How a man in Quebec's Eastern Townships is reviving his family's beloved ski hill

Peter White is looking to correct a mistake he made in 2004.

"You know, I never thought I would have this opportunity again," he said.

If all goes as planned, White will once again be owner of the Mont Glen ski hill in Quebec's Eastern Townships this fall. It's located between the U.S. border and Lac-Brome about 95 kilometres from Montreal.

White's uncle first opened the ski hill in 1961. He took over the ski hill in 1978 and kept it operational, with rustic lifts and T-bars, until 2004 when he sold it to an investor who promised to keep it open, White said. 

"Then of course he didn't," said White.

The once popular ski hill closed and has sat largely used since then, the chairlift poles standing like forgotten monuments and 27 trails, still visible from the foot of the mountain today, slowly receding back into nature.

Over the years since Mont Glen first opened in Bolton-Ouest, Que., Mont Sutton, Mont Écho, Ski Bromont and Owl's Head all opened as well, drawing alpine enthusiasts away from the smaller resort which has never had any permanent snow-making capabilities.

There was, however, a bustling ski school and plenty of loyal skiers who continued to show up at Mont Glen every winter to slide down its slopes.

Over the years, White said he operated the ski hill as a break-even business. It wasn't making him money, but he kept it going out of passion.

White said he still won't be installing snow cannons. In fact, he won't even be installing chairlifts for the first season. But people are welcome to come use the trails, he said, as long as they're willing to make the hike to the top.

White is taking on the investment at a time when more ski hills appear to be closing than opening in the province. 

When the Glen closed in