CANADA 2022 SKI SEASON: WORKING HOLIDAY GUIDE

WHEN DOES THE CANADIAN SKI SEASON START?

Depending on the snowfall at the beginning of the season, the ski resorts will open between mid-November and mid-December. The hiring season for ski working holiday jobs begins as early as July through to early October, and you will be required to be in Canada before the opening of the ski resort to attend your training.

In addition to working at ski resorts, you can also work in winter mountain resorts or ski towns that host tourists for the ski season. They have hotels, cafes, restaurants, retail and tourist shops where you can work.

On Stepwest’s Working Holiday Ski Resort Program, we’ll secure you a job as early as July, so that we can prepare the other aspects of your 2022 ski season in Canada before the snow starts falling!

WHEN DO I NEED TO SECURE MY WORKING HOLIDAY VISA FOR THE WINTER 2022 SEASON?

As early during the IEC 2022 season as possible. This is because you will need to enter a pool in order to secure your working holiday visas, as they are offered by invitation (ITA).

We recommend that you become part of the IEC pool from your country of nationality, so you are part of those rounds! The more rounds you are present in, the higher your chances… no science there.

Hot tip: please consider what applying for a work permit involves and start your process with time. Do not wait until the last minute to plan your working holiday in Canada!

DO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SKI OR SNOWBOARD TO WORK THE WINTER SKI SEASON IN CANADA?

Not at all! We host a lot of participants from countries where winter sports are not that popular. In fact, many participants have never tried either sport! Working a winter season in Canada is a great opportunity to learn how to ski or snowboard.

We have worked with participants like Oscar from Spain who is a backcountry skier with plenty of experience skiing and snowboarding in the Pyrenees in Europe. We have also helped participants like Gabriel, a chef from Costa Rica, who had never experienced a winter like a Canadian one before!

WHERE SHOULD I DO A SKI SEASON IN CANADA?

The most popular provinces to do a ski season in Canada are British Columbia and Alberta. The most popular ski resorts are Whistler Village and Banff. Other ski resort towns are Revelstoke, Vernon, Kelowna, Nelson, Rossland and Jasper to name a few. All of these destinations host a wide variety of winter activities. Read on to see a breakdown of the two different provinces to see which is right for you (you can also schedule a call with one of our experts for more guidance on finding the perfect fit!).

BRITISH COLUMBIA – WHISTLER, SUN PEAKS, POWDER HIGHWAY

The province of British Columbia is a great destination for your working holiday experience. Here, you can experience nature’s finest firsthand: the ocean, mountains, pristine lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, Olympic ski hills, and big cities too. There is a wide range of resorts that hire during both the summer and winter seasons. Across British Columbia, the most famous resort destinations are Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks, Mount Washington, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Big White, Apex, Red Mountain, Whitewater, Silverstar, Fernie, and Kimberley.

Once you start to research BC, you might read about The Powder Highway. This is a route through BC’s Kootenay Rockies that passes by eight ski resorts! Check out this amazing video of one of our favourite resorts, Sun Peaks by the Matador Network.

ALBERTA – CANADIAN ROCKIES

A working holiday experience in the province of Alberta will place you in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It is home to some of Canada’s most famous sights, including Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and Waterton National Parks. The most popular ski resorts are Lake Louise, Sunshine, Norquay, Marmot Basin, Nakiska, and Castle Mountain.

The most famous resort destination in Alberta for hundreds of working holiday participants is the town of Banff. Banff is a ski and mountain resort town, located close to Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Kananaskis! Several of BC’s popular ski resorts are not far from Alberta and can also be explored while you are based in Banff.

Watch the video below from Travel Alberta for a look at some of the awe-inspiring sights Alberta has to offer.

What Jobs are Available for the 2022 Canada Ski Season?

Our partner employers have many winter jobs in Canada available for working holiday travellers. You could work in guest services at a top resort, a ski guide on Whistler mountain, a server in a busy restaurant, and a whole lot more. For a full breakdown of possible jobs for the 2022 ski season, visit our Canada Ski Resort Job Program page.

HOW COLD DOES IT GET IN CANADA?

Canadian winters, either in Alberta or British Columbia, are cold. That’s why they are so beautiful! Temperatures can fluctuate between -5°C (early in the season) down to -40°C in Alberta. So yes, you need to make sure to travel to Canada with your winter gear. Remember that all the accommodation and hotels are prepared for these temperatures with good heating systems. If your job requires you to work outside, the hotel or resort will provide you with a uniform to be prepared for the cold.

Can I still work if I decide to stay after my ski season ends?

Yes! All of our partner resorts and hotels stay open all year. This means you can come for the winter season and stay for the summer season, or vice versa. Many of our participants use the shoulder season to travel and get to know Canada. You could take a trip to Toronto, Vancouver, the Yukon, or even go on a road trip to the United States, now that borders are back open! Need more ideas? We have many!

Can I keep my staff housing if I stay to work for the summer season?

Yes, as long as you are able to inform your employer and the staff housing team in advance, you will be able to extend your stay for the summer season. We have had many clients that were sure that they only wanted to stay one season and changed their minds during the season!

For you to be able to extend your stay it is important that you get insurance for the full duration of your work permit and not only for one season. This is because if you decide to get insurance for just six months, you will only get a work permit for six months. So, even if you decide you want to stay longer in Canada and even if your employer wants to keep you on their team, it will not be possible as the IEC permits can’t be extended! We will give you all the details so that you do not miss a thing!