2012 with a majority vote.

Jumbo Glacier Resort is the first entirely new ski resort project in British Columbia since Blackcomb opened in 1980 and is the first and only ski resort project to have received approval following a review under British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Act review process.

The Mountain Resort Municipality creates a local governance structure that is best suited to administer the construction and growth of the resort in accordance with its approved Master Plan. The previous local government having jurisdiction was the RDEK, which is located in Cranbrook, or approximately 187 kilometres from the project site.

The Jumbo Glacier Resort Mountain Resort Municipality will be the third in British Columbia after Whistler and Sun Peaks. Jumbo, however, will be the smallest of its kind. Its approved bed-base of 6,250 bed-units will be less than 1/10th of Whistler’s current bed base and significantly smaller than Sun Peaks’ 24,000 approved beds.

Jumbo Mountain and its glaciers will offer the first year round skiing and high-alpine glacier sightseeing destination in North America. It will have the highest mountain access by electric lift in Canada (3,415 meters or 11,204 feet), and will develop into a sustainable international tourism sightseeing destination to complement the best of Banff and Kootenay National Parks. Residents in the mountain communities in the Columbia Valley will benefit from a resort that will attract mountain lovers of the world.

The designers of the resort have participated in an unprecedented review process and an extensive local review that began with the East Kootenay land use determinations in the early 1990s and continued through the Environmental Assessment Act review and the Master Plan approval processes. They have sought to create a project that is compatible with the needs of the natural ecology, of the people who live in the area, and of the expectations of the destination skiing and sightseeing market.

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Regional District Reaffirms Request to the Province to Create Mountain Resort Municipality for Jumbo Glacier Resort

June 8, 2012

INVERMERE BC – The Regional District of East Kootenay voted today to uphold its 2009 request to create a mountain resort municipality for Jumbo Glacier Resort. This is the third time the RDEK has voted in favour of the creation of a mountain resort municipality for Jumbo Glacier Resort.

Despite intense lobbying from project opponents, and the presence of six new Board members since the 2009 resolution, a motion to request further consultations from the Province with the Union of BC Municipalities, First Nations and the RDEK was rejected 8-7.

This project has undergone 22 years of comprehensive public consultations – more than all the other new B.C. ski resort proposals combined

“The Regional District’s reasoned response is welcome. This project has undergone 22 years of comprehensive public consultations – more than all the other new B.C. ski resort proposals combined. To continue on this track indefinitely would further the injustice done to project proponents and supporters,” said Grant Costello, Senior Vice-President of Glacier Resorts Ltd.

“We expect the Province to fulfil its obligations in the near future,” said Costello. “The resort municipality will allow the project to proceed to permitting and construction and we hope to work together with local contractors and First Nations to create the most unique ski and mountain sightseeing destination in North America.”

Jumbo Glacier Resort was defined as a project that is “in the broad public interest” by the Environmental Assessment Office. The project received final approval of its Master Development Agreement on March 20, 2012.

Jumbo Mountain and its glaciers will offer the first year round skiing and high-alpine glacier sightseeing destination in North America. It will have the highest mountain access by electric lift in Canada, and will develop into a sustainable international tourism sightseeing destination to complement the best of Banff and Kootenay National Parks. Residents in the mountain communities in the Columbia Valley will benefit from a resort that will attract mountain lovers of the world.

The designers of the resort have participated in an unprecedented review process and an extensive local review that began with the East Kootenay land use determinations in the early 1990s and continued through the Environmental Assessment Act review and the Master Plan approval processes. They have sought to create a project that is compatible with the needs of the natural ecology, of the people who live in the area, and of the expectations of the destination skiing and sightseeing market.

Glacier Resorts Ltd.

March 20, 2012

VANCOUVER BC and INVERMERE BC — Glacier Resorts Ltd. wishes to congratulate Premier Christy Clark and Minister Steve Thomson for completing today the process started by Premier Mike Harcourt and Minister Glen Clark with the Interim Agreement of 1993.

“We welcome the just completion of the process. This should not be seen as a defeat by those who opposed the project, but as an opportunity to turn the page toward a new era of cooperation, and to recognize that the many reviewers involved in the process have done a more thorough assessment than those who felt that they had to oppose the project outside of British Columbia’s legitimate public process”, said Arnold Armstrong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Glacier Resorts Ltd.

Jumbo Glacier resort was defined as a project that is “in the broad public interest” by those who reviewed it over a 9 years’ process under the Environmental Assessment Act.

“This is the time to work for the best for British Columbia and we invite everyone to work together to create the dream ski area and mountain destination for Canada,” said Grant Costello, Senior Vice President, Glacier Resorts Ltd.

The project is centred around Jumbo Mountain, and its glaciers will offer the first year round skiing and sightseeing destination in North America, the highest mountain access by electric lift, and a sustainable international tourism sightseeing destination that will complement well Banff and Kootenay National Parks.

Families in the mountain communities in the Columbia Valley will benefit from a resort that will attract mountain lovers of the world. The designers of Jumbo Glacier resort have participated in an unprecedented review process and through the extensive local review started with the East Kootenay land use determinations and completed with the Environmental Assessment and the Master Plan approval processes, have sought to design a project that is compatible with the needs of the natural ecology, of the people who live in the area, and of the expectations of the skiing and sightseeing market.

Glacier Resorts Ltd.

INVERMERE, BC — Glacier Resorts Ltd. is surprised by the claims made by the Ktunaxa Nation’s demonstrators in Victoria, B.C. despite 20 years of consultations.

It continues to expect that the leadership and friendship of the Shuswap Band, the First Nation people in Invermere and closest to Jumbo Valley, will show the way for the future and will help bring the Ktunaxa representatives to a more cooperative position.

The project for the Jumbo Valley has followed a process that formally began in 1991, which led to an Interim Agreement in 1993 and a land use designation by the East Kootenay CORE Table and an Environmental Assessment Act Certificate in 2004, which included conditions requested by the Ktunaxa Nation’s representatives and with the statement that the project “is in the broad public interest”.

“This type of demonstration is not appropriate as part of the public process. It is not how to participate if there is any respect for the process or the other participants”, noted Grant Costello, Senior Vice President of Glacier Resorts Ltd.

Glacier Resorts Ltd.

Jumbo Glacier Resort will be located in an abandoned sawmill site in the upper Jumbo Valley and will provide access to four large glaciers for year-round skiing and spectacular sightseeing. It will have the longest vertical drop in North America in the legendary all-natural snow of the Purcell Mountains and will open the door to first full year-round, high-alpine skiing in North America. Canadian athletes have been summer training on the glaciers of the proposed ski area since 2003.

November 11, 2010 Letter to Premier Gordon Campbell from Chief Paul Sam of the Shuswap Indian Band:

ShuswapLttr-Nov11-2010

October 14, 2008

Invermere, BC. Glacier Resorts Ltd. (GRL) and the Shuswap Indian Band have signed an agreement detailing how the local First Nation will benefit from the proposed $1 billion year-round ski resort project 55 km west of Invermere and Radium in the Kootenay Rockies.

“This is a great day for our community and our plans to move our community forward.” says Shuswap Indian Band Chief Paul Sam. “After long and considered review of this project, including the 2004 Environmental Certificate conditions protecting the grizzly habitat and the extensive wildlife and environmental management plans, we have decided to give this project our full support. This agreement will bring practical and meaningful economic opportunities to our People,” says Chief Paul Sam. “Not only will there be jobs for our People in construction and at the resort itself, but there will be significant business opportunities throughout the life of the project. A cultural interpretive centre will showcase our history, culture and connection to our lands.” says Chief Sam.

The Agreement provides for scholarships and training programs to introduce S.I.B. members to the tourism and hospitality industry.

The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, in a resolution passed at Invermere, expressed strong support for the Shuswap Indian Band economic and development programs including their positive position on Jumbo Glacier Resort.

“This unprecedented and historic agreement is the culmination of a very important relationship we have been building since 1991” says Grant Costello, Vice President, Glacier Resorts Ltd.

“The Shuswap People have agreed to work with us as the Project progresses in maintaining their traditional values while respecting Shuswap rights and in ensuring that the environmental safeguards under the Environmental Assessment Certificate are met,” says Costello.

Jumbo Glacier Resort, 55 kms west of Radium and Invermere, will be a high altitude ski resort with ski runs and glade-skiing in the Jumbo Valley and year- round glacier skiing on Farnham, Jumbo, Commander and Glacier Dome glaciers. The total valley bottom development footprint will be contained to 104 hectares, about one-third the size of the nearby Panorama Resort and will include up to 812 accommodation units by year ten. The resort will draw guests from across North America, Europe and Asia to enjoy the exceptional skiing and stunning mountain views.

Canada’s top wintersports athletes who have been training on Farnham Glacier since 2003 acclaim it “Best in the World”.

July 31, 2007

Vancouver & Invermere, B.C. — The Jumbo Glacier Resort project team is very pleased to announce the project’s Master Plan approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Sport, and the Arts.

“Ministry officials worked hard and worked well throughout the process and we thank them for their efforts,” said Grant Costello, Vice-President of Glacier Resorts Ltd.

“They consulted with the First Nations and others during their work, and look forward to including the results of these consultations in the Master Development Agreement, which is the next key step for the project. We expect to conclude the MDA in the next few months,” he continued.

Over the last 17 years this project has been approved by three major reviews, including the Commercial Alpine Ski policy, the local CORE land use planning process of the East Kootenay Table, and the Environmental Assessment Act certification. The Master Plan is another step forward.

The project represents an investment of $900 million in 2007 dollars, about 750 permanent direct jobs, and 3,750 person-years of construction work. At build-out it will feature 6,250 beds (including 750 employee beds), comprising approximately 1,360 units and two hotels.

The vision for Jumbo Glacier Resort is for a world-class, destination ski resort featuring the best snow and views, access to year round skiing on glaciers, and best skiing climate in North America.

The project has undergone the most thorough environmental review of any tourism project in BC history. Careful steps have been taken to ensure that the resort has the smallest possible footprint in the valley and that key environmental values are protected.

Invermere, B.C. – The Court of Appeals of British Columbia, B.C.’s highest court, has confirmed the earlier dismissal by the Supreme Court of B.C. of R.K. Heli-ski’s petition to overturn Jumbo Glacier Resort’s environmental certificate.

The Reasons for Judgment written by the Honourable Mr. Justice Smith and concurred in by the Honourable Madam Justice Saunders and the Honourable Madam Justice Levine are now available for download:

Reasons for Judgement

Invermere, BC. After a nine-and-one-half year process in the provincial government’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO), Jumbo Glacier Resort’s go-ahead from the provincial government today is cause for a mixture of relief and celebration among the project’s proponents.

“We are very pleased by today’s announcement,” says Grant Costello, Vice President, Glacier Resorts Ltd. “We are pleased the three Ministers acted positively on the fair conclusion and recommendations of the EAO process.

“This project was approved by the CORE process in 1995, and we would not have dreamed it would take more than nine years to travel through the Environmental Assessment process,” he says. “But it has been given the go-ahead.”

The project was approved with conditions attached by the EAO. Costello says they accept the conditions, will review them, and he expects they will be able to accommodate the conditions.

“Our plan for the project has been improved by the changes made over the years as issues have arisen,” says Costello. “We are confident that the EAO’s conditions will also improve the ultimate project.”

The next stage in the development of Jumbo Glacier Resort (JGR) is the completion of the Master Plan process and the signing of the Master Development Agreement with the Province. JGR officials are optimistic this can be completed by the end of 2005.

JGR will be built at an elevation and in a climate that could be the world’s best for skiing, says Costello. For example, the vertical drop of 1,700 metres (5,500 feet) will be the greatest at any ski resort in North America.

“Lift access to glaciers and mountains of this caliber is not available anywhere else in North America,” he says. “Our natural snow conditions are secure–even in the face of potential climate change concerns. We believe JGR will become the centrepiece of the ski industry strategy for the BC Interior.”

Costello adds that JGR will provide 850 long-term, full-time jobs in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable project.

“We would also like to thank our many supporters who have patiently stood by this project over many long years,” says Costello.