Dozens of people rescued after chairlift malfunction at Quebec ski resort

LAC-SAINTE-MARIE — Dozens of skiers and snowboarders had to be rescued after being trapped on a broken chairlift at a ski resort near Ottawa on Saturday.

Bob Sudermann, co-owner of the Mont Ste. Marie resort in Lac-Sainte-Marie, Que., says the chairlift had mechanical issues and was shut down around noon.

Sudermann says all 80 riders were rescued from the lift shortly before 4 p.m. by resort staff and members of the Canadian Ski Patrol.

With cold temperatures in the forecast, management was concerned about the health of the stranded riders and worked quickly to get them back on the ground.

It was minus-12 Celsius on Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday and with the wind chill, it felt more like minus-21.

The ski centre was expected to be open again on Sunday morning.