Banff/Lake Louise Ski Resort Jobs

Area Profile
Winter Activities
Summer Activities
Après-ski
Transportation
Housing
Employment

Area Profile

Located 130 miles west of Calgary in Alberta, the Banff region has three ski areas: Sunshine Village, Mt. Norquay, and the Lake Louise Ski Area. Although the region is similar in size to Vail, its base facilities are not as extensive as those in the U.S. What it lacks in facilities, Banff makes up for by being a "real" town with an emphasis on friendliness instead of attitude. There are more than forty hotels and resorts in Banff and a high percentage of its visitors are international, most of them from England, Germany, and Japan. Prepare to be awestruck at your first look at Lake Louise, forty miles from Banff. Craggy mountain peaks protect the waters of this sparkling emerald lake. Chateau Lake Louise, nestled between the water and the mountains, completes the picture to fairy-tale perfection.

Winter Activities

The Lake Louise ski area is the largest of the three with 4,000 skiable acres. It is comfortable for all levels; the real thrill-seekers can ski the Canadian men’s and women’s downhill race course for fun. Those suffering from high anxiety should know that some of the chairlifts carry skiers directly over the Continental Divide. Sunshine Village tends to the intermediate, and Mt. Norquay/Mystic Ridge is a day ski area only. Daring skiers can try helicopter skiing to areas in the Canadian Rockies that are inaccessible any other way. There are also hundreds of cross-country tracks maintained by Parks Canada. Other unique opportunities include gliding on skates across frozen Lake Louise.

For a break from the slopes, explore the Victoria glacier, ride in a sleigh or a toboggan, or take a bus tour and try out the woodsy hot springs in Banff National Park. Lake Louise is open nightly for ice skating. There are also bus tours to nearby Bow Falls, Vermilion Lakes, and Castle Mountain.

Summer Activities

Summer in Banff offers amazing photo opportunities. Take a gondola ride up the mountainside, or hike the alpine meadow trails and capture the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies. For hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor recreation, contact Canadian Parks Information at (403) 762-1550.

Après-ski

Banff has a number of popular places, from noisy old town hang-outs like Joshua’s Pub to the more casual Bumper’s Loft Lounge, which shows ski movies. For a more elegant atmosphere, there is wine tasting at Grapes in the Banff Springs Hotel. Other popular places are the Rose and Crown, Silver City, Wild Bill’s, and Melissa’s. The local dance scene ranges from raging live entertainment to accordion and trumpet music at the golf course. Inexpensive and world-class restaurants both can be found easily.

Transportation

Banff is 130 miles west of Calgary on Trans-Canada Highway 1. Major airlines such as Air Canada, American West, Continental, Delta, and United serve Calgary International Airport. From the airport, ground transportation to Banff is available from Laidlaw Transportation, (403) 762-4558, and Brewster Transportation, (403) 762-6700. Banff is five miles east of Sunshine Village, four miles north of Mystic Ridge, and thirty-five miles southwest of Lake Louise.

Because the town of Banff is set away from the slopes, free buses run four times per day back and forth from town to the different ski areas. At night the Happy Bus shuttle runs for $1 Cdn. to take night owls to the various hot spots around Banff until midnight.

Housing

Discounted employee rentals are available at the slope village and at Lake Louise. These accommodations run $82-$250 Cdn. per month, depending on the type of housing.

Employment

Eight hundred employees are hired each winter and fifty are added for the summer season. Read the following company listings and contact the Lake Louise Personnel Department at (403) 522-3611 for more information.

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