Who Run the Mountain?!

Let’s Hear it for the women of Banff Sunshine and around the world!

 

Over the past century, the makeup of the ski industry has changed dramatically, what was once a male dominated industry now proudly boast and supports females at all levels of leadership. At Banff Sunshine you can find women working in all areas of our organization, from building maintenance to legal counsel.

 

Get to know some of the ladies of Sunshine and their love for Sunshine!

 

                          Madison, skier, Guest Services Supervisor at Banff Sunshine since 2018. Born and raised in North Carolina, USA.

 

What is your favorite run at Banff Sunshine?

100% my favorite run is Eagle Creek

 

What does it mean to you to be a girl working in the sports industry?

It’s great that I can be in a profession that I excel in, yet still have all of the fun day-to-day.

 

Why specifically Banff Sunshine?

Like many, I intended to only be in Banff for 7 months – that was 7 years ago now. After spending 1 day at Banff Sunshine skiing with my friends within the first 2 months of my residency in Banff, I knew I would never leave and that I wanted to be a part of the community that gets to play in our amazing natural playground for as long as I’d be able to. I knew that after my first month working at Banff Sunshine back in the 2018/19 season, I was completely hooked. From the environment, to the team we’ve all built, this place sincerely feels like home.

 

Why do you think that the ski industry needs more strong females in leadership roles?

As women, we have a unique power and ability to innovate a previously male-dominated industry (as a whole). It’s important to create and maintain a welcoming community to each and every individual and lend an ear to voices that may feel they may not have much of a say. As a community, we’re stronger together and the more opinions that we can hear, the stronger we will be.

 

 

Conny, skier, Snow Pro Ski Instructor at Banff Sunshine since 2021. Born and raised in Austria.

 

What is your favorite run at Banff Sunshine?

ByeByeBowl on a bluebird day with 25 cm of fresh powder on it! 

 

What does it mean to you to represent Female instructors at such a high level?

Being a high-level female instructor in a male dominated industry is a great personal achievement but beyond that it also means responsibility. I want to use my role to inspire others to believe in themselves to pursue a career they are passionate about because really it is about ensuring that dedication, not gender, defines success.

 

What brings you back to Banff Sunshine Village each season?

The combination of a great team, varied work and some stunning office views! 

 

                                                  Amélia Comte, Skier, Foreperson Trail Crew since 2022. Born and raised Quebec, Canda

 

What does a typical Workday look like?

I arrive at the gondola by 7:30 AM to ensure timely access to the locker room. A daily morning meeting commences around 8:15 AM, which I lead if a supervisor is unavailable. My responsibilities include daily trail line inspections, ensuring fence integrity (bamboo adjustments and snow removal), and overall maintenance of my assigned mountain sector. A 15-minute coffee break is scheduled at 10:00 AM, followed by larger-scale trail opening projects. Lunch is shared with the crew from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. The afternoon is dedicated to completing morning tasks or commencing new projects. We frequently assist the ski patrol with patient transport, equipment handling, and other support tasks.

 

Why do you enjoy working at Banff Sunshine?

My job satisfaction stems from the strong sense of camaraderie fostered within the team, especially given the distance from home. I appreciate the challenging work, the opportunity to ski, and the consistent workload. The limited interaction with the public is also a significant benefit. My positive experience is largely attributed to the exceptional support and mentorship provided by my supervisor, Andrew, and assistant supervisor, Jara. Their guidance has exceeded my expectations.

 

How would you explain the importance of Women in Leadership Roles within the Ski Industry?

I believe women in male-dominated industries must demonstrate their capabilities to secure their place. Women often work harder to prove their competence. However, women also bring unique approaches to leadership. In my leadership role, I strive to empower my colleagues, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone can contribute their strengths. I believe everyone possesses unique strengths and weaknesses, but women in male-dominated fields often work harder to establish their presence.

 

 

                                                                                         Jen, Level 4 Ski Instructor & Head Trainer

“The ski industry has always been very male dominate, many women start in the industry, but then leave for various reasons. Our clientele has a strong amount of women and children taking lessons and it would be great to have more women role models.”

 

Born and raised in Edmonton, AB, Jen grew up learning to ski at Sunshine as a kid with her sister (who is also a leader at Banff Sunshine). As the younger sister, growing up, Jen wanted to be just like her big sis. In Canada, you can take your level one ski instructor course at 16 – and that’s just what Jen did for her 16th birthday.

 

26 winters ago, at age 18, Jen followed in her big sister’s footsteps and made the move to Banff. Over the past 26 winters, Jen has invested in her skill set. In ski instructing their four-level of certification. One being the entry point, four being the most coveted. When Jen took and passed her level 4, she was the first woman in our ski school to achieve the prestigious rank. 

 

As a ski instructor, Jen is our head trainer at Banff Sunshine and is one of our most requested ski pros. Her passion is in teaching skiers of all levels and especially beginners how to ski. For Jen, success is inspiring new to the sport participants to fall in love with winter sports and the beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

 

Becki, Gondola Operations Supervisor

“Working outside is something I’ve always dreamt of. Now, as the Supervisor, I still can enjoy working outside and working with new and excited team members each season. It is powerful to watch as my new team falls in love with our playground that we happen to call work.  It makes me realize how lucky I am to work here.”

 

Originally from London, England, Becki has been a member of the Banff Sunshine Gondola operations team for six years. During her first four years at Sunshine, Becki realized that she wanted to have a lifelong career in the ski industry. In her fifth year at Banff Sunshine, Becky was accepted to the Ski Resort Operations and Management Program at Selkirk College.

 

Back at School, Becki was top of her class. Going into her final year, Becky won the Banff Sunshine scholarship for the top student in her class.

 

As a woman on the operations side of ski resort management, Becki loves the diversity in our workforce. For her, it is strong women across our resort who inspire her. As a woman, Becki believes we can lead with kindness while pulling our weight just as much as our male counterparts in roles traditionally held by men.  

 

 

At Banff Sunshine, women’s involvement in skiing the Sunshine Meadows can be traced back to the late 1920’s.

 

Women over the years continue to push the boundaries of what it means to be a woman in the workplace, in the home, and in the athletic world. Today, women are charging the slopes with confidence, grace, and determination. Women like our friend Rachel Karker are pushing boundaries and make what was once impossible, possible.

 

Sunshine athlete, Rachael Karker is perhaps one of the most decorated members of our Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team. She’s podiumed at almost every major event from the Beijing Winter Olympics to X-Games. On and off the slopes, Rachael is a role model to girls of all ages.

 

If you’re up at Sunshine and hoping to support females in industry, head into our retail store! As part of our goal to support equality, we have invested in bringing in more female founded brands and artisans including:

 

Halfdays: For on snow fashion and functionality, check out Halfdays. Not only is the company female founded, but the head designer is also a Canadian Female.

 

Poppy Barley: The Edmonton based B-Corp was founded by sisters Kendall and Justine. This year you can find Poppy Barley’s ethically made goods in our Monarch Sports.

 

Nina Ritter & Meg O’Hara Prints: Local artists Nina Ritter and Meg O’Hara, both inspired by the Beauty of Banff Sunshine, have created artisan prints of what a day at Banff Sunshine means to them.

 

Haley Potter Ceramics: Part-time Sunshine Ski Instructor and full-time ceramics artist, Haley creates and hand paints one of kind mugs, that are sure to brighten your day.