Kenosee Superslides to remain closed for the summer
The Kenosee Superslides will be closed for the rest of the summer after health authorities decided against granting the waterpark an operating license.
Owner Harvey Armstrong said the success of the slides is largely dependent on the long weekends in July and August, during which they were unable to open.
“If you don’t get both of them, you really, really hurt,” he said.
He blames a lack of communication between the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the owners, and said he was shocked to learn they had been denied a permit to operate.
“We were very, very surprised that we received the letter without a chance of response,” he said.
According to Armstrong, appealing the decision could take up to 30 or 45 days. Even if they won the appeal, they would still lose the summer season.
In a statement to CTV, the SHA said the public health officer has concluded their review and they are unable to comment further on the matter. The SHA did not give details on why it denied the permit.
Armstrong said he is disappointed and the decision to close the slides for the season has weighed heavily on him.
“I haven’t slept well in about three weeks. Your stomach’s always turning, your head is always going,” he said.
The southeast Saskatchewan attraction has been operating in Moose Mountain Provincial Park for more than 30 years. Armstrong and his son, Jan, purchased the slides in 2019.
The SHA’s requirements for a permit won’t be hard to meet next year, said Armstrong, but he’s most concerned about surviving the offseason to make it to next summer.
“We feel we can. So rather than get down in the dumps, we’re optimistic and we’re getting fired up.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.