President's Message
CWSAA with Shames Mountain GM Christian Theberge at Shames Mountain
Leadership comes in many forms. We see it across the country, and we see it daily within our own industry. It is often visible during times of challenge. In my first weeks with Canada West, I was in awe of how Vista Ridge actioned immediate response and rebuilt from the wildfires. This past summer, the team at Asessippi has dealt with flooding of bottom lift stations and pump buildings, and actively communicated with its community on status and recovery measures.
This month I had the opportunity to spend time with some of our leaders in northern BC at Shames, Hudson Bay, and Murray Ridge. Each was focused on safe and sustainable operations for the winter ahead. Interestingly at each visit, it was immediately noticeable that leader also prioritized a close relationship with their local stakeholders. They believed strongly their area had a responsibility to serve their community. School groups, for example, were far more than a revenue stream. They were an opportunity for self-discovery, decision making, confidence development and enjoyment of outdoor pursuits. The latter of these we may take for granted, but increasingly this is something that may not be a given for our next generation.
The conversations during these visits with Christian, Lex & Cam, and Cody highlighted the importance of snowsport experiences to the well being of the community. Their leadership was further revealed in the multitude of ways they supported access to the slopes through programmes and initiatives. The output of my frantic note taking during the visits has already drafted with ease a session description for the 2027 spring conference in Edmonton. As leaders that already contribute actively to our peer group, and model the highest levels of collaboration, I hope they will be willing to again share at conference their amazing passion and proven insights. Thank you for the many great discussions!
Before spring, however, we have six fall meetings and an exciting winter ahead. At the coming industry gatherings, we will see more leadership in action. The agendas have been set based on industry guidance. Most of the sessions feature our industry sharing insights into topics that face every operator, and we thank them in advance for their commitment. The take aways from the discussions are intended to immediately support ski areas with the winter operations. We look forward to seeing you there.
Cheers
– Christopher Nicolson
Industry Events
Upcoming Industry Events
Register by TODAY (August 26) to receive the Early Bird registration rate.
Accommodation Group Rates expire soon and some room blocks are filling up:
- ASM - iHotel group rate ends August 28
- BCY - Sun Peaks Grand group rate ends September 5
2026 Fall Meeting Schedule
| Event | Event Dates | Location | Early Bird & Small Areas Assistance Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASM Division Meeting | September 29–30 | Canyon, Red Deer AB | August 26 |
| Lift Safety Bootcamp (AB) | September 29 | Canyon, Red Deer AB | August 26 |
| Bike Park Forum | October 6 | Sun Peaks, BC | August 26 |
| Lift Safety Bootcamp (BC) | October 6 | Sun Peaks, BC | August 26 |
| BC-Yukon Division Meeting | October 7–8 | Sun Peaks, BC | August 26 |
| Alberta Northern Meeting | October 14 | Grande Prairie, AB | *October 7 |
| BC Northern Meeting | October 20 | Hart, Prince George BC | *October 13 |
| Lift Safety Bootcamp (BC North) | October 21 | Hart, Prince George BC | *October 13 |
| Saskatchewan Ski Area Operator's Association Meeting | October 25–26 | Ski Valley, Manitoba | n/a |
Note - Registration for the SSAOA meeting is done separately and more info will come directly from the organizing committee.
Early Bird rates apply to Canyon and Sun Peaks events.
*Registration for the Northern meetings remains open with the same pricing up until the week before the event. Small Areas Assistance applications for the Northern meetings are due one week before the event.
🔗 For more details visit our Fall Meeting webpage.
Mark your calendar, the 2027 CWSAA Spring Conference & Trade Show runs April 26-29, 2027 at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
Small Areas Assistance Program Expanded
The continued support and contributions of CWSAA members have made it possible to expand the Small Areas Assistance Fund and provide greater support to small ski areas across the industry.
The CWSAA Board of Directors has approved updates to the Small Areas Assistance Fund, expanding support for eligible small ski areas to participate in CWSAA education, networking and risk management initiatives.
Key updates include:
- Annual funding has increased from $2000 to $2,500 per ski area.
- Eligibility has expanded from fewer than 20,000 annual skier visits to fewer than 50,000 annual skier visits.
- Ski areas with fewer than 20,000 annual skier visits will continue to receive first priority for funding, with ski areas between 20,000 and 50,000 annual skier visits eligible as funding permits.
With the increased annual limit, ski areas that reached their previous funding maximum through participation in the Spring Conference may now have additional funding available to support participation in this fall's meetings.
The Small Areas Assistance Fund can be used to support participation in CWSAA events, including Fall Division Meetings, the Spring Conference and other designated education and risk management programs. Up to $500 per year may also be used toward the legal review of ski area waivers.
If your ski area is eligible, we encourage you to take advantage of the program and join us at one of this fall's meetings. These events provide valuable opportunities to connect with industry peers, discuss current operational and risk management topics, and prepare for the upcoming season.
Small Areas Assistance Application Fall event deadlines:
- ASM, BC-Yukon Division Meeting, Bike Park and Lift Safety Bootcamps: Applications must be received by August 26.
- Northern Meetings (Grande Prairie and Prince George): Applications will be accepted up to one week prior to the meeting.
Register early and submit your application to ensure your request can be considered.
Learn more about, and apply for, the Small Areas Assistance Fund HERE.
CWSAA Lift Safety Bootcamps
This fall, CWSAA will host a series of Lift Safety Bootcamps, with sessions in Red Deer, Sun Peaks and Prince George.
These interactive workshops bring ski area teams together to work through practical lift safety topics including mazing, ramps, signage, prevention and unseated passenger plans. Discussions and exercises consider a range of lift types, from surface lifts through to chairlifts, and provide an opportunity to share approaches and learn from other ski areas.
Based on the NSAA Lift Safety Boot Camp and adapted for Canadian ski areas, the sessions are designed to be highly interactive, with facilitated discussion, exercises and group work rather than classroom-style presentations.
Why attend?
The Bootcamps provide an opportunity to take a fresh look at lift safety practices ahead of the winter season. Participants can compare approaches with peers, work through common operational challenges and bring practical ideas back to their teams.
2026 CWSAA Lift Safety Bootcamps:
- September 29 – Canyon Resort, Red Deer AB
- October 6 – Sun Peaks, BC
- October 21 – Hart Highlands, Prince George BC
The Bootcamps are held in conjunction with CWSAA Fall meetings, and registration is done thru the same portal.
Register HERE (CWSAA login required).
Time Change
As winter approaches, the status of time zones and ski area operating hours are coming into view.
Most ski areas are making their final decisions on operating hours to accommodate the adjusted hours of morning light. CWSAA discussions with operators have revealed the following trends:
- Final decisions for individual areas largely depend on their geography (latitude and longitude) within their time zone which dictates morning light.
- In many cases, operators expect to shift their lift operating window later in the day by 30 to 60 minutes.
- A mid-season adjustment (eg: February) is being considered by many as daylight hours increase.
- Ski areas with lights (eg: urban areas) sense less impact.
- Most operating durations remain the same.
Example: Whistler Blackcomb recently posted its operating hours for 2026/27
In ski resort communities, potential adjustments to ancillary services and business hour remain unknown. In many towns where a ski resort is a primary employer and economic driver, and lift operation shapes the cadence of work schedules, F&B, daycare, and other services. In such cases, adjustments may occur.
There are still some jurisdictions considering their options. Manitoba is surveying resident sentiment with the deadline to submit by August 31, with a potential change before March 2027. In BC, the legislation allowed for regional decisions. Most recently, the East Kootenay Regional District (eg: Fernie) in South East BC voted to adopt permanent Mountain Daylight Savings Time to stay coordinated with Alberta.
CWSAA Members are invited to post their jobs on the CWSAA Job Board.
Selkirik College Passenger Ropeways Courses
Selkirk College continues to play a central role in developing talent for the ski industry through its full-time Ski Resort Operations and Management (SROAM) program and flexible online course offerings.
Online Ski Industry Courses
Selkirk’s online ski industry courses provide a flexible learning option for ski industry staff.
The following Passenger Ropeways courses are now open for registration and run from September 8 to December 4, 2026:
- Lift 151 – Surface Passenger Ropeways and Passenger Conveyors
- Lift 152 – Aerial Fixed Grip Passenger Ropeways
- Lift 153 – Aerial Detachable Grip Passenger Ropeways
These online courses offer practical training that supports on-the-job learning.
View Lift 151-153 course details and register
Small Ski Area Scholarships
Selkirk College offers scholarships to employees of small ski areas (under 20,000 annual visits). Up to five small ski area employees can receive a 50% discount on Lift 151 or 152 tuition.
Avalanche Canada Funding
The Government of Alberta has confirmed renewed funding for Avalanche Canada for the next three years, providing continued support for avalanche safety programs and services in the province.
The funding was confirmed following a provincial government review process. Gilles Valade of Avalanche Canada shared the confirmation last week, providing welcome certainty for the organization's services in Alberta and the important avalanche safety work it supports.
Congratulations and thank you to Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks, the Government of Alberta and Avalanche Canada for their continued commitment to avalanche safety. The renewed agreement recognizes the importance of ongoing collaboration and investment in avalanche forecasting, education and public safety.
CWSAA Partners
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Summer sightseeing weekends at Hudson Bay Mountain
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GRIT Awards
The Alberta Tourism GRIT Awards honour the enduring values of Growth, Resilience and Inspiration in Tourism by tourism businesses and professionals in Alberta. By recognizing the Albertans who push the boundaries in the spirit of achieving their dreams, the awards celebrate the collective effort of the risk-takers, innovators and inspired leaders who are helping to transform the province into a top global destination.
The GRIT Awards celebrate tourism achievement in three distinct categories:
- Tourism Growth Award
- Tourism Resilience Award
- Tourism Inspiration Award
Nominations will be accepted until September 1, learn more and nominate HERE.
The awards will be handed out TIAA Alberta Economic Budget Forum taking place on Monday, November 16, 2026 at the Edmonton Convention Centre.
Places & Faces
A great example of small ski areas supporting one another: Valley Ski Hill donated two snow guns to Eastlink Park, providing a welcome boost to its snowmaking operations.
Moose Mountain (Dawson City, Yukon) completed a new haul rope installation on its T-bar this July — an important summer project in preparation for the season ahead.
Cody Willick is the General Manager of Murray Ridge near Fort St. James, BC, where a strong tradition of community support and volunteer involvement keeps the non-profit ski area running.
Congratulations to Andrew Baker, who has been appointed President and CEO of Alpine Canada. Baker joins the organization following more than a decade with the Canadian Olympic Committee. Read the news release HERE.
Lex Rei-Jones, General Manager, and Cameron Price, Maintenance Manager, at Hudson Bay Mountain in Smithers, BC, where summer operations include weekend chairlift sightseeing and access to alpine hiking and multi-use trails. Lex will Chair the CWSAA BC Northern fall meeting in October.
Shames Mountain continually seeks to improve its reporting to stakeholders. Most recently it has created a multi-section report released in sections, rather than overwhelming its readers. Each portion is themed and does a deep dive into different parts of the business such as snow sports school or Food and Beverage. Nice work.