Alberta ski resorts better prepared to tackle staff shortages this winter

Things are looking up for many of Alberta's ski resorts, which say they've better prepared to tackle anticipated staff shortages caused by a lack of international workers for a second year in a row.

Last winter, the province's ski resorts turned to Canadians to fill hundreds of jobs normally taken by adventure seekers from Australia, New Zealand and the U.K., who have faced intermittent travel restrictions since the pandemic began.

Michel Dufresne, director of Banff and Canmore's Job Resource Centre, says this is still creating staffing challenges across the industry.

"Everybody is fighting for those few workers that we see now," said Dufresne.

Australia eased its international border restrictions on Nov. 1 for the first time during the pandemic, allowing some of its vaccinated public to travel freely. 

Though some resorts are rushing to hire the last of their staff before the winter season begins, the pressure has eased on others who focused on early recruiting, retained employees from last season and turned again to Canadians to fill the vacant positions.

Working ahead for the winter season

Anticipating another year of staff shortages, Banff Sunshine Village started recruiting employees early for this winter season.

"We've really, really been on this issue since we closed last year," said Dave Riley, Sunshine Village's chief operating officer. 

Less than a week before its tentative opening, the resort has fewer than a dozen positions to fill. According to Riley, much of that is thanks to the staff from last year who chose to return this winter.

It's a similar situation at Mount Norquay Ski Resort, which has the staff it needs for the early season.

"We had a lot of staff left over from the summer, and then we've added to that," said Andre Quenneville, general manager of the resort near the Banff townsite.

Another year of Canadians working the slopes

According to Matt Mosteller, spokesperson for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies — which runs Nakiska in Kananaskis Country and other popular ski resorts — the ski hills will be filled with more workers from Quebec and Ontario this year.

"We're seeing more and more people from Quebec and Ontario coming out West and making it their place to enjoy winter skiing and riding," said Mosteller.

He said they're also seeing great interest from people from B.C. and Alberta again this year.

The Nakiska team is working closely with the Canada West Ski Areas Association and Canadian Ski Council to advise the federal government that existing and new visas for foreign workers should be processed for the upcoming ski season.

Other resorts still hiring

Lake Louise Ski Resort is in a heavy hiring phase, looking to fill gaps that international workers would normally fill. 

"We're looking for areas where we can bring more part-time folks on board," said Dan Markham, communications director at Lake Louise Ski Resort.

Depending how staffing goes over the season's first couple of months, Marham said, there may be services they can't offer, such as some restaurants on certain days of the week.

In Calgary, WinSport is looking to fill about 200 positions before the ski hill at Canada Olympic Park is scheduled to open on Nov. 26.

"We're still trying to round up some individuals, especially ski instructors," said Dale Oviatt, senior manager of communications at WinSport.

Oviatt said they're finalizing details to offer some cost reimbursement for people who want to get certified as ski or snowboard instructors if they work at WinSport this winter.

WinSport is holding two virtual job fairs, on Nov. 3 and Nov. 10, to fill the positions.