Why you never forget your first time at Big White, a Canadian love story

On my last night at Big White Ski Resort in Canada I was perched by the windowsill of my room, watching the snow fall in slow motion. The street was illuminated with fairy lights by the clock tower. A handful of people were walking to their dinner plans for the night, where baked camembert and shepherds pie awaited.

I saw a father and son, the little one maybe three years old, as they chased each other down the street. The child’s hands were up, he was laughing, running through the powder as his dad ran behind him.

I thought: I’m witnessing a core memory in the making here. What an utter privilege to watch someone fall in love with the snow, just as we all have.

Big White is a resort where you can easily fall in love with the mountains, the village, and the people who make it their home away from home. I know I did.

When I arrived and went up to my room, I looked out the window and was shocked to see the bullwheel of a chairlift directly below. I got changed and even though I had arrived around 1:30pm, I was standing on snow, ready to ride at 2:00pm.

It took me less than ten seconds to walk out of my accommodation on to the snow ready to ride. As much as I wanted to be special, don’t we all, it turns out everyone in Big White is this lucky. One hundred percent of Big White’s accommodation is ski in ski out.

Not only does this make getting up for first tracks a breeze for those powder hounds like myself, but it’s good for families too. 

“There’s a reason why we’re known as ‘Canada’s favourite family resort’. You know when you have to march small people anywhere? It’s a real hassle,” my guide for the resort, Liz Say, Big White Ski Resort Content Creator, told me.

“So the fact that you can literally put your small people on their equipment and get sliding right away is such a bonus. I know a lot of parents who appreciate that!”

Big White’s entire resort area is 7355 acres with 2765 acres of skiable terrain with no lift lines, none. It struck me as a place where people were just happy to be there. No grumbling about lift lines or running hot with powder fever (there was plenty to go around).

All the seasonaires I met working in the restaurants, cafes and grocery stores were all super happy to be living the dream – probably because nearly everyone had already achieved a few hours of riding before work and were keen to talk about runs and conditions, a bonus for a newcomer like me.

Big White staff live on the mountain, there’s plenty of time to ride and the party scene is fun and friendly. 

Turns out a lot of people end up coming for a season and staying for a lifetime.

Just ask Andrew Jay, resident photographer who came here in 2005 and never left. Ski Patrol Director Drew Gobeil met his wife at Big White and they now live together on the mountain and Liz met her partner at the resort six years ago and are now engaged.

I considered putting out a singles ad during my short time here, “woman seeking man who can ski cliff chair with ease and pull heavy loads (also known as a snowboarder on a cat track).”

Big White is clearly not just a ski resort but a place where all kinds of love blooms.  

I had beautiful moments during my five day sojourn including a horse drawn sleigh ride into the forest for a candle-lit dinner. When snowmobiling through the trails near Big White we all pulled up at a scenic spot and watched the sun set over the mountain. I watched two other guests, in their 50s, throw snowballs at each other and shriek in delight.

It seems like the love for Big White remains long after you’ve left. I had multiple friends message me while I was there, telling me what a special place it was.

One friend wrote me “It’s a place that had a massive piece of my heart so please enjoy a few laps for me. Find narnia and hit the cliff on a bluebird, ride to gem and enjoy the massive chair ride up. Hit up Sam’s for Sunday doubles and dance on the table. If none of that can happen just please – make memories that’ll last a lifetime like I did.”

Alex Parsons was a guest of Big White Ski Resort and Destination British Columbia.