President's Message

Wishing our ski industry community a Merry Christmas and a wonderful winter season! We’re grateful for the passion and dedication you bring to the slopes, creating incredible experiences for so many. Here’s to a safe and successful season filled with joy, adventure, and plenty of snow.

In recent weeks, CWSAA has met with the Alberta and BC governments to share overviews of the ski sector and coming season.  Alberta Tourism Minister Joseph Schow has been intensely interested in the social benefit of resort communities and their contribution to the provincial economy, and has just recently successfully introduced the All-Season Resorts Act.  Further west, new BC Tourism Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert has been an ardent long-time champion for tourism, and brings an understanding of the successful BC ski resort policy shepherded by the government over many decades.  Impressively, the Minister was only sworn in on November 18, 2024, and has already been briefed by multiple officials on the value of BC’s policies to many BC communities.  It will not come as any surprise to those that know him, that one of those officials was Al Raine.

Much can be said about Mr. Al Raine and his recent passing.  His contribution to the development of Canadian skiing can not be measured.  His early days and innovations with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team are well accounted in the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame and Museum.   As a Freedom of the Resort Municipality of Whistler recipient, Al’s influence on Whistler’s history was very apparent during his participation in the 2023 CWSAA Spring Conference presentation on resort community strategies.  His impact as Mayor of Sun Peaks is resounding, and his broader contributions to industry have been celebrated by many ski areas across the west.

In western Canada, there are over 22,000 people supporting their families thanks to the ski industry, and Al Raine is one of those individuals to whom we owe endless gratitude.  Al was one of the instrumental minds in developing and advancing government policy which has enabled many rural communities to flourish.  These policies have not only provided family incomes and careers, but also enhanced the social and physical wellness benefits of community recreation assets.  Ask any community leader today that is trying to recruit healthcare professionals or attract businesses, and they know that recreation amenities are key to this success.  Al’s legacy not only lives in community structures, but in the faces of healthy active youth being inspired by the outdoors.

Close colleagues know that Al and Nancy Raine have both had a huge impact on my own life.  Perhaps for this reason I have been asked about my favourite memories of Al.  These range from debates on grooming and lift configurations, to ski touring in Melvin Creek, to the unbridled support and encouragement that he gave to so many young people entering the ski industry.  Here, I will share two reflections.  The first is actually Al’s care and willingness to initiate important but uncomfortable conversations.  These are the ones where the mentor firmly or softly offers guidance and shares experience be it professional or personal.  These were often profound moments.

My wife Anne reminded me of a second memory.   We were struggling to put a tarp over a tall canoe trailer when Al and Nancy stopped by.  They both saw the problem, and before we could say hello, the two of them were scrambling like monkeys to the highest rungs, dangling and holding on with one hand, and pulling the tarp with the other.  I kid you not, I saw the headlines flash past me.  “Canadian ski moguls crash in dryland canoe accident.”  Al never sat on the sidelines, and will forever be a coach in our hearts.  Thank you Al.

Cheers,
Christopher