As this newsletter is being sent, I am headed to Duck Mountain Saskatchewan, followed by Thunderhill Manitoba, and visited Valley Ski Club Alberta and Optimist Snow Park Saskatchewan earlier this week. The journey is enroute to the SSAOA (Saskatchewan Ski Area Operators Association) fall division meetings at Falcon Lake ski area (Manitoba), a meeting attended by the Prairie ski areas.
Common to each of these ski areas is an unbridled passion for providing a healthy outdoor recreation opportunity for residents. Some areas are family run and others are non-profit community organisations. The commitment of each of the operating teams is shared across our industry, but there is an unmistakable ingenuity and self-reliance to Prairie operators. Some of these characteristics were described last spring as Table Mountain’s Lawrence Blouin received the Jimmie Spencer Lifetime Achievement Award. Maybe it is a product of people’s surprise to hear of the many skiing opportunities across Prairie hills and river banks. Perhaps it is the geographical separation from peers in other ski regions of the country. Or maybe it is some of the unique challenges of supply, reliance on snowmaking, weather patterns, or topography. Whatever the reasons, it is a privilege to serve such committed operators, and be able to connect with great people following the last couple of years.
Across the West this fall, CWSAA is focused on supporting ski areas with risk management resources and following up from the Fall Meetings. It is also positioning ski within the new and quickly evolving political leadership in many of the western jurisdictions.
Additionally, CWSAA is very active preparing the CWSAA Competitor Passes for the 2022-23 season - a program supported by all ski areas that helps Canada's young developing snow sports athletes.
Cheers
– Christopher Nicolson
CWSAA Spring Conference: 6 months countdown
April 25-27, 2023 at the Whistler Conference Centre
Accommodations
- Accommodations are selling out quickly through the Hilton & Delta Hotels, limited options remain. Book now, they will sell out soon.
- The Delta has options for teams to stay together in condo type 1 & 2 bedroom units (separate bedroom, plus sofabed).
- Learn more & book HERE.
Conference Schedule & Important notes
- The Trade Show will return in its traditional pre-COVID format with a Tuesday evening Trade Show Reception, and Wednesday Trade Show Breakfast and Lunch.
- The conference will take place over 3 full days (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) plus a pre-conference social on Monday.
- Committees are currently putting together content. More information including pricing will be launched by mid-December.
As ski areas build their long-range plans, responsible stewardship practices have become increasingly important. Prior to COVID the CWSAA Board identified the need to build a toolkit to support ski areas sustainability practices. Over the past year a CWSAA working group was developed and a survey to ski areas help shape the outcomes.
Developed with the leadership and support of GreenStep, the new CWSAA Responsible Stewardship Playbook & Toolkit was launched last week. The guide includes detailed guidance on the steps to building out a ski areas responsible stewardship strategy including energy, water, waste, fuel and carbon initiatives. The package contains practical tools your team can action right away, low (and no cost) steps you can easily implement, more advanced steps as your journey progresses as well as scalable initiatives.
CWSAA members may login to the CWSAA website and download the toolkit HERE.
A big thank you to Angela Nagy and the team from GreenStep and the members of the CWSAA working group including Sam Oettli (Mt Sima), Andre Quennville (Norquay), Rebeckah Hornung (Whitewater), Dave Morrison (Island Lake), Don Thompson (RED Mountain), Jana Gainor (Murray Ridge), Steve Paccagnan (Panorama), and Allana Williams (Whistler Blackcomb).
A big thank you to all the presenters who shared insightful content and make these events possible.
CWSAA members can access the presentations by logging onto this website and then following this LINK.
ASM 2022 - Andre Quenneville (Norquay)
Bike Park Forum 2022 - Community Partnership Panel
Bike Park Forum 2022 - Sun Peaks Bike Park Ride
BC-Yukon 2022 - Mike St.Eve (Whistler Blackcomb)
BC-Yukon 2022 - Kim Jones (WinSport)
DRIVING FORCE - Vehicle Sponsor for CWSAA
ASM 2022 - Rick Cowburn (Vidya Knowledge Systems)
BC-Yukon 2022 - Jonah Brook (Farris LLP)
ASM 2022 - Doug Pettigrew (Rabbit Hill)
ASM 2022 - Danielle McGovern (Winsport)
ASM 2022 - Christopher Nicolson (CWSAA)
ASM 2022 - Tour of Winsport
Check, Check, Check - Temperature is dropping, gear swaps are in high demand and the Go Skiing Go Snowboarding store is open for business.
The Canadian Ski Council (CSC) welcomes all participating ski areas to work together in promoting the various opportunities to get out on snow.
Ways you can help to grow the sport.
- Place the Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass or Never Ever Days logo on your website
- Share the advertisement of buying a SnowPass throughout your social channels
- Follow the Canadian Ski Council & Go Skiing Go Snowboarding social channels and be a part of the story
Reach out to programsupport@skicanada.org to receive the digital assets for your ski area use.
Our commitment this season when we work together alongside the GoSkiing GoSnowboarding campaign will be to drive awareness and conversion to over 1 million new skiers and snowboarders resulting in revenue for your ski area.
Thank you,
Go Skiing Go Snowboarding Team
Do Your Part for Workplace Wellness: Sign Up for CARE Certificate Training
Take advantage of this offer for the Workplace CARE Certificate, a FREE staff training and workplace certificate program for the Tourism and Hospitality industry. This training is offered through the ongoing collaboration between go2HR and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) BC Division.
Workplace CARE Level 1: Primary Concerns by Not 9 to 5 is a self-paced virtual course. You’ll be able to check-in with a learning coach when you have questions.
Meet Your Learning Coaches and learn more HERE!
Time Commitment: Approximately 3 hours for CARE Level 1: Primary Concerns by Not 9 to 5.
CWSAA Members are invited to post their jobs on the CWSAA Job Board.
CWSAA Partners
CWSAA's DRIVING FORCE SUV is ready for Fall Meetings across the west!
CWSAA's DRIVING FORCE SUV is ready for Fall Meetings across the west!
DRIVING FORCE is trusted by CWSAA for reliable vehicle solutions.
EASY RESERVATIONS: www.drivingforce.ca
CONTACT: 780-483-9559 or edmgdsreservations@drivingforce.ca
Staff Offer from Kal Tire: Download the Coupon
Thanks to the partnership with Kal Tire, all ski area staff and associate members of CWSAA are eligible to receive $100 off at Kal Tire. Please feel free to circulate this offer with your staff.
To redeem, click on the image to the left, and print the voucher or present on your mobile device in-store at Kal Tire.
C-Collar bags
SilverStar has 9 extra c-collar bags available free to small ski hill(s) that needs them for their patrol team. Please contact Jes at jcrick@skisilverstar.com
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 204-805-2554.
The Lift 151, Lift 152 and Lift 153 Fall 2022 online training courses are underway, but its not too late to join.
The courses are self directed and can begin anytime, however must be completed by the exam dates: December 6 (151), December 7 (152), December 8 (153).
Learn More & Register HERE.
Ealier this month Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing announced that Elias Ortner will take on the General Manager and Director of Ski Operations role. Elias has been with Wiegele for 15 years most recently as Guiding Operations Manager & Senior Lead-Guide. Matic Vecko (most recent GM), is pursuing new adventures in new places, but will stay on full time, remotely, to support this transition until April 2023.
Elias will remain heavily involved in our ski operations and guiding even as he takes on expanded responsibilities as General Manager. The Wiegele's will also be adding a Resort Operations Director to the management team this season.
Photo: Elias (left); Matic (Right)
BC Ministry of Tourism ADM Nick Grant has a poster in his office listing all the ski areas within the province.
Nick met many ski industry representatives at the 2022 spring conference.
Ben Cohen was recently award Head Coach of the year from BC Alpine. Ben has been the Head Coach of the Kimberley Alpine Race Team, and recently moved into a management position with Kimberley Alpine Resort. Ben (centre) is pictured above with Johnny Crichton (left) & Kathy Star from BC Alpine.
Welcome to Murray Frankcom recently relocated from Ontario and now heads up Leitner Poma western region.