'Something everybody can enjoy': Canyon Coaster in Red Deer drawing crowds
The Canyon Coaster in Red Deer. (Nav Sangha/CTV News Edmonton)
Alberta’s first alpine coaster has officially opened in Red Deer, and it’s already a popular tourist attraction. The Canyon Coaster at the Canyon Ski Resort in Red Deer opened on Friday. The General Manager of Canyon Ski Resort David Martel said they did more than 500 rides per day on opening weekend.
“We were maxed out everyday,” Martel said.
“We had a few learning curbs to learn like how to operate the ride efficiently to the demand that we had.”
The 1.4 km ride also includes a total 134 metre drop. Riders can control their own speed using their own brake and safely reach up to 40 km/h as they wind through the dense forest of the Canyon Ski Resort.
“If you want to sight see, you definitely can, or if you’re the thrill seeker, and you want to open it up and see how fast you can go around those corners, it’s a user-defined speed,” he said.
Similar coasters are open in British Columbia, but Martel said the Canyon Coaster is unique due to its closed loop system. When riders reach the end of their ride, a T-bar lift will pull them back uphill to the start of the ride.
“T-bars are getting more and more unique to all ski areas, but we still use it and it’s a nice relaxing ride back up,” he said.
Martel said they plan to be open from May to October, every year, so riders can experience the coaster in different seasons.
“In May, the trees are just beginning to bloom…summer the forest is nice, thick, and lush and in the fall, you get to see the beautiful river valley change colours,” he said.
The minimum age to ride alone is eight years old and to ride with a passenger, you must be at least 16 years old.
“Watching grandparents go down with grandchildren, people with disabilities, it’s really great to see that this is something that everybody can enjoy,” he said.
Martel said he encourages people to buy their tickets online.
“We only release so many every half hour, so that when you buy your ride to go on a particular day, everyone doesn’t show up at once,” he said.
“When we sell our tickets, we spread them out through our online sales platform, and then we have a limited number of walk up tickets.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Singh calling for foreign interference special rapporteur Johnston to step aside
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pushing for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside' from his role examining the issue of foreign interference before he embarks on public hearings.
New Democrat MP says she is target of foreign interference by China
New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan said Monday that Canada's spy agency has confirmed her long-held belief that she is being targeted by the Chinese government over her advocacy for human rights in Hong Kong and for the Uyghur Muslim minority in China.
Northern B.C., Alberta and all of Ontario under 'high' to 'extreme' wildfire risk: What to know
There's a heightened risk of wildfires across the country during what has been one of the earliest fire seasons on record. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, here's where the risk is highest.
'Tragedies occur far too often': Canada Safety Council shares swimming safety tips
With the summer swimming season fast approaching, the Canada Safety Council is reminding people to be careful and take measures to prevent drowning, especially after three children died just days apart.
Albertans head to polls in what's expected to be very close election between UCP, NDP
In Alberta today, the United Conservative Party is looking to win a second consecutive majority government while the NDP is fighting to regain the office it lost in 2019.
Provinces must seek anti-smoking measures in Big Tobacco settlement: health groups
Three national health organizations want Canada's premiers to push for initiatives to reduce smoking during settlement negotiations with major tobacco companies, years after provinces sued to recoup health-care costs.
BREAKING
BREAKING | B.C. woman Madison Scott found dead 12 years after being reported missing
Exactly 12 years after she was reported missing, police announced Madison Scott was found dead in central B.C.
WATCH
WATCH | Dashcam video shows out-of-control Nova Scotia wildfire
Dashcam footage shows the extent of the Tantallon wildfire as it raged in Hammonds Plains, N.S.
Body of 12-year-old Winnipeg boy who fell into Sturgeon Falls found
The body of a 12-year-old boy from Winnipeg who fell into Sturgeon Falls on Saturday has been found.
Calgary
-
2 suspects shot by Calgary police following slow-speed pursuit on Memorial Drive
ASIRT is investigating a low-speed police pursuit that led to a Calgary officer shooting and killing two suspects on Monday morning.
-
Battleground: An election expected to be won or lost in Calgary
With voters set to cast their ballot in this election campaign, polls and political watchers have said Calgary is where the election will either be won or lost for Alberta’s next government.
-
Giraffe at Calgary zoo died from a broken neck, investigation reveals
Officials with the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo have released more information about the death of Emara, a 12-year-old Masai giraffe, earlier this month.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon Catholic schools' office splattered with rainbow paint
Following the leak of a controversial email, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools' downtown office was hit with an apparent act of vandalism Monday morning.
-
Death of Saskatoon man ruled a homicide
A death at an apartment in the 100 block of Confederation Place on Saturday night has been ruled a homicide, police say.
-
Saskatoon apartment fire that left 26 homeless may have been arson, investigator says
Twenty-six people have been rehoused to a local hotel after a suspicious fire that forced an entire four-storey west side apartment building to evacuate on Sunday night.
Regina
-
Weekend tornado near Regina confirmed as first in Canada of 2023
The first twister of 2023 in the country touched down near Regina over the weekend, according to an analysis from the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP).
-
Golden Sheafs awarded in Yorkton's 76th annual Film Festival
Filmmakers from across Canada made the trip to Yorkton for the much anticipated 76th running of its film festival.
-
'Gives you a shot of life': Riders' Harris returns to training camp after birth of son
Quarterback Trevor Harris re-joined the team after missing part of last week and the game for the birth of his third son, Tripp Joseph Harris.
Atlantic
-
Halifax-area wildfire still out of control, 'many' structures destroyed
Officials say a wildfire that began in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area Sunday afternoon is ongoing and still not under control.
-
Shelburne County wildfire out of control, about 1,500 evacuated
Roughly 450 homes have been evacuated in Shelburne County as a wildfire burns out of control over thousands of hectares.
-
400 homes evacuated, one destroyed by forest fires in southwestern New Brunswick
About 400 homes in southwestern New Brunswick have been evacuated because of forest fires that began Sunday after an all-terrain vehicle that burst into flames.
Toronto
-
New details emerge on landlord who allegedly shot engaged couple near Hamilton, Ont.
New information has emerged about the fatal shooting of an engaged couple fleeing their landlord after a dispute near Hamilton, Ont.
-
More than half of GTA condo investors losing money on properties: report
A new report says for the first time ever, more than half of newly-completed condo investors in the Greater Toronto Area were losing money on their rental properties last year — and its authors expect the trend to persist.
-
Engaged couple shot dead fleeing landlord after house dispute near Hamilton, Ont., police say
A 'truly innocent' engaged couple was shot dead while attempting to flee their attacker outside their home after a landlord-tenant dispute escalated on Saturday night, according to police.
Montreal
-
Family of Quebec woman slain in 2017 suing police, says negligence led to killing
The family of a Quebec woman who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2017 has filed a lawsuit against the local police department, alleging that negligence by officers led directly to her death.
-
Quebec driver sentenced to 8 months after swerving to avoid ducks caused fatal collision
A Quebec driver who caused the death of another motorist when he swerved his truck to avoid hitting a family of ducks on the road has been sentenced to eight months in jail and a three-year driving ban.
-
Quebec has launched a new portal for anyone who wants to learn French
As of June 1, anyone wishing to learn or improve their command of the French language will have to register via the Francisation Quebec portal, the government's new single point of service for coordinating all French language learning services.
Ottawa
-
Construction season in Ottawa begins with $800M in projects
It's officially construction season in Ottawa. The city is spending $800 million toward projects across Ottawa, including a major reconstruction of Albert, Slater, Queen and Bronson.
-
Ottawa police officer helps rescue infant after dad accidentally locks keys in car
Ottawa police are praising a local dad for quickly calling for help Sunday afternoon when he accidentally locked his keys in his car, and his infant child along with them.
-
Augusta driver blew 3x the legal limit on Highway 416
Ontario Provincial Police say a driver from Augusta Township is facing an impaired driving charge after someone on Highway 416 spotted a vehicle moving erratically.
Kitchener
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Four-way stop planned for intersection where bus driver and OPP officer killed
The rural Oxford County intersection where an OPP officer and a school bus driver were killed Monday was less than a month away from becoming a four-way stop when the deadly crash happened.
-
Motorcyclist taken to hospital after crash in Cambridge
A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital after a crash on Pinebush Road in Cambridge.
-
Neighbours shaken after house hit with gunfire in Brantford
Police are investigating an overnight shooting in Brantford that saw a home hit by gunfire.
Northern Ontario
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Police officer, school bus driver killed in violent crash north of Woodstock, Ont.
An Ontario Provincial Police officer and a school bus driver are dead after a violent crash north of Woodstsock Monday morning.
-
Body of 12-year-old Winnipeg boy who fell into Sturgeon Falls found
The body of a 12-year-old boy from Winnipeg who fell into Sturgeon Falls on Saturday has been found.
-
Driver in critical condition after hitting moose on Highway 69 in Greater Sudbury
One person is in critical condition after hitting a moose on Highway 69 in Greater Sudbury on Friday night, police say.
Winnipeg
-
Body of 12-year-old Winnipeg boy who fell into Sturgeon Falls found
The body of a 12-year-old boy from Winnipeg who fell into Sturgeon Falls on Saturday has been found.
-
Winnipeg forecasting $27 million deficit
The City of Winnipeg’s rainy day fund could be running dry.
-
Kerry Smith running as Liberal candidate in Portage-Lisgar byelection
The Liberal Party has named its candidate for the upcoming Portage-Lisgar byelection
Vancouver
-
8 months after a woman drowned near Spanish Banks, Vancouver police renew plea for help identifying her
On the eight-month anniversary of a tragic discovery near a Vancouver beach, police are renewing a public appeal for help identifying a drowning victim.
-
Theft of $2,100 worth of toothpaste thwarted in North Vancouver
Mounties in North Vancouver thwarted a toothpaste theft last Friday, seizing two duffle bags and one wagon's worth of product.
-
'I am and will continue to be a target of foreign interference': Vancouver New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan
New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan says Canada's spy agency has told her she is an ongoing target of the Chinese government.
Vancouver Island
-
6 cougars killed near Victoria after attacks on sheep farms
Conservation officers have captured and killed six cougars near Victoria this year in response to multiple predatory attacks on sheep farms.
-
Firefighters battling 2 human-caused wildfires on Vancouver Island
The British Columbia Wildfire Services says crews are battling a pair of human-caused wildfires on Vancouver Island.
-
B.C. purchases Courtenay motel for supportive housing
The B.C. government has purchased a motel in Courtenay to use as supportive housing, as the province's lease on another motel in the city expires.