On Wednesday April 29, 2026, at the CWSAA Spring Conference in Whistler, outstanding individuals were honoured for their remarkable contributions to the ski industry.
Bob Hall – 2026 Jimmie Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award
This prestigious award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to the ski industry.
This year’s recipient has dedicated over 65 years to the industry, working alongside many of Western Canada’s resorts during that time. Bob Hall’s recognition was acknowledged by 27 separate letters of support for this award!
Shawn Balog – 2026 Jim Marshall Leadership Award
This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication to their profession, making meaningful contributions to the sport of recreational skiing. Shawn Balog has been the General Manager of Snow Valley in Edmonton since 2009, transforming the ski hill to a multi-attraction year-round operation. Shawn served on the CWSAA Board from 2016 to 2020 and has been a mentor to many in the industry.
Jason Gill – 2026 Rod Chisholm Operations & Maintenance Award
Established in memory of Rod Chisholm, this award honours individuals who have provided immense contributions and knowledge in ski area operations and lift maintenance. Recipients are widely regarded for their expertise and often serve as indispensable members of senior management teams within ski areas.
Jason Gill is a Red Seal Millwright and has worked in the ski industry since a young age in both ski resorts, as well as on the regulator side. He has been a very active contributor on many industry working groups as well as the chair of the CSA Z98 technical committee.
Scott Zacharias – 2026 Lars Fossberg Excellence Award
The Fossberg award is presented annually to a manager or supervisor who exhibits a high degree of initiative and creativity, this award acknowledges individuals who demonstrate perseverance and talent, encouraging them to contribute to industry leadership in the coming years.
As the 2026 recipient, this is a particularly special award, as Lars Fossberg established the very resort that Scott now manages – Troll Resort. Scott has worked at Troll since he was 16 as a ski instructor and since then has been hands-on in every aspect of the resort.
2026 CWSAA Peak Performance Award
L-R: Katherine Seleski (Board), Bjorn Pelissier, Lisa Olsen, Wendy Batog, Tristan Johnson, Leah MacDonald, Anders Svensen (Board), Eddie Wood (Board Chair).
The CWSAA Peak Performance Award acknowledges innovation and creativity, celebrating individuals whose ingenuity has provided value to their employer and benefited the industry as a whole. This year, five deserving individuals were awarded the CWSAA Peak Performance Award:
- Leah MacDonald, Inter-Mtn. Enterprises
- Wendy Batog, Tawatinaw Valley
- Tristan Johnson, Cypress Mountain
- Lisa Olsen, Snow Valley
- Bjorn Pelissier, Whistler Blackcomb
For more information on the CWSAA awards, please visit our awards page: https://cwsaa.org/about/awards/