Powder Press
This is the Powder Press - your hub for staff happenings, updates, perks, reciprocals, and exciting news direct from the Resort. We'll update this landing page weekly, so make sure to check in throughout the season so you don't miss a thing and check out our Facebook group at the link below to stay in touch with the team!
Employees of the Month
Each month at Whitewater, we recognize outstanding employees who go above and beyond to create unforgettable experiences for our guests as well as those who carpool and support our sustainability efforts.
As a token of appreciation, these stellar team members receive exclusive Whitewater swag, from cozy apparel to unique gear. It’s just one way we say thank you for the passion and effort that make Whitewater your winter home!
If you are a December Employee of the Month, stop by the second floor of the MtnOps building to collect your swag! Thank you for being incredible members of the team.
If you go above and beyond in your department, you too could be an Employee of the Month! Check back next month to see who the latest recipients are!
Our Stellar Staff
These staff members have received excellence cards for their outstanding work:
- Lewis MacDonald (Outdoor Guest Services)
- Sydney Ashworth-Pigg (Front of House, Barista)
- Deigo Kelly (Trail Crew)
And a shout-out to our December carpoolers for supporting our sustainability efforts:
- Henry Mundie (Finance)
- Mike Kennedy (Grooming)
- Kirk Symmes (Snow Safety)
Please visit Sales & Marketing in MtnOps to collect some thank you swag.
Staff Photo Submissions
We want to see the Whitewater moments you capture this season!
Feel free to send any staff photos you'd like to share to with "Staff Photos" in the subject line. Your photos could be featured in our year-end staff slideshow, celebrating the incredible memories we’ll create together this winter!
Staff Parking
A friendly reminder that 7:30am is the cutoff for staff to drive into parking lot 5 (the lower lot) the wrong way. After 7:30am, it becomes one way and you are only permitted to exit via lot 5, not enter, so everyone needs to go through parking lot 4 and follow the normal traffic flow.
Please park with enough room for one car to open up their door, not both at the same time. We ask that you leave enough space in the laneway for an ambulance or the Sysco truck to get through. Lastly, the first row of parking near MtnOps with the Employee Only signs is for management only.
Nelson Leafs Hockey Games
Join us as we cheer on The Nelson Leafs! Visit IGS to pick up your free hockey game ticket (please just grab your own, not 10). Don't wait long as these tickets will go fast! The puck drops at 7:00pm and tickets are available for the following dates: December 20, January 4, January 31, and February 15.
The Leafs are looking forward to having the Whitewater crew in attendance and cheering on our home team loudly and proudly. But don't worry if you can't make it to one of these free games; Whitewater staff can get discounted tickets for $10.00 to all remaining home games. Just show your Staff Season Pass and you'll be all set. Go Leafs go!
Darts Tourney
This year we will be running a 6-week darts tournament at the Royal Canadian Legion!
Join us every second Wednesday at 6:00pm with the tourney kick-off on January 8. The tournament will continue on January 22, February 5, and February 19, with the playoffs on March 5 and March 19! With department vs. department and friends against friends, there will be tons of fun to be had and prizes to be won!
Friday Sports Nights
Want to challenge another department at dodgeball, volleyball, or basketball?
The choice is yours at our Friday Sports Nights at Trafalgar Middle School from 6:30pm - 8:30pm on January 24, February 28, and April 4. All skill levels are welcome, so whether you're a seasoned player or just in it for the laughs, there’s a place for you! Team up with your department, throw down a challenge to another crew, or simply come out to enjoy the energy and camaraderie.
Can't wait to see you on the court!
Staff Dress-up Days
Fridays are Funky Hat Fridays at Whitewater!
This is your chance to turn heads with your craziest, most colorful, and out-of-this-world hats. Whether it’s a dazzling DIY creation, a whimsical theme, or a bold statement piece, Funky Hat Fridays are all about having fun and spreading good vibes.
Not only is it a great way to showcase your personality, but your funky hat might just become the talk of the slopes! From giant feathers to glittery crowns — don’t hold back! Snap some photos, share the joy with friends, and watch as your unique look brings smiles and laughter to everyone around.
Let’s make Fridays at Whitewater the most unforgettable day of the week. Put on your funky hat and join the fun. When it comes to Funky Hat Fridays, the funkier, the better!
Staff Shuttle
Please do not book the shuttle the morning of. Doing so delays arrival at the Resort.
To ensure a smooth experience, please remember to book the shuttle in advance to guarantee your spot to or from the Resort. If the shuttle is full at the Hitching Post or when leaving the Resort and there are booked passengers waiting, the driver will need to review the manifest. Those without a booking may be asked to exit the shuttle to accommodate those who reserved their ride. We kindly ask all staff to support the driver in this process. Any concerns or issues regarding this procedure should be directed to your Supervisor for discussion. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
The staff shuttle is only for staff working that day. If you need a ride to the hill on your days off, you can book the public shuttle, hitchhike at the Hitching Post, or use the Whitewater Rideshare to get a ride to the hill.
| Departure from Safeway | Downtown Office | Hitching Post | Arrival at the Resort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:45am | 6:50am | 6:55am | 7:15am |
| 6:55am | 7:00am | 7:05am | 7:25am |
| 7:55am | 8:00am | 8:05am | 8:25am |
| 8:55am | 9:10am | 9:35am | 9:55am* |
| Departure from the Resort | Hitching Post | Downtown Office | Arrival at Safeway |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:10pm | 2:30pm | 2:55pm | 3:10pm* |
| 3:45pm | 4:05pm | 4:10pm | 4:15pm |
| 4:45pm | 5:05pm | 5:10pm | 5:15pm |
| 5:10pm | 5:30pm | 5:35pm | 5:40pm |
*blended public and staff shuttle
Avalanche Education
Staff AST 1
We're excited to offer Staff Avalanche Skills Training 1 courses on January 22-23 (fully booked), February 3-4, and March 6-7 at discounted rates! This is a great opportunity for our staff to gain the necessary skills to explore decision making, avalanche dynamics, and self-rescue skills while moving through backcountry avalanche terrain.
Learn hot tips and tricks from Whitewater’s own Snow Safety personnel on how to make the most of your backcountry adventures. Plus, small instructor to student ratios allow for a supportive learning environment with one-on-one feedback that provide a great setting to meet your future touring buddies.
Check out our Avalanche Education page to learn more about all of our courses offered throughout the season and take advantage of staff-exclusive discounts by emailing .
Season Pass
Please make sure that your face is visible in your Season Pass photo. Since your Pass does not need to be visible for our scanners to validate your lift access, your profile photo is how our Lifts team will be able to identify you.
Please DO NOT punch any holes in your Season Pass as that will damage the RFID chip and make your Pass unusable. YOUR SEASON PASS IS REQUIRED FOR YOU TO RECEIVE ON-MOUNTAIN DISCOUNTS AT ANY OF OUR OUTLETS. It will not be possible to apply a discount without your Season Pass, so remember to keep it on you.
Bring your Reusable cups to work
Whitewater charges $0.25 for single-use cups in the Day Lodge and $1.00 for disposable take-out containers. All visitors to the hill are encouraged to use one of our mugs or bring your own from home! We are also excited to offer staff a reusable Miir x Whitewater mug that can be purchased at Freshies Coffee Bar at cost, and you will receive a free specialty coffee with purchase.
If you're looking to take home kitchen extras at the end of the day, you can only do so with your own container. We've found that these small charges have been very effective at reducing our single-use waste and owe a major thanks to our fantastic team for being an active part of our efforts to keep sustainability as a core pillar of our operations.
Selkirk College Gym & Events
Selkirk College is pleased to welcome Whitewater staff to participate in gym events and use their weight room, both of which are very affordable.
With a number of yoga classes, zumba classes, and drop-in sports taking place weekly, the Selkirk College gym is a great option for any staff looking for healthful activities to participate in at a great rate! Just use the "Sort by Location" feature to see what's happening in Nelson.
Whitewater Committees
Whitewater is stoked to have our Green Team and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee back this season. Plus, we're excited to to add a new social committee for the 2024/2025 season.
If you'd like to join the Green Team please reach out to , if you'd like to work on the DEI Committee please reach out to , and if you're keen to be a part of the social committee please reach out to .
Change is inevitable, but progress is a choice, and we'd love to have you and your ideas participate in shaping the future of our Whitewater community.
Road Safety
Provincial law requires vehicles to use winter tires from October 1 through April 30 on most highways.
Proper winter tires give you better traction and will help you stay safe on wet, snowy, or icy roads. That can make the difference between you arriving safely or being in a serious crash. Learn about winter tire regulations on BC highways, and which tires are right for your vehicle here.
Mental Health
Workplace mental health has never been more important. BC’s Hub for Workplace Mental Health is here to help.
Learn how to start a difficult conversation with an employee or coworker. Discover new resources. Connect. The road to wellbeing starts with each of us taking the first step.
Staff Perks ExpertVoice
We’re stoked to collaborate with ExpertVoice to offer our staff access to amazing pro deals, product knowledge, and other industry professionals.
To sign up:
1. On the ExpertVoice website, create a login using your name and email address.
2. Click on the little person outline in the top right corner of your screen, select the Profile button from that drop down menu.
3. Click the Add Affiliation button.
4. Search for Resort Employees.
5. Select your Team Position - if your exact position is not listed, just pick the closest thing.
6. You'll need to upload a photo of your pay stub to confirm that you are an employee.
7. Submit your application - it will take 1-2 business days for your request to be accepted!
Hummingbird Lodge
Special Staff Discount
Whitewater staff will receive 15% off bookings at the Hummingbird Lodge over the winter season. This is valid for Serviced and Unserviced RV Sites as well as the Boutique Suite.
This can be booked in person at the Hummingbird Lodge or by emailing . Staff will be required to show their Staff Season Pass at check-in.
Staff Facebook Group
Join the Facebook Group for 2024/2025 Whitewater Ski Resort Staff. If your name on Facebook is different from the name you used to apply at Whitewater, please email as only registered staff members will have access to this group.
It’s a great resource to connect with staff members & ask any questions you have!
Staff Reciprocals
We are thrilled to offer a wide array of free and discounted ski days at other fantastic resorts across North America to our staff for the 2024/2025 winter season. These reciprocals will unlock over $3,000 in FREE ski days this winter!
Please note the blackout dates below and that discounts are off the window rate for All Mountain Full-Day Lift Tickets only.
Reciprocals are only valid when both resorts are open. To access these reciprocal deals, staff must show their 2024/2025 Season Pass, identification, and have their Supervisor fill out a Letter of Introduction. This letter must be dated within 2 weeks of your planned visit to any given resort.
Beers & Gears
We are excited to offer a number of discounts for our staff to use at stores and establishments throughout the Kootenays. These discounts are available to Whitewater staff only and are valid from Opening Day to Closing Day. Make sure to bring your staff Season Pass as proof of employment as well as identification.
Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee Meeting Minutes
This is where you can read all of this season's JOHSC meeting minutes. Reach out with any questions to .