Residents take advantage of ‘pow day’ in Kitchener

While some people look at the snow with dread, others couldn’t wait to hit the hills. CTV’s Colton Wiens catches up with the fun-seekers.

Heavy snowfall Wednesday night forced the closure of schools in Waterloo Region, and lots of people took the chance to have some fun.

Snow crews cleared the parking area of McLennan Park early on Thursday, making room for anyone who wanted to park at the hill. By the lunch hour, tobogganers were cutting through the fresh powder, although the deep snow did slow them down a bit.

Tobogganers slide down a hill at McLennan Park in Kitchener Tobogganers slide down a snowy hill at McLennan Park in Kitchener on Feb. 13, 2025. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

Over at Chicopee Ski Hill, the snow didn’t slow anyone down. The overnight dump attracted all kinds of riders who usually don’t see this type of snow at the hill

“It’s a pow day for sure,” Bill Creighton, CEO of Chicopee Ski Hill said.

With many kids having the day off school, families flocked to the ski hill to get in some runs.

“Because it’s a snow day. We couldn’t pass up this opportunity to get some pow,” Losina Breeze, a skier, said.

“This powder, I never saw in my life,” Bayden Mitchell, a snowboarder said.

“It’s a lot of powder and it’s fun going down,” Evan Coxson, a skier said.

“Usually, it’s really icy because of the fake snow, but today it’s really nice,” Bennett Devoe, a snowboarder said.

The ski hill said manmade snow is much denser, so it lasts a little longer, but this fresh snow isn’t as common around southern Ontario.

“People are used to skiing groomed runs all the time. You get a few inches of powder on top and they’re not really sure. I say, ‘You know people pay extra for this’?” Creighton said.

A line up forms at Chicopee Ski Hill in Kitchener A line up forms near the ski lifts at Chicopee Ski Hill in Kitchener on Feb. 13, 2025. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

The terrain park was busy as well, with riders enjoying a bit of extra cushion if they fall.

“It’s a lot better. Hurts less when they fall. Just feels like more legitimate skiing,” Breeze said.

“I was just going down, and I just found this one jump and full on powder. It’s amazing out here,” Mitchell said.

“If you’re hitting jumps, you can fall and it won’t hurt as bad,” Devoe said.

With another winter dump still expected this weekend, Creighton expects to be busy through Monday.

“Who can’t love all this snow?” Creighton said.

Creighton said with all this recent snow, he expects the ski hill will remain open a week later than normal this year.

Skiers and snowboarders Chicopee Ski Hill's terrain park Skiers and snowboarders enjoy a fresh layer of snow at Chicopee Ski Hill's terrain park in Kitchener on Feb. 13, 2025. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)