Staff of the CWSAA | Canada West Ski Association

CHRISTOPHER NICOLSON

PRESIDENT & CEO

Christopher Nicolson joined CWSAA in April 2016 following 30 years working at ski resorts including Sun Peaks, Whistler Blackcomb, Silver Star, Forbidden Plateau and St. Anton, Austria. In his last post he was part of the leadership team achieving visitation and awareness objectives in winter and summer as the President of Tourism Sun Peaks. He has served as a Chair and or Director for many industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Ski Council International Marketing Committee, CWSAA Marketing Advisory Group, BC Nordic Ski Society, and regional tourism groups and initiatives. Nicolson continues to be engaged with skiing at a grassroots level as a volunteer coach at a local ski club, sharing his childhood passion for sliding on snow first learned at the Kemano Ski Club in northern BC.

CYNTHIA THOMAS

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Cynthia Thomas joined CWSAA in June 2015. Cynthia previously worked in various marketing and communications roles at Vancity Credit Union, Tree Brewing and the City of Kelowna. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UBC and has augmented this with a diverse range of professional development courses spanning marketing, research, communications and finance. Cynthia taught skiing at Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour from 1994 to 2001 and is now enjoying skiing with her own children.

DAWN SLEIMAN

OFFICE MANAGER

Dawn Sleiman joined CWSAA on November 1, 2011. Ms. Sleiman previously worked in the Food & Beverage department at Whistler Blackcomb between 1991 and 2007, most recently as Catering Sales Manager. Dawn enjoys a variety of outdoor sports, including running and skiing.

SHANNON MCVAGH-JANZ

PROJECTS ASSISTANT

Shannon McVagh-Janz assisted the CWSAA team with the 2021 spring virtual conference. She has continued to help CWSAA with a variety of projects that include the website redesign and planning support for the 2022 Spring Conference.

Shannon holds a diploma in Resort and Hotel Management, she continued her post education by becoming a nationally certified event planner and operating her own event management company in northern Alberta for almost two decades. She specializes in project and tradeshow management.