Message from the President
I was taught early to never pass up an opportunity to say thank you. So CWSAA would like to congratulate and thank all ski areas, their teams, and industry suppliers for their tremendous efforts this winter. Consumer demand continues to be strong which allowed many areas to have a successful season, and all managers give high praise to their teams for navigating the challenging season. In CWSAA, we are fortunate to have resorts that continue their ski and snowboard operations through the late spring, and most operators have capital projects and or summer operations starting shortly…so activity never stops. To all our industry team members, thank you.
A couple weeks ago, I had a conversation with a couple that were raving about their ski experience this winter. They had been infrequent skiers, but had recently skied more frequently and at multiple ski areas. Listening to their fresh perspective was invigorating. To them, the snow was great, the resorts provided the wonder of exploration, and their experience was highlighted by the consistent hospitality of ski areas and the ease of meeting locals. To me, it underscored one of the most common conversations from this past winter. It debates our industry’s self-imposed celebration of powder as a fundamental part of our experience. Now, don’t get me wrong, a pristine alpine bowl or powder-laden glades are a treat, and as you know, I love powder bumps. And I would be disingenuous if I did not admit to actively positioning snow as a hallmark of Canadian skiing on marketing and sales missions in my previous life. But should powder be the single defining factor of a ski experience?
At the CWSAA Spring Conference, one of the sessions will be discussing our ski industry story. Certainly each resort brand will have its own attributes and authentic characteristics, but the discussion in Jasper intends to explore the essence of our industry and what its narrative should be. The excitement of sliding and adventure, health benefits, and powerful social connection, may also play into the value equation. As we reflect on the past season, and how we position snowsports in the future, we many consider the enthusiasm of my new friends and what ski areas offer our guests of the future.
- Cheers, Christopher
2024 CWSAA Spring Conference & Trade Show
April 21-24, 2024
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Alberta
View Conference Website
View the draft agenda HERE .
Last Chance to Register!
The last day to register for the Spring Conference is April 15!
Please note, there will be NO registration for the conference or any events at the door.
Introducing the Pheedloop Event App
This year we have a new event App - Pheedloop. This week delegates have been sent an invite to download the app and create your profile. Please note these invites will come directly from the app using the email no-reply@pheedloop.com. If you are attending the conference and did not receive this email, please check you junk filters for this email address.
Small Areas Auction
Each year a silent auction is held at the Spring Conference to raise funds to provide financial support to Small Ski Areas to attend the Spring Conference and Fall Division Meeting. Please complete this Google Form to let us know if you are able to donate an item to this year's Silent Auction Fundraiser.
Learn more about the Small Areas Assistance Fund HERE
Parks Canada Pass
To travel to or within Jasper you will require a Parks Canada Pass. Purchase day passes or Discovery Passes HERE. If your physical pass has not shipped in time, be sure to print out the receipt and display on your vehicle dash.
Government Relations: Emergency Preparedness
At the CWSAA Spring Conference later this month there will be multiple reports and discussion related to ski industry and the various priorities of government. In every jurisdiction, one consistent theme is around emergency preparedness with special focus on drought and wildfire mitigation.
CWSAA has sent surveys to ski area operators related to these discussions. An inventory of ski area wildfire resources has been consolidated and shared with BC Wildfire service of a number of years. This year, ski areas in Alberta and BC have inventoried water use mitigation measures. This proactive effort has allowed the ski sector to engage in provincial conversations as a contributor to water use mitigation, and also allowed the sector to convey the importance of water to the industry (eg: snowmaking) and the many communities dependent on their winter visitor economy.
Responsible Stewardship Showcase: Norquay
This month we shine a spotlight on Norquay in Banff Alberta and its responsible stewardship journey.
A significant advancement for Norquay was to partner with Bullfrog Power to source its energy requirements from a blend of wind and low-impact hydro power to drive the lifts and lodges. Inside the lodge, changes have also been made. Particular focus has been placed on reducing the use of plastics. This has resulted in metal cutlery and reusable dishware in the cafeteria. Plastic straws have been discontinued with emphasis on sipping beverages without plastic lids, as well as encouraging patrons to bring their own reusable flask or mug. And individually packaged single-use milk and creamers have been replaced by milk cooled in thermoses.
Norquay established a stewardship committee and tasked it with going through the CWSAA Responsible Stewardship Playbook to identify easy to implement changes as an initial objective. This is a first step for many ski areas that can quickly result in positive and immediate actions for the team and organization.
Learn More about Mt Norquay's initiatives HERE.
Learn More about how your ski area can undertake small changes that make big differences in the CWSAA playbook.
Critical Incident Stress Management Mountain Community
The CISM team has supported over 200 individuals!
Since its inception in 2022 the Mountain Community CISM Team has supported over 200 individuals who have reached out for peer support following a critical incident in the professional mountain community.
The 2023/24 winter is the second on the books for the CISM Team. This winter alone we have responded with peer support in the following capacity:
- Connected over 130 individuals with peer support
- Provided 25 one on one debriefs and 6 group sessions
- Responded in person to 8 callouts and provided virtual debriefs for all others
- Supported people in locations across BC, Alberta, and Quebec
- Utilized 18 members from of our team of volunteer peers
Read the full report HERE.
Selkirk College Ski Industry Courses
Passenger Ropeways Mechanics: The Lift 151, Lift 152 and Lift 153 are all self directed. The Winter programs have just wrapped and registration is now open for the Spring Program which runs>May 1 to June 17. Learn More & Register HERE
SROAM 2 Year Diploma: Want to take your career in the ski industry to the next level. The Ski Resort Operations and Management Diploma covers all aspects of ski resort operations, providing a unique blend of management skills and industry knowledge to prepare you for lasting leadership roles. This curriculum contains articulated business and tourism courses transferable towards any college and university in BC; as well as specific industry course content. Learn More HERE.
Upcoming Industry Events
- Mountain Biking BC, MTB Symposium: May 1-3
- HeliCat Canada Spring Meeting: May 6-7
- OSRA Spring Conference: May 13-15
- NSAA National Convention: May 21-24
- OITAF: June 17-20
- NSAA Downhill Bike Park Summit: June 24-26
See more industry event HERE.
Plus mark your calendars, the 2025 CWSAA Spring Conference will be in Penticton BC, April 28 - May 1, 2025!
Visitation Reporting
At the end of each winter season, CWSAA collects ski area visits from all ski areas in Western Canada. New this year, CWSAA will be collecting summer visitation information from the 2023 summer season. This information is very important for the industry's advocacy's efforts in defining our overall economic impact. Individual ski area information collected through this report is kept strictly confidential. Only aggregated information by province is published.
An email was sent to ski area GMs requesting completion of the report once operations are completed for the 2023/24 season. If you have any questions, or did not receive this report, please contact Cynthia Thomas at marketing@cwsaa.org.
Canadian Ski Hall of Fame: Community Ski Area Feature
The Rise of Mount Sima
The Yukon is a wild and mountainous land that’s been drawing fortune hunters, adventurers and poets ever since Joe Skookum struck gold in the Klondike in 1896. Today, a new wave is answering the Yukon’s irresistible call of the wild. They’re young, competitive skiers and snowboarders, racers and freestylers alike. They’re coming to Mount Sima in pursuit of even more precious Olympic and Paralympic gold.
Read more stories about Canadian Community Ski Areas HERE.
The Canadian Ski Hall of Fame is seeking nominations for the Class of 2024. Nominations are due May 15. Click HERE to learn more.
Inernational Work Permits
Immigration and Temporary Foreign Workers have been in the news over recent months with changes on the horizon.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is offering a virtual learning series from April 22 to May 2, 2024.
The IRCC will be holding 30-minute information session will allow employers from specific sectors including hospitality to learn more about Canada’s economic immigration programs. During these sessions, we will discuss a multitude of programs and offer resources to employers, such as information on
- the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- the International Mobility Program
- employer responsibilities
- Express Entry and pathways to permanent residency
- guidance and resources available to employers
For more details and registration information, please click HERE
Register to participate in OITAF 2024 in Vancouver
Once in a Career Opportunity
The coming international ropeways congress in Vancouver this June, has ignited the North American Section of OITAF and will be of great relevance to CWSAA members. OITAF’s objective is the advancement of the ropeway transport industry through coordination and the furthering of technical and economic studies and activities related to ropeway transport.
This year also includes two presentations from Europe on snowmaking research that will be very helpful to industry. View the Agenda HERE.
Register HERE
CWSAA Partners
EASY RESERVATIONS: www.drivingforce.ca
For Leasing enquiries CONTACT Jordan:
(306) 261-6110 or JArsenault@drivingforce.ca
Troll Mountain in Quesnel, BC.
Quality Tires at an affordable price
Learn More about Kal Tire's current promotions HERE.
CWSAA Members are invited to post their jobs on the CWSAA Job Board.
Places & Faces
CWSAA warmly remembers Brian Rhodes and extends its condolences to Brian’s family and many friends. Brian spent his career in the ski industry, including Kimberley Alpine Resort, and served as a CWSAA Director for multiple years up to 2001.
Read Brian's obituary HERE.
Hildur Sinclair believes the Troll Mountain BC community extends past the ski lifts. School group leaders like Jan believe emphatically in outdoor activity, as do Jan’s husband and daughter Mike and Amelia that work as ski patrol.
Will, Amy, and Dean of Sun Peaks lift maintenance are getting ready for spring maintenance projects between winter and summer lift operations. The lift accessed bike park opens June 15.
A pond liner is a sure sign of spring as many ski areas host end of season slush cup/pond skim events. Vista Ridge Alberta did a great job sharing the construction of its pond on social media as part of the pre-event promotion.
Big White honours 13 individuals who have dedicated more than 25 years of service. Impressive!!!
Leah Muirhead MacDonald of Inter-Mtn Enterprises is well-known at ski industry events across the continent…and the globe. CWSAA was at Inter-Mtn to review its Spring Conference signage, and caught up with Leah just before she headed to Germany to test some new dry slope textiles.
Fun judges rating system for the 'pond skim' at Holiday Mountain Manitoba