Paragon Golf and Country Club – Grooming Trails

by Cross Country Nova Scotia Staff, December 22, 2020

Paragon Golf and Country Club, located in Kingston, within the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, will be grooming approximately 5 km of trails across its entire 18 hole property for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and walking. There will be a classic double-track set, a surface for skate skiing, and a separately groomed trail alongside the ski trails for walkers – that is dog-friendly. Families are welcome and encouraged to enjoy the grounds. Everyone is invited to use the trails – you do not have to be a member of the Paragon Golf and Country Club. If skiers are enjoying the trails, they’re encouraged to support volunteer grooming efforts, by purchasing a Halifax Nordic Ski Club membership (click link).

Specialized grooming equipment, along with expertise for setting the trail systems, technical aspects of grooming, and securing funds to launch the project, have been sourced through a partnership with Halifax Nordic Ski Club (HNSC). Volunteers within the Kingston community will be maintaining the trails. HNSC is an established volunteer-based cross-country ski club which grooms and maintains approximately 40km of trails across six locations in the Halifax Regional Municipality and surrounding areas.

Sara Wilson, general manager, realized the potential to bring even more people together throughout the year, with the addition of grooming for cross-country skiing at Paragon Golf and Country Club. The club has maintained walking trails in previous winters.

The Kingston community has been waiting for this opportunity. It’s important to recognize the value of staying active, especially during these times. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, people are staying closer to home, the additional grooming will provide another physical outlet for people in the offseason. We have received a lot of positive feedback from our community. Our board executives have been extremely supportive since the beginning of the project.
SARA WILSON | GENERAL MANAGER | PARAGON GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Fitness enthusiasts of all abilities will appreciate Paragon’s gently rolling terrain, mature forests, and apple trees. “It’s the most beautiful golf course in the Valley”, Wilson stated. “It’s very green down through the oldest part of the course. In the front we have apple trees, and in the back are towering pines and maples. The original course was cut through a mature forest, with another portion of land being a former apple orchard.” Trail users have another means to enjoy the club’s landscape year-round and get out to enjoy nature.

A Part of the Community

Local skier, Dylan Taylor, practiced skiing with his coach, Jim Spurrell, at the Paragon Golf and Country Club last winter. Additional skiers also participated. Taylor competed at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in February, 2020. The club is hoping the addition of cross-country ski grooming, will prove beneficial to young athletes. Learn more about Dylan, view Kings County Advertiser Register, February 15, 2020.

Photographed at Paragon Golf and Country Club (2020) – Heather MacLeod (Special Olympics coach), James Dowling, Jim Spurrell (Special Olympics coach), Tim Prosser, Leo Glavine (MLA for Kings West / Minister of Health and Wellness / Minister of Seniors), and Sandy Banks (local running club coach).

Jim Spurrell coached Dylan, along with other skiers at the club last season. Before each session, he would post “come ski with me @ 3” to encourage anyone else to come and join them. The news of additional grooming was welcomed by Spurrell.

It is indeed exciting to hear the news about Paragon Golf and Country Club in Kingston getting ready to groom cross country skiing trails this year. As an avid cross country skier enthusiast and coach for Special Olympics, I have been skiing at Paragon for many years now. We have trained athletes for skiing and preparation to compete both at provincial and national levels. Although the task of cutting our own trails can be daunting by times, especially after every new snowfall, we really appreciate it all when we get to compete on well groomed trails. It makes us feel like we are flying and we all love that so much. As difficult as it is in Nova Scotia and many other places, to have and maintain good skiing conditions, it makes it all the more appreciated that Paragon is willing to make the investment in time and energy and money to have grooming done this year. We will look forward to testing it out and encouraging others to strap on the skis and go out and play this winter.
JIM SPURRELL | COACH | SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Along with providing new opportunities for experienced skiers to enjoy the club’s winter landscape, there will be potential for “learn-to-ski” sessions. As the first season of ski grooming takes shape, there is anticipation of growth across all of the winter activities at Paragon Golf and Country Club.

The clubhouse is currently undergoing renovations, with an estimated completion date around the end of January, 2021. Updates regarding access to the facility during set hours, will be posted, once construction is finalized.

Learn more about the Paragon Golf and Country Club by visiting their website or Facebook account.

Cross-Country Ski Rentals

Recreation departments in Middleton (recoffice@town.middleton.ns.ca) and Berwick (tboylan@berwick.ca) rent cross-country skis. View locations that rent or loan skis across the province by clicking the following link:

>Directory: Trails, Equipment & Weather

Paragon General Manager

General Manager + Director of Golf – Sarah Wilson, paragon.golf@eastlink.ca

Paragon Board of Directors

President / Jr. Programs – Ed Wadman

Vice President / Handicap – Dave Potter

Treasurer – Elizabeth (Libby) Blatch

Tournaments – Wayne Lincoln

Buildings – Kevin Ring

House – Curtis MacIntyre

Greens – Paul Moase

Memberships – Dave Reid