Trustpilot
Trustpilot
  • Hospitality Work
  • Canada

Banff Season Jobs – Independant Travel

Work a winter season in the Rockies and call Banff, Alberta home!

Earn money working full-time in a customer service role in the Rockies.  There are certainly worse places to do this job, on a tough day at work, you can look out of the window and see the awesome Rocky Mountains. On your days off, you can be hitting the slopes! (Candidates must have at least one full year of full time work, before applying)
Book Now
Trustpilot

Spend your winter living and working in the Canadian Rockies. We help you find a job and accommodation, all arranged before you leave home. You’ll earn money to finance an awesome ski or snowboard season. This is the true meaning of ‘work hard, play hard’!

Duration: Minimum 3-5 months commitment season dependant
Dates are flexible throughout the year
Eligibility: Good level of fitness and relevant work experience required
Age: 19+ (must have at least one years full -time experience)

Share with friends...

Highlights

Knowing that the job and accommodation has been guaranteed before you leave home

  • Enjoying the awesome ski opportunities with wellness benefits included such as ski pass, discounted staff housing, gym allowance, staff meal per day etc (dependant on employer)
  • Gaining impressive paid work abroad that will look great on your CV
  • Making friends with like-minded people and enjoying a great social life in the spectacular Rocky Mountains
  • Feeling like you’ve been fully supported throughout your time with Oyster

Banff, Alberta, Canada

If you are looking for paid work abroad in a top Canadian resort, the town of Banff, Lake Louise or somewhere else in the Rockies is going to tick a lot of your boxes.

Oyster has been recruiting hardworking individuals to work in a variety of roles around Banff and Lake Louise since 2006. Whilst the exact role cannot be confirmed until a couple of months before departure, Oyster participants can relax in the knowledge that theyare fully supported in finding work and accommodation for the season if accepted onto this programme. We offer full relocation services – from visa help, to interview preparation and coaching – this is more than just a job placement.

You should expect an entry level role in the hospitality industry, unless you have supervisory or manager experience.

Typically:

Wherever you work, the standards and expectations are going to be high. To excel in your job role you will need to be punctual, stick to a dress code, be positive, friendly and put the needs of the guests first. In return, you will earn a good wage and be able to enjoy the most incredible social life in the Canadian Rockies.

The jobs are full time and you can expect an average of 5 days work per week across the season. Working abroad in a tourist resort means that hours vary with season, conditions and guest numbers. On average you’ll get 2 days off per week to ski or snowboard or explore. At quieter times, you may get 2-3 days work per week. During peak times such as Christmas, you may be working 6, or even 7, days per week. Expect to earn a minimum of C$22 per hour (approx £14 per hour) and be paid fortnightly plus tips.

Please note: We ask for a £180 payment when booking this programme.

I couldn’t have done this without Oyster! – Zach

  • Live in shared accommodation organised by your employer.
  • Expect basic but comfortable accommodation that is within walking distance of work
  • Expect to share a room with at least other person in a house with others working for the same employer
  • The cost of the accommodation equates to approximately an hours’ pay per night (15 CAD) and is taken directly from your pay cheque.

  • You’ll be living in self-catered accommodation with access to a shared kitchen
  • Some employers provide a hot meal whilst you are working, however you should ensure you can cook a few easy dishes before you arrive in Canada
  • You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in Banff with over 140 different restaurants.

  1. Complete your online booking form and pay the booking deposit. This secures your place amongst other hopeful candidates. This does not guarantee your place on the programme yet, but rather the deposit secures you in our pool of candidates that will be sent to the employers at Banff for final interviews.
  2. A member of the team will organise a call with you to get to know you, your motivations and to go over any work or volunteer experience. It is essential that all applicants have some work experience before they arrive in Canada. We will give you an overview of the program and the process and give you some tips and tricks to help your application (if needed).
  3. Apply for your working holiday visa for Canada through IEC — (opens every year Dec- August). You should be between 18-30 years to be eligible.
  4. We will host a resume and interview workshop to ensure your resume is the best it can be before it is sent to the team for interview selection. This programme is highly competitive so we ensure every applicant is well prepped and prepared. 121 sessions are also held for those that prefer private coaching.
  5. Interviews with Banff employers are held via Zoom /  Skype and last 30-45 minutes.
  6. If successful you receive an official email inviting you to join the hospitality team. Those unsuccessful will be offered alternative options or employers for the winter or their gap years either in Banff, or other bespoke project ideas.
  7.  Our unique pre- departure briefing is held via video conferencing which covers topics such as kit lists, insurance, flight details, arrivals and departures, and much much more.
  8. Our Oysters are more informed and knowledgeable before they arrive, than many that join from other companies. Previous Oyster Worldwide participants have won various awards and many stay on and progress into other roles. return for the following seasons, or join our Rep program to help the next year´s participants.
  9.  Departure.

Travel arrangements

Airport: Calgary (YYC)
Arrival day: We have departures throughout the year.
Transfer details: We can organise your transfer from Calgary to Banff.
Departure day: Dependant on your work start date.

As an ATOL bonded company we can book flights for you from the UK or elsewhere.

Included

  • Access to your own personal ‘My Oyster’ account – our online portal where you can find out much more about the program and manage your booking
  • Dedicated contact time with an experienced destination manager to discuss the project, answer any of your questions and for us to find out more about you
  • Help and advice from our UK office before arrival and whilst you are away
  • Pre-departure information covering medical, safety and project advice
  • Gold level, 24/7 Pharos crisis management and incident support cover
  • Financial protection: ATOL (if we book your flights).
  • Thorough orientation on arrival
  • In-country support
  • Accommodation (see the ‘accommodation’ section above for details)
  • Advice on visa requirements
  • Oyster plants a tree in Africa with TreeAid to help reduce the impact of global carbon emissions
  • UK briefing covering hotel issues and work advice
  • Guaranteed job before departure (we will liaise with hotels and obtaining job offer letters etc. Please be aware some hotels like to conduct their own interview on the phone)
  • Optional flight with fixed return date.
  • Orientation for your first couple of days
  • Wages
  • Guaranteed staff accommodation (the money for this will come out of your pay cheque – approx 1 hours’ pay per night)

Not Included

  • Flights – as an ATOL bonded company, Oyster can book flights for you
  • You need a valid passport that meets the requirements of the country you will be travelling to
  • Insurance (covering your time with Oyster and any planned independent travel)
  • Any costs associated with changing your return flight date if you need to
  • Independent travel costs
  • Home country travel costs
  • Spending money for additional trips, food and entertainment

 

  • Accommodation and food costs, approximately C$15 (£9) per day. Accommodation costs are taken directly from your pay cheque
  • Police check for immigration purposes (approx. £55)
  • Cost of IEC Working Holiday Work Permit and biometrics fee – C$338
  • Costs to your staff housing
  • Flights

FAQ's

You should expect to work 5 days per week (30 hours) on average across the whole season. At times during Christmas, Easter and holidays this average can be higher – think of the money!

Kate, an ex Oyster participant in The Rockies, has this to say about her typical day as a housekeeper:

“I am generally up at 8am, get ready for work and then head out on the 10 minute walk to work, ready to start at 9am. My supervisor gives me a list of rooms to clean (on average 9 per day) and I get my housekeeping cart ready for the day. I am lucky, my employer allow me to listen to music whilst working (not all do).

I clean rooms until midday when I have lunch and discuss recent events with the other staff at the hotel. After lunch it is back to work. Depending on how busy the hotel is, I can finish at any time in the afternoon.

After work I head home, maybe do some shopping for dinner, and take a power nap! Most nights Sophie (fellow Oyster participant) and I have dinner together in front of the TV before deciding on the evening activities which could be going out to a bar or a club, relaxing with a film at home with friends or even occasionally testing out the night skiing”

The employers all differ slightly in the number of hours, and shift patterns, that they require you to work. To give you a rough idea for a housekeeper, you would start work by 9am and, during peak season, work until 5pm cleaning up to 15 rooms. During quieter times, you may only need to clean 6 rooms and be finished by mid afternoon.

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 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 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 3-6 months and developing your skills.

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.

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 or hiking and watersports 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.

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.

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.

Check out our top tips for first time skiers and snowboarders

Read more in our guide to Canada

Project Reviews

“The opportunity for my 18 year old son to work a ski season in Canada was certainly an incredible one, but we lots of questions and a few concerns. Sami was amazing at addressing all of our queries in depth, leaving us well assured that Oyster was the best company for us to use. The support and help that Sami...

Would you like to chat to Sami, who manages this programme? Just call +44 (0)1892 771976or email: – [email protected].

Ask a Question

Receive our Newsletter
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • View our Privacy Notice to see how we store and use the data you provide.