President's Message

Camille Ducharme of CSP and Christopher Nicolson at the CWSAA Alberta North Fall Meeting in Grand Prairie

October 2026 was a significant month. Articles below highlight the 2026 CWSAA Fall Meeting Series that stretched over several weeks and multiple locations as industry prepares to commence winter operations. Amidst the preparations were also two significant events that shape the environment in which ski areas operate – the October 19^th referendum in Alberta, and the October 24^th BC provincial election.

In Alberta, the referendum dominated the provincial agenda. The results confirmed Alberta’s commitment to Canada, but provided mixed response to questions around an international workforce. In recent days, Premier Smith and Government House Leader Joseph Schow have indicated refocusing government attention on core issues such as affordability, health care, and education. It does not appear likely that legislation around immigration topics will be tabled in the fall. However, businesses across the province are aware of continued recruiting challenges. Articulating the impacts of such shortages to provincial growth represents critical work ahead.

In BC, a provincial election resulted in a change of government. The snap election call resulted in a majority Conservative government with a platform based on ‘super-charging the economy’ by stimulating economic growth and adhering to fiscal responsibility. The tourism and ski sector represents a growth opportunity and generates activity throughout the Province. One of the significant tasks for our sector is to share with new government leaders and MLAs the investment and employment opportunity the ski sector represents throughout the province.

CWSAA will be circulating the industry economic impact analysis to members. The key metrics were shared at the CWSAA fall meetings and are available here (member login required).

The first ski areas in western Canada are within days of opening their lifts, and many ski areas are already into their snowmaking season. Best wishes to all ski area teams as they make final preparations and on-board new team members. As always, CWSAA is there to serve and support.

Cheers

– Christopher Nicolson

Fall Meeting Recap

Over the past month, CWSAA members have come together across Western Canada to share ideas, discuss industry priorities and prepare for the season ahead.

The Fall Meetings kicked off at Canyon Resort for the ASM Division Meeting, where attendees enjoyed great hospitality, food and an opportunity to experience the resort's ziplines. The following week, members gathered at Sun Peaks for the Lift Safety Bootcamp, Bike Park Forum and BC-Yukon Division Meeting. More recently, smaller ski areas connected at the Alberta Northern, BC Northern and Saskatchewan Ski Area Operators meetings.

Thank you to all our hosts, presenters and attendees for contributing to another successful round of Fall Meetings. Enjoy a selection of photos from the events below!

Spring Conference Planning now underway

While the ski season is just around the corner, planning is already underway for the 2027 CWSAA Spring Conference & Trade Show, taking place April 26–29, 2027, at the Edmonton Convention Centre. We look forward to bringing the industry together again in Edmonton!

Nominations are now open for the 2027 CWSAA Awards. Learn more and download nomination forms HERE.

Excitement Builds for the 2026/27 Ski Season

Winter is making its arrival across Canada West! Fresh snowfall has been reported in nearly every region over the past week, bringing snow-covered mountain scenes and growing excitement for the season ahead.

: Sunshine Village Oct 29

: Lake Louise Oct 29

: 40cm at Fernie Oct 29

: Snowing at Mt Washington Oct 29

Ski areas are busy preparing for opening day, with snowmaking underway in many regions and colder temperatures providing further opportunities to build an early-season base.

Innovation is also playing an increasing role in early-season preparations. At Sun Peaks, insulated snow blankets have preserved snow throughout the summer, providing a head start for November race training. At Mt. Seymour and Grouse Mountain, specialized snowmaking technology can produce snow in warmer temperatures, while snow fencing at Banff Sunshine is positioned to capture windblown snow and help build coverage.

Across the region, staff training is underway and mountain teams are preparing lifts, terrain and facilities to welcome guests back. Several ski areas have announced tentative opening dates for the November 6–8 weekend, while others are preparing to welcome athletes for early-season training next week.

With fresh snow on the mountains, snowmaking systems in action and opening days approaching, the countdown to another winter season is well underway!

CWSAA Member Resources

CWSAA has circulated early-season key messaging resources to support ski areas in responding to media enquiries and communicating about the winter ahead. Members wishing to receive these resources are encouraged to contact the CWSAA office.

Fall CWSAA Webinars

CWSAA committees have identified several topics and speakers that would be well suited to online sessions, allowing us to reach a broader audience across the industry.

Upcoming sessions are listed below, with registration links and further details to follow shortly and will be available thru CWSAA Events page.

Date / Time	Topic	Presenter
November 12, 10:00 am Pacific (BC) Time	Physio & Rehab for workplace injuries	WorkSafe BC
November 25, 11:00 am Pacific (BC) Time	Concussion awareness	BC Injury Prevention Office
December 8, 2:00 pm Pacific (BC) Time	Supervising for Safety	go2HR

(opens in a new tab)

(opens in a new tab)

(opens in a new tab)

Federal Sport Funding Update: Financial Support for Ski and Snowboard Organizations

On October 22 the federal government's announcement of $60 million in additional funding for National sport organizations, provides further details on the government's investment in Canadian sport, originally outlined in the Spring Economic Update 2026. That commitment includes $755 million over five years, with $660 million directed toward strengthening sport organizations and increasing participation across Canada.

Several national snowsport organizations are receiving significant increases through the federal Sport Support Program:

Alpine Canada: $2.78 million in additional funding ($8.03 million total)
Canada Snowboard: $2.86 million in additional funding ($6.47 million total)
Freestyle Canada: $1.10 million in additional funding ($6.02 million total)

The funding is intended to strengthen athlete development, coaching, safe sport initiatives and grassroots participation.

Canada Snowboard Outlines Funding Priorities

In an October 23 announcement, Canada Snowboard outlined several priorities for its additional funding, including:

Increasing participation: Expanding grassroots and learn-to-snowboard programs, including opportunities in urban centres and non-traditional snowboard locations.
Supporting high-performance athletes: Strengthening national team programs, coaching and access to world-class training facilities in Canada.
Developing athlete pathways: Working with provincial and territorial associations, clubs and coaches to support athlete development from grassroots participation through to national teams.

These priorities could create additional opportunities for collaboration with ski areas, particularly around introductory programs, athlete development and access to on-snow training.

The latest announcement builds on the federal investments in alpine and snowboard training infrastructure highlighted in last month's CWSAA newsletter.

More information: Government of Canada – October 22 Announcement

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

Login required to post jobs!

Selkirk 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 Fall semester runs until December 4, 2026, and the winter programs run January 4 to April 11, 2027 for the Passenger Ropeways courses:

Lift 151 – Surface Passenger Ropeways and Passenger Conveyors
Lift 152 – Aerial Fixed Grip Passenger Ropeways
Lift 153 – Aerial Detachable Grip Passenger Ropeways

Lift 150 – Train the Trainer is also available through ongoing intake. Designed for experienced lift operations personnel, the course supports staff responsible for delivering in-house lift operations training and can be started at any time between August and March

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.

View course details and register

(opens in a new tab)

(opens in a new tab)

(opens in a new tab)

Introducing LeadSafe: Health and Safety Training for Supervisors

Ski area supervisors play a key role in keeping teams safe, supported, and confident on the job. go2HR’s new LeadSafe training is built specifically for supervisors in BC’s tourism and hospitality industry, offering practical tools and leadership skills for frontline leaders. The self-paced online course looks at the supervisor’s role across the full employee journey, including how everyday decisions and communication shape both physical and psychological safety. Leaders can take the complete package or choose individual modules that fit their team’s needs:

Eligible BC ski areas may qualify for free access to the complete LeadSafe course, which includes all five modules. To confirm eligibility, contact the Safety team at safety@go2hr.ca

Explore all LeadSafe modules

CWSAA Partners

EASY RESERVATIONS: drivingforce.ca

For Leasing enquiries CONTACT Jordan Arsenault:

(306) 261-6110 or JArsenault@drivingforce.ca

Driving Force has locations across western Canada to serve the ski industry.

Driving Force and CWSAA at the impressive new daylodge at Winsport in Calgary.

New Nokian Hakkapeliitta® 01

New Nokian technology with retractable studded tires, provides better grip, less road noise and greater longevity.

Purchase the Nokian Hakkapeliitta® 01 at KalTire!

Is Your Ski Area Boneyard Overflowing?

Do you have surplus equipment or parts collecting dust? Perhaps you have items that could be used for training or are just what another ski area is looking for.

CWSAA is seeking equipment and tools for the new Lift Mechanic Training Program being developed in partnership with Selkirk College. As we prepare for the first training cohort in 2027, we are looking for surplus lift components and tools for hands-on instruction. Items of interest include sheave assemblies, hydraulic tensioning components, grips, carriers and other lift maintenance equipment. If your ski area has equipment or tools available for donation or loan, please contact the CWSAA office.

SAM Magazine has also introduced new equipment repurposing resources. The SAM equipment Classifieds provides an opportunity for ski areas to list surplus equipment, locate parts and connect with other operators looking for equipment and resources. Equipment listings are currently free, with no membership required to list. Among the current listings is Fernie's Doppelmayr quad chairlift, scheduled for removal in spring 2027.

CWSAA Classified: Equipment for Sale – HKD Snowmaking Equipment

Springhill Winterpark has three lightly used HKD Volt snowmakers available for sale. Each unit is mounted on a three-wheel sled and includes a 20-foot wand and 600-volt compressor.

Interested members can contact Vivianne or Brayden at Springhill Winterpark. Contact information is available through the CWSAA Member Directory (member login required).

Participate to Help Strengthen Canada’s Ski Industry

As ski areas across Western Canada prepare for another winter, the Canadian Ski Council (CSC) is inviting operators to participate in its national programs: the Canadian Lift Pass (CLP), SnowStart Kidz Pass and Never Ever Days.

Together, these programs help introduce new participants to skiing and snowboarding, encourage families to explore more ski areas, and support the long-term health of our industry.

Canadian Lift Pass: Funding Work That Benefits the Industry

The Canadian Lift Pass is the sole revenue generator supporting CSC’s strategic investments on behalf of the Canadian ski industry. Revenue generated through CLP enables the CSC to invest in:

Research & Intelligence – providing national consumer insights, participation data and industry research to support better decision-making.
Advocacy – strengthening the industry’s voice and supporting work on issues that affect ski areas across Canada.
National Marketing – building awareness of skiing and snowboarding and inspiring more Canadians to consider getting on snow.
Skier Development Programs – creating pathways that help turn curiosity into participation through programs such as SnowStart Kidz Pass and Never Ever Days.

When a ski area participates in CLP, it isn’t simply offering access to passholders. It is helping fund work designed to strengthen the entire Canadian ski industry.

Building the Next Generation of Skiers and Riders

SnowStart Kidz Pass helps families get their children on snow and build skiing and snowboarding into their winter lives. Children ages 6–12 receive three visits at every participating ski area, encouraging repeat participation while bringing parents, siblings and other family members along with them.

Never Ever Days focuses even earlier in the participation journey, giving first-time skiers and snowboarders a simple, welcoming way to try the sport. The nationally consistent $29.99 package includes a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and a lesson, removing some of the uncertainty that can prevent interested Canadians from taking that first step.

Each program plays a different role, but they share one objective: grow participation and create more lifelong skiers and snowboarders.

Join Us for Winter 2026/27

There is still an opportunity for ski areas to participate this winter. Whether your ski area joins one or all three of these programs, your participation contributes to a stronger national network working together to grow our sports and support the future of the Canadian ski industry.

Interested in participating? Connect with the Canadian Ski Council to learn more about the programs and how your ski area can get involved HERE, or contact programsupport@skicanada.org

Places & Faces

Wapiti Ski area, located in the beautiful community of Elkford BC, is chomping at the bit for winter 2026/27. Following a very successful previous winter, the volunteer board is getting their t-bar ready, including a counterweight replacement sponsored in part by community businesses and run brushing.

Summit Lake Ski Area near Nakusp BC, serves hundreds of school children and their families. With new runs cut in the past couple years, this lakeside ski area has been successful with grant funding and strategic logging. The group of volunteer board members is engaged and excited about the future.

Highway 3 is dotted with small ski areas, from the coast through to the Rockies. Each ski area has it’s own charm and dedicated people working to bring snowsports to their community. Phoenix Ski Area, located near Grand Forks BC is served by Dayne, the area manager. His work over the past few seasons has helped keep Phoenix vibrant.

The iconic Grouse Mountain Skyride has been in operation for 50 years. This Fall, the two original cabins were replaced with new upgraded cabins that will accommodate up to 95 guests and feature larger panoramic windows. Read more.

Sean Smillie is the General Manager of Nitehawk in Grande Prairie.

Winsport (Calgary) has a new patrol room in the new Winsport Daylodge.

Fall Meeting Photos

Erik Meertens (center) of Sun Peaks tours Levon (Mt Washington) and Kevin (Grouse) the snow storage system at Sun Peaks.

Alex Sewell (Sun Peaks) right tours the lift safety bootcamp participants of Sun Peaks lift setups.

Jesse (Winsport), Kim (Lake Louise and Simon (Norquay) are geared up ready for ziplining at Canyon Resort.

An unexpected road closure on the way to BC-Y, created a great opportunity for a road-side meeting with Josh (Cypress), Dale & Levon (Mt Washington) and CWSAA's Cynthia & Dawn.

Anders and Lawrence tour Ski Valley's rental shop at the SSAOA meeting.

Cain is the volunteer President of Watson Lake ski club in the Yukon and a SROAM grad. Cain made the trip to Prince George to participate in the CWSAA meeting.