Canada boasts one of the longest snow seasons in the world. While the exact months vary each year, on average the snow season will run from mid-November to late-April.
Call us biased, but we think Canada has the best snow season in the world. Whether you’re an advanced skier or snowboarder chasing powder – or have never so much as looked at a pair of skis – there’s something for everyone. If we’ve piqued your interest, here’s how to work the 2024 ski season in Canada…
September — November
5 — 24 months
From C$1,190
Canada is called the Great White North for a reason. For starters, Canada boasts one of the longest ski seasons in the world (a whopping six months). Working a ski season will allow you to take your time experiencing all that Canada has to offer. Basically, expect deep snow, soaring mountains, authentic ski towns and world-class skiing – both on and off-piste. Plus, you’ll get really good at skiing and/or boarding.
Before you start packing your winter gear, you need to apply for the IEC Working Holiday visa. This is a temporary work permit allowing youth from participating countries to work in Canada. Find out which nationalities can apply for the Canada Working Holiday visa.
Canada issues invitations to apply (ITA) through a ‘pool’ system, which selects IEC profiles through random weekly draws. Your chances of an invitation vary depending on a country’s quota of visas, the number of people in the pool and the time of year. So the earlier you can get your name in the pool, the better!
On our Canada Ski Working Holiday program, we will walk you through the entire application process, so you can secure your 2024 Canada Working Holiday visa with ease.
Once you’ve secured your Working Holiday visa, it’s on to the fun stuff. Starting with picking a mountain!
Spanning a whopping ten million square kilometres, Canada boasts 294 ski resorts, 3,976 kilometres of slopes and 855 ski lifts. That’s a whole lot of choices. So, if you’re scratching your head about where to work a ski season in Canada, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite ski resorts in British Columbia and Alberta:
If you’ve done your research, chances are you’ve heard of BC’s Powder Highway, encompassing eight world-class ski resorts along the Kootenay Rockies. This includes Panorama, Kimberley, RED Mountain, Whitewater, Fairmont Hot Spring, Fernie, Kicking Horse – the ‘Champagne Capital of Canada’ – and Revelstoke, home to the longest ski run in North America. Outside of the Powder Highway, explore Big White, Sun Peaks and Whistler Blackcomb.
In Alberta, most holiday workers opt to work during the Banff ski season. This will put you on the doorstep of some of the best ski resorts in Alberta, including Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Kananaskis. Not forgetting BC’s ski resorts, which are all within driving distance for some epic weekends away. Otherwise, other popular local resorts include Norquay, Marmot Basin, Nakiska, and Castle Mountain.
Canada’s snow season is far from linear. Aside from skiing and snowboarding, you can go snowshoeing, dog sledding and seek out the northern lights. If you want to get the full Canadian experience, play ice hockey or ice skate on frozen lakes! Canada’s top ski resorts are also within driving distance of cosmopolitan cities like Vancouver and Calgary.
If you’re struggling to decide where to work for the 2024 snow season in Canada, get in touch! We can advise you on the best options according to your interests.
Next on the agenda: find a job. The good news is that you will have a lot of opportunities to work! Canada’s ski resorts have seen a huge demand for the 2024 ski season and employers are on a hiring binge to keep up.
When it comes to Canadian resort jobs, getting ahead of the program is definitely beneficial. Popular resorts such as Whistler, Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise have 2 main hiring periods for each season, Summer and Winter 2024. So that means here at Stepwest, the earlier you apply the better chance you have of securing your dream job in your dream resort! The latest we typically accept applications for these programs are as follows:
Summer 2024: Until February 2024.
Winter 2024: Until May 2024.
It pays off to be organized, the sooner you are ready for interviews, the more resort job positions you could be a candidate for. If you are a last-minute planner, then start to consider planning for the next upcoming Season. Too late for Winter? check our Summer Resort Working Holiday program. You could start out with a summer job and opt to stay for the next winter season!
Finding affordable accommodation for the ski season can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Therefore we recommend securing a ski resort job with staff housing. Our Ski Resort Working Holiday program always includes guaranteed staff housing, as well as some incredible staff perks (think: discounts on food and retail, ski passes and other activities).
Ready to get the ball rolling? Here’s what to expect…
You are required to get travel insurance in order to receive your working holiday permit upon arrival to Canada. Make sure that you include winter sports coverage with your insurance plan, as you want to make the most of the winter sports that Canada will give you access to!
As an international traveller, medical care in Canada is very expensive so do not risk getting the cheapest insurance, as if you really need it (we hope you don’t) it can turn into a huge headache and a very pricey problem! Find out what insurance our participants use.
Now you have discovered how to work a ski season in Canada, you can start planning your 2024 ski season in the Great White North.
First, check to see if you are eligible, then get in touch to hear more about our Ski Working Holiday program, and how we can help you embark on the trip of a lifetime!
Canada boasts one of the longest snow seasons in the world. While the exact months vary each year, on average the snow season will run from mid-November to late-April.
It depends on your nationality. If you are from a country with large Working Holiday visa quotas (like Australia, which has unlimited quotas!), then yes, you will make it on time. We will support you through the application process to make sure you get things running with no issues.
If you are from a country where the Working Holiday visa is more competitive – like Chile, Spain, Taiwan and France – we can get you ready for the 2024 IEC season, so that you can start planning ahead!
We have so many options! You could work in a ski town or village – like Whistler or Banff – with lots of restaurants, great nightlife and close connections to cities like Vancouver or Calgary. Or would you prefer to work a ski season in the Canadian wilderness? Whatever your preferences, we can make it happen.
As a general rule, you will get:
We have got you covered. We will organize everything – including your airport transfer – so that you can arrive stress-free and ready to go.Â
On arrival, you will stay in the closest city for a few days so that we can get you ready for work. This includes sorting your SIN, free bank account, Canadian cell phone plan, and anything you might need before heading to the resort.
You can generally expect to work between 30-40 hours. Want to work more? Your work permit will allow you to get a side job!
Don’t be! Did you know that 95% of our participants travel alone to enjoy their gap year in Canada? Our Ski Working Holiday program is the best way to get to meet people as you will get to live and work with working holiday travellers with the same interests – to have an epic 2024 ski season in Canada!
The Canada snow season typically varies depending on the region, but it generally spans from late November to early April. However, this can vary greatly depending on the specific location within Canada, with regions like the Rockies experiencing snowfall earlier and often having a longer snow season compared to areas further south or coastal regions.
Wages at Canadian ski resorts vary based on roles and experience. Entry-level positions typically start at minimum wage and may earn $15 to $20 per hour. Our ski resort program guarantees a resort job with subsidized staff accommodation and a free lift pass which really helps keep costs down and wages up!
The choice is totally up to you, at Stepwest we offer our ski resort program at several of Canada’s best ski resorts. Consider popular destinations like Whistler Blackcomb, Sunshine Village, Revelstoke, and Sun Peaks. Factors such as terrain preference and budget should guide your choice. Researching snow conditions, accommodations, and amenities will help you find the best fit.
Working at a ski resort in Canada can make skiing more affordable, thanks to benefits like ski resort working holiday programs discounted staff accommodation and free lift passes. Additionally, you can earn while you stay in the resort meaning you could save money while on your ski season.
Whistler Blackcomb and sun peaks in British Columbia typically boast the longest ski seasons in Canada, often running from late November to late May or even early June, thanks to its high elevation and abundant snowfall.Â