It depends on your age on arrival, and access.

If you wanted to buy a more extensive pass, the ‘Big 3’ pass which includes unlimited access to Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine tends to cost around $1900.

Nobody ever pays the full amount for the ski pass. There are always discounts available to residents and staff. You organise your ski pass when you arrive. Some hotels have their own ski passes which they allow staff to borrow on their days off.

The winter in The Rockies is bitterly cold, with temperatures at -20C not uncommon. It as been known to drop as cold as -35C! These temperatures are perfect for a ski resort as they mean fantastic snow.

If you want the security of knowing that you have a guaranteed job lined up before you head to Canada, this is the programme for you. Since 2000 we have never failed to find someone a job in Canada. Whilst these roles may not sound like the most glamorous jobs in the world, you have to remember where you are. Paid work abroad means you will be working hard but then having the most amazing days off, enjoying all that the Rockies have to offer.

If you are considering a career in the hospitality industry, working in a hotel in Canada will give you a great opportunity to get behind the scenes in an entry level job and see how a busy hotel keeps running. Working in Canada for a season is a great use of your gap year or career break. Not only will it enhance your CV but it will also enhance your independence and confidence. You will be living and working in another country for 6 months and developing your skills.

You can also save money on this programme, knowing that you will have a ski pass ready to go before you leave home, saving you the expense of buying a pass when in The Rockies.

It can take up to 6 weeks before your first pay cheque arrives so you will need to arrive in Canada with enough money to feed and entertain yourself. We would suggest having a minimum of £1000 available, plus extra if you are buying skis/boots. Once you start earning money, you should be able to live on the money you earn day to day. You might want savings in place to cover any extra trips or outings that you want to do.

Bear in mind that you will need to show at least $2500 in your bank account when you arrive at the boarder.

We recommend opening a free account with a company such as Monzo or Revolut as an additional option as well.

You will be able to set up a Canadian bank account with the help of our local representative, which you will be able to get a card for. Credit cards are advised for emergencies, as well as enough cash to see you through the first few days. There are ATM’s in the town so you won’t need to take all your cash with you.

You will need to apply for a Canadian IEC Working Holiday permit before you go. To be able to qualify for the working holiday visa, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and hold a passport from one of the eligible countries stated by the Canadian Embassy: Australia, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea Rep, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom. This costs C$275 approximately (£170).

You will also need a Police Check for immigration purposes and this costs approximately £55.

We will help with this once you have booked a place on the programme.

Most people book with Oyster on their own and travel with the rest of the group. The group meets at a UK briefing course before you go to Canada.

You will be able to travel with a friend if you wish, please state this on your booking form.

Please visit your doctor or travel nurse to find out. It is unlikely that you will need anything in addition to your routine vaccinations, which should be up to date.

For any information related to Covid-19, please see the Fit for Travel website or the UK government’s travel advice page for Canada.

There is a hospital located in Banff. For anything more serious, the main hospitals are in Calgary, a 90 minute car journey from Banff.

Working in the resort is a safe job, although you should always follow advice given to you by your employers. Banff is a very safe town but it is always advised to keep valuables secure and stick together when you first arrive.

You will be living in staff accommodation so wherever you are working/living, will be in the heart of the tourist area and within easy reach of the main towns, either a short walk or bus ride away. People working in Kananaskis can get to Banff in about an hour. A bus to the Ski Lifts costs C$15 return from the centre of town (often free with a ski pass). Banff to Lake Louise is a 40 minute drive. A bus to Calgary costs approximately C$50.

Staff accommodation is comfortable and within easy reach of your place of work. You should expect to share a room with another member of staff. This way of living makes it really easy for participants to get to know some of the other staff really well – probably before you actually start work! All of the staff accommodation is self catering so being able to cook is a great help! Some employers will provide you with a meal whilst you are working but that would be it. The cost of the accommodation comes directly off of your pay cheque and usually equates to approximately an hours’ pay per day.

In addition to being able to enjoy skiing mid-week throughout the season at Mount Norquay, your pass also has the following benefits:

• 10% off food in the Lone Pine Pub (located at Norquay base)
• 15% off ski tuning
• 10% off equipment rentals
• 10% off tubing
• 10% off Snow School lessons
• Discounted shuttle pass between Banff and Norquay
• Plus loads more!

NB: Benefits are correct at time of writing.

Mt. Norquay is located just 10 minutes shuttle ride from Banff town and is a great resort to have on your doorstep. The mountain has 38 runs spread over 190 acres and enjoys an average of 300cm of snow each year. Check out the Mount Norquay Trail Map.

If you would rather a ski pass that covers a wider area, we can give you a credit towards other passes instead of the Norquay pass.

Your staff accommodation is self-catered. You may well get a meal on your shift at work. Food in the Rockies generally comes in big portions designed to fill you up after a day in the mountains. There are plenty of restaurants to suit all budgets, offering cuisine from around the world in the main towns. Steaks are a real favourite! If you want to eat out, and are sensible about it, you should be able to pick up a decent meal for C$15.

WiFi is provided in your accommodation. All of the bars, restaurant and cafes provide WiFi access.

You should take an ‘unlocked’ mobile phone with you to Canada (or you can buy a cheap Canadian one) and purchase a local ‘pay as you go’ SIM card. This is useful for contacting the representative and the rest of the group as local calls are very cheap.

You can buy international phone cards to call the UK for $10+tax from any supermarket/phone shop this will give you hundreds of minutes to use any way you like, including calling the UK.

Banff is in Canadian Mountain time which is 7 hours behind GMT (GMT -7)

Canada, like the US, operates on 110V, 60 cycle electric power. You should bring an adapter with you that has a two pronged (flat) plug.

In the winter the main social activities are winter sports – skiing and snowboarding are really popular. You can also go tubing, snow shoeing, ice skating, play ice hockey etc. The resorts of Sunshine, Lake Louise, Norquay and Nakiska are all within easy reach.

Further afield, Calgary is a 2 hour bus ride away with plenty of shopping available and also plenty of Ice Hockey games where you can be a spectator. In the summer, the resort turns into a walkers and bikers paradise with plenty of trails to experience – watch out for the bears! Climbing and rafting are also popular activities.

Generally speaking, the winter season begins at the end of November, the resorts will get busier through December and be at their peak over Christmas and New Year. You may well be working 6 or even 7 days a week at this time. The resorts then fluctuate between being busy and average for the next couple of months – your hours will also fluctuate during this time and you may not quite be getting 5 days work a week. During Easter and any holiday times, the resorts attract more tourists so you would get more hours of work.

Canada (Lonely Planet Country Guides)

You will get to know our representative well in the first few days as they help you settle into life in Canada. You will go through an induction that involves a tour of the resort, assistance with setting up Social Insurance Numbers, bank accounts and mobile phones. You will also be introduced to your employer.

Once you start work, the representative takes more of a back seat role but is there as a helpful friend should you need assistance. Once a month, they will run a meet up with you and the rest of the group. Day to day, you will be under the supervision of your manager and supervisor at work.

Our dedicated team ensures your safety throughout our program, from airport pickup to program completion. If you arrive outside the group schedule, you’re responsible until joining. Outside program dates, your safety is your own responsibility, including any off-time activities. We provide guidance for a secure experience.

Check out our top tips for first time skiers and snowboarders

Read more in our guide to Canada