Article content continued

Photo by . / Proslide Technology Inc.

Hunter said, Proslide was key in providing waterslides to Volcano Bay at Universal Studio’s in Florida, which opened in May 2017. He said Proslide was also contracted to build slides for Yas Waterworld in the United Arab Emirates and Happy Magic Water Cube (one of the largest waterparks in Asia) in China.

“You’ve got to take care of that stuff,” he said. “You have to ask, ‘What are we capable of doing?’ Because you can’t do everything.”

Proslide also owns Mont Cascades in Cantley, Que. On Aug. 13, the government of Quebec gave Hunter $1.5 million to help with a plan to build four new ski slopes on the western side of the mountain. The $5.1 million expansion, aimed at attracting more Ontario skiers to the region, is Hunter’s main focus, at least for the time being.

However, Hunter said he is not giving up on Alottawata. In fact, he said, Proslide has now finished moving much of its research and development to the south-end site. He said the research and development facilities on the property will be a key ingredient to what Proslide plans to offer with Alottawata.

“We had three new product introductions last year. We have four new products coming out in the next year to two years. All of these things will have a very positive effect on Alottawata,” he said. “But, it’s just one of those things. It sounds negative. It’s not. As an entrepreneur, it happens and you have to make choices.”

Unlike previously, Hunter would not give an estimate about when he expects to finally open the waterpark.

“You know what’s dangerous about that, obviously, is failing,” he said, adding that he is aware people will be disappointed with the decision to push back the opening of the park. “I know that.”

When built, the park will be closer to downtown Ottawa than Calypso Theme Waterpark in Limoges. It’s an easy drive for people coming from Kingston and Eastern Ontario, and it will be 40 minutes from the United States border. Analysts have estimated the new waterpark could attract as many as 220,000 new visitors to the city annually.