Working a Canada Ski Season!

Since this is SOOOO country specific, why not ask on that country branch?

Ruth

Problem is everbrite that regulars on the Canada branch are not as likely to be familiar with work visas as regulars here on the long haul or Gap Year branches. I would cross post to the Gap Year branch though.

Kooju, you are looking at it from your perspective which is understandable but you need to also look at it from the employer's perspective if you want to understand the possibilities. No employer wants an employee to start in January. They want you to start in November and work ALL season. Therefore it only makes sense that you will get the answers you are getting.

However, even employers have to deal with reality and the reality is that some employees quit or get fired during the season. Those are the jobs that you will have to find. But obviously you cannot find them until they occur. That means you have no alternative other than to show up and ask for work in person. You chances of finding an employer who will hire you ahead of time to start in January, are slim and none.

You do know of course that to work in Canada you need a visa. http://www.visabureau.com/canada/working-holiday.aspx

Regarding saving a room 'for the other half' I have to say you really are only looking at it from your perspective and to a degree that is very naive.

Here's a few mountains in the Vancouver and surrounding areas you can check into

http://cypressmountain.com/employment
http://www.mountseymour.com/employment
http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/employment/jobs/index.htm
http://hr.mountwashington.ca/
http://www.bigwhite.com/index.php?fuseaction=home.showSection&ID=145
http://www.apexresort.com/mountain/employment.php http://www.skisilverstar.com/home_showSection_ID_141.html http://www.sunpeaksresort.com/corporate/work-and-play/opportunities http://www.powderking.com/Default.aspx?PageID=28

Edited by: 262traveller

Hi,

So I lived in Canada for a bit over a year and for the first part of it in Whistler. I arrived in February and I really didn't have much trouble at finding a job. I worked for the resort and so did my boyfriend, so he got staff accommodation, and I shared a single top bunk bed with him for 3 months, Im telling you this because you probably have next to no chance of having a bed saved for you so if you are happy to share and have room mates that wont dob you in this is a cost effective way to start your trip. Plus it will give you a chance to find somewhere to live over summer. When the season wrapped up and there wasnt much work i got job working for a locally owned shop which had better pay and we moved into a condo with a bunch of friends. There is nearly always signs in windows looking for people, plus notices in the local paper and you can always check the whistler blackcomb site for work because people always get fired or leave their jobs for being slackers or missing home. For the next winter we went to a small town resort called Red Mountain its in the Kootenays, (kinda in the middle of nowhere) so if you want to go for the partying i stick to the bigger resorts because that was on the smaller side

Let me know if you need any other info.

Sarah

When I was working in ski resorts in Europe I found that many people dropped out during the season due to injury, illness or deciding it wasn't for them. So there were always opportunities for other people to start work to replace them during the season. I'm sure it would be the same in Canada.

If you are going through an agency it might be possible for you to get on their "reserve list" so that they know about you if any openings do come up after the start of the season.

Thanks guys,

We've just found out about the changes made to the workign visa requirements this March. Means we have to have an offer of a job BEFORE we even head out to Canada so basically we're screwed!!

Given up on that idea and opting for out second choice which is Australia for a year whoop!

Thanks for your advice though :D