My first days after joining CWSAA in 2016 were spent at spring conference. Our super engaged Chair was Steve Paccagnan, and Dawn Sleiman and Cynthia Thomas planned and executed the entire event. As the new guy without responsibility, it was my easiest conference ever, though I’m told I was a little wide-eyed as I met many folks for the first time as the new CEO. Much of it was a blur, but I recall with vivid clarity my discussions with Kevin Grogan and Richard Roy as the wildfires at Vista Ridge and Fort McMurray played out.

Today, we are seeing active wildfire in Alberta, and ski areas in all jurisdictions must prepare. Many CWSAA members attended the emergency planning and response sessions in fall and the recent spring conference. Ski areas are reminded to review their emergency response plans, and also reach out to their regional governments and responders to establish a relationship before a crisis occurs. This can be just a simple introduction, and could also include an inventory of available equipment and wildfire suppression capabilities.

As a follow up to the recent CWSAA spring conference, thank you to the many delegates that submitted their post-conference surveys. Responses have been compiled and the team is already detailing improvements for the 2024 Spring Conference and making content additions to the 2023 fall division meetings. A reminder that available spring conference materials are posted on the member section of the website.

In the coming days, members will receive the annual CWSAA member services survey that solicits feedback from members on association activity and focus areas. This survey measures satisfaction levels, but importantly probes the areas of necessity and primary interest to members. The results are critical to the CWSAA Board of Directors deliberations in June as it directs the organisation for the coming planning cycles.

A reminder that available spring conference materials are posted on the member section of the website. As always, please reach out to CWSAA for any assistance.

Cheers

– Christopher Nicolson

Small Areas Assistance Fund

Each year, CWSAA and a volunteer committee complete fundraising activities to provide funding for Small Ski Areas to attend CWSAA Conferences and meetings.
A big congratulations and thank you to Johnathan Clarkson who once again led this year's auction, and all the volunteers and donors who helped make the event a success.
Thanks to a great rally for cash donations at the awards dinner, the auction reached its $15,000 fundraising goal.

$10,557 was raised through auction sales
$4,443 through additional cash donations through the auction.

Thank you to everyone that donated, and a special acknowledgement to the Locke family of The Lake Louise Ski Resort that topped up the cash donations to ensure the $15,000 auction goal was raised.

Additionally, $3000 was raised through donations during conference registration from RED Mountain, Kubera Payments, flaik, Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners, TechnoAlpin, Snow Valley, Rabbit Hill, PNP Supply, Fatzer AG, MMC Shames Mountain, and Paradocs.

CSC Mandate is Shifting from Growing the Sport to Growing the Industry!

The CSC has listened to industry and will shift their primary focus from new skier development to a broader long term strategic vision on “Where the industry is going” for the sustainability, growth and overall, well-being of the ski industry. They will shift from growing the sport to growing the industry.

Looking beyond the next two years, the CSC will adjust and adapt to a more stable and predictable funding model along with a robust mission that includes Research, Advocacy and Government Relations.

Save the Dates: Upcoming CWSAA events

The Fall meeting dates are set, and locations and schedules are being confirmed. Mark your calendars:

ASM Division (Alberta/Saskatchewan/Manitoba): September 26/27, 2023
Bike Park Forum: October 2, 2023
BC-Yukon Division: October 3/4, 2023
SSAOA (Saskatchewan Ski Area Operators & Manitoba): October 29/30, 2023

Plus the 2024 Spring Conference will be held April 22-24, 2024 in Alberta! Please note that the 2024 conference will be a Monday - Wednesday conference, rather than a Tuesday - Thursday event. Each year, CWSAA will alternate between a BC and Alberta venue. A new 2024 Alberta venue is being finalized, and should be publicized later this Spring.

Ski Industry Support

The ski industry is fortunate to have an abundance of great people. The 2023 CWSAA Spring Conference recognized several of them, and the occasion prompts us all to consider contributing to two important and active fundraising efforts:

Wayne Wiltse Go Fund Me

At the 2023 Spring Conference, Wayne Wiltse was recognized with the Rod Chisholm Operation & Maintenance Award. Wayne’s eloquent words of acceptance were all about giving back and thinking of others.

Last year, Wayne spent three months at Vancouver General Hospital, after sustaining catastrophic injuries in a motor vehicle accident on his way to work as Director of Lift Maintenance at Whistler Blackcomb. As a result, life going forward will require a wheelchair. Fundraising efforts commenced to support Wayne and his family in his recovery, including home renovations and the purchase of significant accessibility equipment.

Update from Wayne’s family are included in the link below with an opportunity to help in his journey - view Wayne's go fund me page.

Rod Chisholm Memorial Glioblastoma Research Fund

At the 2022 CWSAA Spring Conference, the inaugural Rod Chisholm Operations & Maintenance Award was created thanks to Sunshine Village and the Scurfield family. As an additional contribution, Ralph Scurfield announced that he would match ALL funds donated to the University of Calgary’s Glioblastoma research fund through the Rod Chisholm Memorial Donation Page.

Sadly, Rod passed away in July of 2021 to Glioblastoma (GBM). GBM is the most common and aggressive subtype of brain tumour, with symptoms ranging from seizures, headaches, and memory loss to changes in personality. GBM also resists the tumour-controlling effects of chemotherapy and radiation, making it one of the few cancers to escape major advances in treatment. Finding a cure is one of the biggest challenges facing clinicians and scientists. UofC’s Cumming School of medicine is a leader in GBM. With the support of philanthropic donations the school is working on collaborative and multi-disciplinary research to find a cure for GBM while extend the quality of life and survival rate for persons diagnosed with Glioblastoma.

Selkirk College Ski Area Courses...Join the Spring session!

Ski areas are reminded of the following important courses available online through Selkirk College.

Passenger Ropeways Mechanics: The Lift 151, Lift 152 and Lift 153 are all online self-directed programs. The Spring intake for Lift 151, 152 & 153 is now underway, and courses run until June 26. Learn More & Register HERE

!! Did you know that Small Ski Areas can enroll in these courses at 50% discounted rate. There are limited discounted spots each semester, and a few spots remain for the Spring Semester.

OITAF Ropeways Conference comes to Canada in 2024

OITAF is the International Organization for Transportation by Rope (Organizzazione Internationale Trasporti a Fune).

The 2024 International Ropeway Congress will be held in Vancouver from June 17-20, 2024.

During the congress topics such as development of ropeways in urban and tourist areas; operations of ropeways; technology; new developments and sustainability will be covered. See the poster. Learn More about OITAF.

2022-23 CWSAA Board of Directors

CWSAA would like to thank the Board of Directors for their support and leadership.
Recently, Geoff Buchheister resigned from the CWSAA Board upon leaving Whistler to accept the CEO position at Aspen Snowmass. Thank you to Geoff for his contributions with CWSAA over the past years.

The CWSAA Board has appointed Kate Roddick, (Senior Manager, Projects & Employee Services at Whistler Blackcomb / Vail Resorts) to the role of BC-Yukon Division Director. Welcome Kate!
Learn More about the CWSAA Board of Directors HERE.

Back Row: Stewart Laver, Dave Morrison, Katherine Seleski, Penny Lindballe, Kim Jones, Andy Cohen, Kim Locke, Hildur Sinclair, Darcy Arnold
Seated (left to right): Dorothy Gould, Johnathan Clarkson, Jason Paterson, Kate Roddick, Eddie Wood.
Absent: Robert Kennedy (CWSAA Ex-officio).

Consumer Privacy Protection Act (Canada’s Bill C-27): TIAA online session

TIAA will be presenting a webinar about Bill C-27 Impact on Tourism Operators on May 18th at 1:30pm Mountain. The session will discuss how changes to Canada's Consumer Privacy Protection Act will impact tourism businesses and how to prepare for the change. Tickets are $49 +GST or FREE for TIAA members. Register HERE.

What is Bill C-27?

The second iteration of Bill C-11 (2020), is currently at second reading in the House of Commons. Canada's Consumer Privacy Protection Act introduces two new statutes that would make substantial changes to the federal data protection legislation, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Read more info about Bill C-27 from BLG HERE.

CWSAA Members are invited to post their jobs on the CWSAA Job Board.

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CWSAA Partners

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Quality Tires at an affordable price

Learn More about Kal Tire's current promotions HERE.

Places & Faces

CWSAA was saddened to learn that Maureen Bird, who worked for CWSAA for nearly 25 years, passed away on April 22, 2023.

She was a stalwart in the CWSAA office, always there early, doing the accounting and sending out all the parcels for the items that were requested – accident forms, posters etc. She was in charge of copying and mailing the News and putting together Spring Conference packages.

A celebration of Life will take place on May 27 in Vernon.

The photo was taken with Jimmie Spencer on her 20th Anniversary with CWSAA. Click the obit on the right to view in full.

The mountain industry lost one of its pioneers as Leo Grillmair, mountain guide, heli-skiing pioneer and one of CMH’s founders, passed away on May 1, 2023. Unable to recover from a fall he had while skiing a few weeks prior, Leo passed at the age 92-year-old. Read more >

Congratulations to Doug Lundgren, Lead Avalanche Forecaster for Big White Ski Resort, was awarded the Canadian Avalanche Association Service Award at the CAA conference earlier this month. Doug was recognized for his decades of work and service in the avalanche field, for being a mentor to many avalanche workers, and for being the anchor of the program at Big White Ski Resort.