I first met Lily Peters at the 2016 CWSAA Spring Conference. Three months later in July, I visited Whispering Pines near Worsley in northern Alberta and mentioned to Lily and her husband Hans that I hoped to meet their team. Well, you can imagine! Little did I know that meant a packed daylodge of club members and full potluck buffet dinner hosted by the entire community. It absolutely underscored the terms ‘community’ and ‘team’ and highlighted the inspiration that Lily and Hans have brought to our industry and countless skiers and snowboarders.
A month ago, on another visit to Whispering Pines, Lily and Hans were leading a summer maintenance work party and introduced me to Corinne Wasylciw. And this week we received word from Lily sharing that Corinne had accepted the role of Manager for the ski area, and that Lily is preparing to retire. Congratulations Corinne! Fortunately, Lily is continuing to serve as Past Manager to assist the transition just as Hans continues to help the lift maintenance and operations like rentals…to both of you, our deepest affection and appreciation. Our industry is truly blessed to have so many wonderful people.
Throughout my ski area visits this summer, one of the common topics of conversation relates to new ski and snowboard participants. Our industry has seen strong consumer demand over the last couple of winters and our goal must be to retain our newest guests and continue to introduce winter snowsports to new segments of the Canadian population. This has been a role of the Canadian Ski Council, and all of us play a part. Under CSC’s Go Skiing Go Snowboarding umbrella are programs like Never Ever Days and Grade 4/5 SnowPass that provide a national offering to grow snowsports.
In my recent conversations with 30 ski areas, all agree our industry needs national presence to support new market development and the desire to welcome new enthusiasts remains firmly intact. Work is underway to review national programs and further improve these offerings over the coming 12 months.
As you will read on in this newsletter, deadlines for ski areas to participate in national programs are upon us. The CSC programs are scalable to local conditions, and it represents an opportunity for us to seize the moment and build a cohesive nation-wide effort to grow snowsport participants for the generations ahead.
Cheers
– Christopher Nicolson
CWSAA 2023 Fall Meetings & 2024 Spring Conference
Registration Now Open for CWSAA Fall Meetings
Join industry colleagues this Fall for the annual Division Meetings. The purpose of the Fall meetings are to provide current and relevant information for ski areas as they prepare for the coming season. Significant content is related to risk and safety as well as important operational information. This year, more interactive content is being offered. All ski areas are encouraged to have representatives attend.
Register before September 1 to receive the Early Bird Savings.
Don't forget to secure your accommodations now:
- Red Deer group rate at the Radisson is available only until August 24, starting at $119 + tax & service fee.
- SilverStar accommodation is in a variety of properties. There are limited studio and standard hotel room options. Book now to choose your room type.
For more information, accommodation info and to register, visit the links below:
Sign your ski area up to participate in the SnowPass
The Canadian Ski Council (CSC) programs, provide a cohesive nation-wide effort to grow snowsport participants for the generations ahead.
All Ski Areas are encouraged to learn more about the CSC programs and sign-up to participate. Links to the commitment forms can be found below:
If you have any questions, please reach out to programsupport@skicanada.org.
Water Conservation
This summer there are drought conditions across much of the west. Tourism industry partners are encouraged to do their part to implement responsible business practices and inform their guests of the measures being taken to conserve water, and why.
The ski industry can play an important role in championing water conservation, inspiring both residents and visitors in your region to protect one of our most precious resources. Every drop counts.
Destination BC has prepared a new "Water Conservation Tourism Industry Toolkit" which includes official resources, and suggested actions & messaging for BC tourism industry partners to help champion responsible water usage. View the toolkit HERE.
Selkirk College Lift Courses: Register for training to prepare for the season ahead
The fall semester for online Passenger Ropeways/lift courses (Lift 151, Lift 152 &Lift 153) starts on September 5. Registration for the courses is now open. The Fall 2023 Semester runs from September 5 until December 10, with final exams on December 12, 13 & 14.
Lift 150 Train the Trainer is designed to support lift supervisors or managers develop a comprehensive program for training their operators. Used across Canada to prepare supervisors and managers as trainers, Lift 150 is currently required for certification by Technical Safety BC (TSBC) for all passenger ropeway trainers in British Columbia. This program is self-paced and estimated at 20 hours, plus an exam at the end (accredited exam invigilator required).
These courses are in high demand each Fall, ensure you have the appropriate staff trained and register them now! Learn More & Register HERE
Canadian Mountain Support Communities
In times of immediate crisis or when longer-term support is needed, there are two support networks for mountain professionals that have started in the last couple of years.
Canadian Mountain Community: CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT TEAM
At time of immediate response, mountain associations in Canada have joined to develop a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team of Peer Responders that offers debrief and defusing services, follow-up peer support, and other resources to mountain professionals who have experienced critical incidents. Dispatch line to the volunteer Peer Responder Team and more information may be found at the following link: www.helicat.org/cism-team
Mountain Muskox
Mountain Muskox is a community to support and care for those that have experienced loss or trauma in the mountains. Group circles start in September in the Bow Valley and Revelstoke with another scheduled for the Sea to Sky. View their recent newsletter and learn more information: www.mountainmuskox.com
Learnings from Quebec Gondola Incident
Last month a tragic accident occurred at Mont-Tremblant resort village in Quebec, where a drilling rig working near an operating passenger ropeway contacted a gondola cabin, resulting in serious injuries to one passenger and one fatality.
Technical Safety BC has issued a memo to remind operators of important requirements within the CSA: Z98-14 to maintain the minimum required clearances. Additionally that policies and procedures should be developed and implemented that address hazards while equipment is being operated within the vicinity of operating ropeways, including direction and supervision of all third-party contractors to ensure that ropeway clearances are maintained.
Ministerial Mandate
Mandate letters issued to incoming Cabinet Ministers are an increasingly important part of government policy making. Party policy platforms are shaped before an election, and incoming Ministers following an election (or cabinet shuffle) are assigned their priorities outlined in Mandate letters.
The Tourism Industry Association of Alberta (TIAA) has done exceptional work to highlight the priorities identified by the government as identified in the Ministerial mandate letters. CWSAA is working with TIAA and tourism peers to advance tourism priorities with new Tourism Minister Joesph Schow and the government. Please find TIAA’s mandate letter summary HERE.
CWSAA met with Minister of Tourism and Sport Joseph Schow during K-Days in Edmonton, and is captured with Tim and Maureen Dea of Snow Valley.
Responsible Stewardship
New Canadian Ski Council research indicates that 70% of skiers and snowboarders are strongly or somewhat influenced by the ski areas sustainability practices. CWSAA launched its Responsible Stewardship Playbook and Toolkit to members last year. Scalable, practical, and easily implementable suggestions are presented in the document authored by GreenStep Solutions. Many initiatives may be tied into employee on-boarding this fall. Login to the CWSAA website, and find the toolkit HERE.
Photo: The Responsible Stewardship toolkit includes a wide range of solutions from waste reduction in cafeterias to EV Charging stations as implemented at Big White pictured here. Read more about Big White's new EV stations.
CWSAA Members are invited to post their jobs on the CWSAA Job Board.
INDUSTRY EVENTS FEATURE
OITAF Coming to Canada in 2024
June 17-20, 2024 | Vancouver, BC
OITAF is the international ropeway organisation and will be meeting in North America for only the second time in its history. This is a unique opportunity to access the OITAF Congress within Canada. Topic areas include:
- Development of ropeways in urban and tourist areas
- Operation of ropeways
- Ropeway technology, new developments
- Dimensions of sustainability
Classifieds
For Sale:
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HKD Snowmaking Equipment: Springhill Winterpark has 3 HKD volt snow makers for sale. The machines are barely used on three-wheel spide sled with 20ft wand and 600 volt compressor. Contact Brayden at Springhill.
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85 foot handle tow with Briggs & Stratton motor for sale. Can be transported with pick up and trailer. Contact: Lily at Whispering Pines (Worsley Alberta)
- Snowmaking pump for sale. Contact: Johnathan at Nitehawk.
In Search of:
- Nitehawk is looking to buy mountain bikes with frame sizes 20 and/or 24 inch, if any partners are selling off part their fleet. Contact Johnathan at Nitehawk (Grande Prairie).
Member's can login to the CWSAA website, and access member contact info HERE.
Federal Government launches Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)
CWSAA and most other tourism sectors have long called for streamlined federal programs to assist tourism-specific workforce challenges. In response, the federal government has launched a pilot program for qualified employers accessing the Temporary Foreign Workers Program for specific occupations, if three positive LMIA applications have been made in the last 5 years. The pilot supports recruitment for food and beverage and housekeeping workers (and others occupations) starting January 2024. The ski sector is requesting earlier intakes to support the 2023/24 winter season. Learn More
CWSAA Partners
EASY RESERVATIONS: www.drivingforce.ca
CONTACT: 780-483-9559 or edmgdsreservations@drivingforce.ca
Save 10% on vehicle rentals with code "CWSAA"
Big Bam Ski Area, Fort St John, BC
Quality Tires at an affordable price
Learn More about Kal Tire's current promotions HERE.
Places & Faces
Worsley Alberta’s Whispering Pines Doppelmayr triple chair was installed new 15 years ago. It complements a Tbar (originally from Whitewater) and conveyor lift.
Pictured: Hans, Lily, Corinne, Seth, BJ, John
Sun Peaks recently announced its senior leadership evolution with Amy Blakeney being appointed as COO, and long time VP & General Manager (and past CWSAA chair) Darcy Alexander being appointed to CEO. Read More.
CWSAA was fortunate to meet up with these four exceptional Edmonton ski area managers: Ian (Sunridge), Derek (Rabbit Hill), Paul (Snow Valley), and Zoe (Edmonton Ski Club)
Misery Mountain Board President, Chris Johnson, welcomed Premier Danielle Smith to Misery Mountain Ski Area during recent visits in Northern Alberta.