Alberta ski hills ‘resilient’ to climate change impacts and rising costs

It might not feel like it in Calgary, but winter has arrived in the mountains. Some ski hills opened this past week—earlier than originally planned.

As ski resorts around the world contend with rising costs and the effects of climate change, Alberta seems well-positioned to weather the challenges.

Environmental group Protect Our Winters held an event in Canmore on Thursday focused on the impacts of climate change on mountain communities.

While it’s well-documented that ski seasons are slowly shrinking in North America and around the world, it appears resorts in Alberta, and particularly the Rockies, are doing better than others.

“Alberta is well-positioned, certainly in North America and even around the world, as one of the most climate-resilient ski markets. You have the blessing of elevations, you’ve got cold, dry air and you’re well away from marine climates,” said Daniel Scott, a professor of geography and environmental management at the University of Waterloo.

Scott presented at the event on Thursday.

“Other than Utah and North America, you’re the most climate-resilient. So, as ski areas in California and other places struggle, that will be one of the types of tourism you’ll be able to benefit from in the long-term,” he said.

Protect Our Winters calls on ski hills to make sustainability a priority in their operations and infrastructure, to advocate for better climate protections and policies and to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change on winter sports.

“You either have dry and warmer seasons or lots of snow, so you’re seeing these huge fluctuations, whereas before it would be more consistent—in the last several decades,” said Rich Burkley, Lake Louise Ski Resort CEO.

“We have a pretty solid snowmaking system, so our seasons are able to open, but it’s of concern and we’re watching it, and it’s certainly something that the industry is watching as well.”

Burkley said the biggest challenge facing Lake Louise Ski Resort, and much of the industry, is rising costs to operate.

While he acknowledges the costs do trickle down to season pass and ticket holders, which will set adults back $175 a day in peak season, he said efforts are always made to keep costs down where possible.

“Inflationary costs. Insurance is certainly one of the biggest ones, but electricity, your health insurance for your employees—everything just continues to go up, just like everything else in life,” he said.

“It’s very challenging to keep it as affordable as possible.”

Despite the challenges, Burkley said the resort is committed to the future.

“We’ve built four lifts in the past four seasons, and we have another coming online mid-December,” he said.

“Overall capital investment in the industry was probably at record levels last year and this year. So, most people are very positive on the long-term outlook.”

Lake Louise Ski Resort opened Tuesday, which was a few days earlier than originally planned.

Banff Sunshine Village Ski Resort was the first resort to open in Canada on Nov. 1 and marked its earliest opening since the hill started keeping records.

Meanwhile, Norquay will mark its 100th year in operation this season when it opens with a sneak-peek event this weekend.