Alberta's ski industry is expressing concerns that a proposed shift to permanent daylight saving time could harm their business, potentially driving visitors to resorts in the United States. The darkest days of the year, which coincide with the busiest ski season, would see lifts unable to open until 10 a.m., significantly later than competitors in Colorado and Utah.
Impact on December Operations
In December, sunrise in Banff occurs at 8:45 a.m. However, under permanent daylight saving time, the effective sunrise would be pushed to 9:45 a.m. This delay means that ski resorts like Sunshine Village would have to postpone opening until 10 a.m., when it is safe to conduct pre-morning checks and welcome guests. In contrast, resorts in Aspen, Colorado, experience sunrise at 7:23 a.m. on the same date, allowing them to open much earlier.
Competitive Disadvantage
Kendra Scurfield, vice-president of brand and communications at Sunshine Village, emphasized the negative perception this could create. "Alberta and the Canadian Rockies are already seen as cold, dark and inhospitable. We're only going to be perpetuating that narrative," she said. "Guests from eastern time zones waking up at 8 a.m. will have to wait in hotel lobbies for two hours because our lifts can't open until 10."
Christopher Nicolson, president and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association, echoed these concerns. "Many skiers and snowboarders enjoy being first on the lift. Starting at 10 a.m. would be a competitive disadvantage for Alberta areas," he noted. "Operationally, certain tasks must be done in daylight, and this shift complicates that."
Visitor Experience and Local Impact
The compressed ski day would affect both international and local visitors. While some suggest keeping lifts open later, Scurfield pointed out that people are unlikely to ski later due to other commitments like dinner, holiday shopping, or school schedules. "It really compresses the ski day and the ski experience, hurting the visitor experience in our mountain parks," she added.
Bill 31, introduced in the provincial legislature on Thursday, has sparked widespread concern among ski industry stakeholders. The potential loss of business to U.S. resorts is a key worry, as shorter operating hours could deter tourists from choosing Alberta for their ski vacations.
