selk irk.ca - Selkirk College

ski resort operations and management
supervisors at resorts visited give students a
chance to explore job opportunities for their work
semester and after graduation.
During the first three semesters which span 14
months, students take 22 courses focussed on
tourism, business, and operational subjects that
prepare them for a role in the ski and snowboard
industry. Included in these first three semesters are
three five-day field trips to different ski regions in
British Columbia and Alberta.
During the fourth semester, students undertake a
21-week paid work semester at a ski resort, which
may lead to full-time employment. The work
Semester is a co-operative education endeavour
that involves both employer and college supervision
of the students’ work experience. Students
choose their work placement and negotiate with
employers to determine possibilities for job rotation
and other learning opportunities. Students
receive one on-site visit from an instructor during
the work semester and must complete a major
written report and verbal presentation to receive
credit for this work term.
Distance Learning Courses
Selkirk College offers ski resort management
distance learning courses to students who cannot
attend the College on a full-time basis. Courses
are available to those who are new to the ski
industry and to ski resort employees who want to
advance their ski industry careers.
SNOW 156 - Ski Resort Risk
Management - Online
• equivalent of SROM 158 - Ski Area Risk
Prevention Management
lift 150 - Ski Lift Operations:
Train the Trainer
For information about Ski Resort Management
Distance Learning courses, contact (250)
352-6601.
Career Potential
The ski industry in western Canada is well
positioned to meet an increasing world-wide
demand for high quality winter and summer
mountain recreational facilities and Selkirk
College graduates are in demand as the industry
grows. The success of the 2010 Olympics in
Vancouver and Whistler B.C. will have an
impact on ski resorts in both British Columbia
and Alberta over the next decade as they did
for Calgary and Alberta for the 1988 Winter
Olympics. Demand for new ski industry
professionals is expected to increase in Western
Canada over this period.
Graduates of the Ski Resort Operations and
Management Program may follow a variety of ski
resort career paths. The list below indicates just
some of the departmental options available for our
graduates.
Technical
• Lift Operations
• Lift Maintenance
• Grooming Operations
• Snowmaking Operations
• Ski Patrol and Avalanche Control
• Building Maintenance
Service
• Ski and Snowboard School
• Rental Shop Operations
• Retail Shop Operations
• Food and Beverage Operations
• Childminding Centers
• Terrain Park Operations
Administrative
• Guest Services and Hosting
• Ticket Office Sales
• Human Resources and Payroll
• Bookkeeping and Banking
• Accounting / Budgeting
• Reservations / Accommodations
• Marketing and Promotions
• Special Event Management
The seasonality of ski resort jobs results in
somewhat higher rates of employee turnover
than in non-seasonal businesses, and this creates
opportunities for graduates to advance into
supervisory and middle management positions. In
fact, many students are able to secure supervisory
positions for their work terms or shortly after
graduation. Graduates often need to find suitable
summer employment that meshes with the
ski season prior to becoming year round full
time employees. Because our program provides
“Transferable Skills” to our students, off season
employment options in the summer tourism
industry are readily available. Four season resorts
also provide the opportunity for year around
employment for graduates from this program.
Other Ski Industry
Employment Options
• Cat Skiing Operations and Heliskiing
Operations
• Lift construction companies
• Ski and Snowboard equipment manufacturers
• Retail wholesale agencies
• Sporting goods retail operations
Degree Program
Transferability
Through curriculum articulation agreements, Ski
Resort and Operations Management graduates
from Selkirk College may receive up to two year’s
credit towards four-year bachelor’s degrees from
several institutions. Selkirk has formal agreements
with the following universities, but others also
accept transfer credit from the SROAM Program.
• University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge,
Alberta, Bachelor of Business Management
Website http://www.uleth.ca/
• Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops
British Columbia, Bachelor of Tourism
ManagementWebsite http://www.tru.ca/
• Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo British
Columbia, Bachelor of Tourism Management
Website http://www.mala.bc.ca/
• Royal Road University, Victoria, Bachelor
of Tourism Management, http://www.
royalroads.ca/
It is important to note that current tuition fees
and costs of living in the West Kootenay can mean
significant financial savings for Selkirk students
who study in Nelson for the first two years before
transferring to university or university colleges.
Admission Requirements
Academic
• Completion of BC grade 12 or equivalent
(e.g.: G.E.D., A.B.E. Provincial)
• English 12 with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
General
• Interview. A personal or telephone interview
will be completed with a ski program
instructor. Where circumstances make a
personal interview impractical, a telephone
interview may be conducted. Areas discussed
during the interview include.
• Knowledge of the sport and the ski industry;
• Commitment to a career in the ski industry
and to the program.
• Note: Interview results are not used as
criteria for admissions.
• Ski Industry Experience. At least one season
of full-time work at a ski resort is strongly
recommended. Part-time work or related
experience in retail, adventure tourism or
140 Selkirk College 12/13 School of Hospitality and Tourism