Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Hey guys!

I'm hoping to work a ski season in Canada winter 2015/16! My options are either whistler in BC or blue mountain resort in ON. Does anyone have any info and facts on those, worked there before or been there? Are there any big differences?
I understand that whistler is more popular than blue mountain.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of them both?

Btw I'm 19, and from the UK :)

Thanks in advance :thumbsup:

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Whistler has mountains. Collingwood has ski hills.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Put it this way, if you were given the choice between a resort in the Alps, or one in Scotland, where would you go?

If you want a ski season in a 'proper' ski resort that people come from all over the world to visit, choose Whistler. If you want somewhere much smaller that people generally only visit because it's local, go Blue Mountain. There's just no comparison, if you want serious skiing in Canada, then you need to be in the Rockies IMO.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Thanks! I've decided I'm probably going to end up going though BUNAC (I know many people think it's a rip off but it's what I want to do:lol:)
The option for BC is whistler - but I think it's working at the four seasons hotel. I've worked in a hotel before. I just hope it won't be isolating?

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

On a point of pedantry, Whistler Blackcomb is in the Coast Mountains, not the Rockies.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

If you secure an IEC visa and want to work in BC's (and Canada's) 2nd largest ski resort, I can potentially offer work in a cafe.

www.sunpeaksresort.com

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

BC, BC, BC, Do not go to Ontario, unless you like skiing rocks and ice hehe
BC is home of some of the greatest skiing in the World!!!!
A quote I here everyday single day from the Ontario folk when visiting BC, "we have some ski hills but not like this, this is amazing"

On another note, Bunac might get you an interview at the 4 seasons but there's no guarantee you'll get the job. Your still competing with several hundred other applicants even if you get an interview through Bunac. Don't worry about getting a job, worry about finding a place to live :unsure:

Do you live in sunpeaks RICH? Can you live in resort? Or is it kamloops?
I'm visiting next week to consider a possible move there, any recommendations of must visit spots? Thanks

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Yes, I live in Sun Peaks. I was in Kamloops for 9 years prior to moving to the resort. Are you looking for recommendations in SP or Kamloops?

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Hi Rich! Hopefully I will secure I Visa! I have looked at sun peaks resort and that looks good too!
Working in a cafe would be ideal - I have lots of food and beverage experience as well as retail :) are you manager of a cafe there? :)

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

The OP has been advised about this on another post already and ways of looking for work without the use of BUNAC. ;)

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Both thanks :)

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Alberta should also be worth considering... lower taxes there for starters.


I ski in Ontario. Working a ski hill here would not be my choice. Relatively few full time resorts, much smaller hills and a much shorter season. Really only Dec-March.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

My wife and I own a cafe and have some rental property here: https://www.facebook.com/todmountaincafesunpeaks?ref=hl

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

If you're looking to settle in Kamloops, take a day to cruise the suburbs - popular areas to live are (east to west on the south shore of the river) Barnhartvale, Dallas/Valleyview, Juniper, Rose Hill, Sahali and Aberdeen. On the north shore Batchelor and Westsyde are pleasant enough places.

This short movie will give you a sense of the city, it's a few years old now, but still relevant: City of Kamloops - Place in the Sun

Riverside Park, the Tournament Capital Centre, Lac Du Bois Grasslands, and Kamloops Lake/Tobiano are worth exploring.

Most of the info you need about Sun Peaks can be found here: British Columbia's Bike, Golf & Ski Resort | Sun Peaks Ski Resort On the way to Sun Peaks, a stop at Heffley Lake for a swim or paddle is nice.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Thanks Rich I'll definitely check that out! I have once again changed my mind, I'm gonna save my money and go solo!
What month is best to fly out to BC to get a ski season job? I only want to be there for 2 weeks max without a job :)

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Some jobs are already being advertised for the forthcoming season:
Job Opportunities | Sun Peaks Resort

The majority of positions start in mid November onwards, so you'd need to be here a few weeks before that to apply, find accommodation etc.

Hi Rich,

I just checked out your link, your Cafe looks so awesome! Definitely what i'd like to do at some point! Thinking about it, i guess i could always go to Canada next July/Aug, work for a few months and then i'd already be in Canada when applications for Ski resorts open! What a shame im not coming over this year!

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

If you are considering whistler, be here by Mid October. After November 1st 90% of the jobs are gone.

The earlier the better, and start in a part time role in the shoulder season at a place where you can get full time hours come the winter.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Same deal as Sun Peaks. Get applications in during Oct, interviews in Nov, jobs start soon after.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

And have an accent...:rofl:

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

All my staff are Canadian, so they have an accent ;)

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

My friends' son worked one winter in Sun Peaks as a ski instructor and he had a wonderful time there.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Seems in Whistler you need either Australian or British. I've met some around town here who have had the same experience as me, regardless of time of year its difficult to get a job there if your a local.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Plenty of Aussies and Brits here too. Not all of my staff are local, they're from Saskatchewan, Ontario, Vancouver Island and Alberta.

Re: Ontario or British Columbia for working a ski season?
 

Its just annoying as they claim to not being able to find people willing to work who live locally, yet people are applying but not getting interviews who live locally, so makes no sense to me.