T’is the season for hitting the slopes and where better to do it than in your own backyard. This year, Destination BC invites Canadians to ignite their love for winter and come experience the amazing skiing available on the west coast. Starting in November and heading all the way into April, skiers of all levels can take advantage of the region's abundant snowfall and prestigious ‘champagne powder’ quality with a visit to any one of the 13 local ski resorts throughout the province. This past Wednesday, Destination BC along with several of its ski resort partners, hosted a dinner for media in Toronto where we had a chance to mix and mingle with the partners and hear about all the new highlights visitors can expect to see this year.

Sun Peaks Resort - a resort community in the heart of British Columbia, Sun Peak resort boasts the second largest ski area in Canada and is consistently recognized as one of the top ski resorts in North America. The European-style ski-in/ski-out, pedestrian village features locally-owned and operated shops, restaurants and lodging, and back for a second year, Sun Peaks Resort is happy to announce that they will again be partnered with Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country to deliver some of the region’s most celebrated wines at the Savour the Sun Festival (Dec. 5-8). Later in the season, the first annual Sun Peaks Wine & Food Festival will also be taking place (Mar. 5-8) further highlighting BC’s finest award-winning wines, paired with delicious creation by Sun Peaks culinary experts. Also new this season, private lessons focusing on bump and carving techniques will be available to intermediate and advanced skiers as well as snowboarders.

SilverStar Mountain Resort - located on part of British Columbia's Monashee Mountain range SilverStar is a mountain resort unlike any other. With an abundance of natural snow and vast and varied terrain, SilverStar offers premium skiing in British Columbia’s interior. Located 65km north of Kelowna International Airport, SilverStar has more than 3,282 acres of groomed ski-in/ski-out powder terrain. With average daytime temperatures of -5 and over 700 cm of natural snowfall, SilverStar offers a diverse mix of both downhill and cross country terrain with 132 alpine runs and Canada’s largest network of daily groomed cross country trails. Back again for its second year is the SEISMIC Mountain Festival (March 13-22, 2020), a 10 Day mountain event that brings together sports, business, art, culture, and community. During the festival, guests can enjoy 10 days of music and events that cater to ski, bike, wine, food, and tourism/travel audiences.

Panorama Mountain Resort - tucked deep into British Columbia’s most dramatic mountains, Panorama is a four-season mountain resort and alpine village surrounded by forest and towering peaks. Located two hours from Banff, Alberta by car, winter enthusiasts choose Panorama for its 4,265 feet of vertical descent (top 10 in North America), wide open intermediate cruiser areas, powder filled tree lines and the steep and deep exhilaration of Taynton Bowl, an ex-heli ski terrain. Panorama also offers the largest on-mountain outdoor hot pools in Canada, ski-in/ski-out accommodation, and a village with all the amenities and tours, programs and activities needed to ensure a memorable stay. Panorama is famed for its alpine hut-to-hut dining including helicopter, snowcat accessed après, and Canada’s first snowcat food-truck, Snowlicious Mobile Kitchen, which dishes up hot foods and cold beer right on the slopes.

Fernie Alpine Resort - the easternmost ski resort in the province, Fernie Alpine Resort can easily be accessed from both Calgary International Airport or Cranbrook Airport an hour away. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the cult hit movie Hot Tub Time Machine which was largely filmed in Fernie due to its quintessential ski town feel. While adventure is at your doorstep while in Fernie, it isn’t a mass tourist destination. Along with its authenticity comes 37 feet of powder annually to enjoy. New this year is ski-in/ski-out cabins at Snow Creek, one of the premier properties at Fernie, along with three new luxury private cabins available for vacation rentals, and Canada’s first tiny home hotel. Further, the new ice bar at Lizard Creek Lodge will be the coolest place to be this winter. Guests are invited to cozy up in the bar’s provided jackets and enjoy ice-cold vodka in a room made of carved ice blocks.

Kimberley Alpine Resort - Located just half an hour from the Canadian Rockies International Airport, Kimberley can arguably say it is the fastest plane to ski lift resort in BC. Known for its fantastic family programming, Kimberley hosts family-friendly activities like helmet decorating & scavenger hunts at the base of the mountain. Further, visitors can enjoy the unspoiled scenery, some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets around, along with incredible night skiing nearly all season long. New this year at Kimberley is TrackSkiing, a type of nordic cross country skiing, along with a brand-new track for you to do it on. Guests can also enjoy authentic backcountry skiing with Boulder Hut Adventure and heli-ski the backcountry of the Purcell mountains.

Kicking Horse Resort - the champagne powered capital of Canada, Kicking Horse is located on The Powder Highway and recently went through the biggest terrain expansion in Canada with over 660 acres of new alpine terrain. Enjoy a luxury ski getaway at Kicking Horse with mountain lodging. Eagle’s Eye the highest elevated restaurant in Canada, is also home to two luxury suites with all the amenities of a high-end hotel. A night at Eagle’s Eye includes a private chef, butler and instructor guide to help you get around the mountain. Perhaps the best perk is a guaranteed first track in the morning (being the first to ski on a freshly groomed hill). Kicking Horse is also the only stop in North America on the Freeride World Tour (Feb 2-8), an action-packed event that attracts some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the nation!

Whitewater Ski Resort - located in Nelson BC, Whitewater is a ski destination you go to if you want to leave behind the distraction of work. Whitewater consciously does NOT offer Wi-Fi or cell service at the resort in hopes to encourage visitors to put their phones away and spend quality time with those around them. The resort not only offers some legendary skiing, but they also offer legendary food. Whitewater serves up proper Kootenay hospitality with its internationally acclaimed menu has inspired four National Best Selling cookbooks. Come eat, drink, ski and disconnect at Whitewater.

Whistler Blackcomb - Located two hours away from Vancouver, Whistler Blackcomb is one of the west coast's most popular ski resorts. Known for its amazing village and extensive ‘non-ski related’ offerings Whistler is a hotbed for winter fun. Since purchasing the mountain in 2016, Vail Resorts has invested $66 Million dollars into Whistler Blackomb creating the first three-gondola connection in the world (opened in December 2018). They have also gone through some recent lift infrastructure upgrades in order to provide quicker, easier access to all levels of terrain for visitors. This year Whistler Villages’s annual festive lighting program will return with approximately 5,000 strings of lights throughout the village. Each tree in the village is adorned with around 7,000 lights and each year a new display with unique colors and designs is created. Hotels and other businesses add their own decorations to create a resort-wide fairyland.