Behind the Scenes at Big White - Artisanal Grooming & Snowcat Enrichment Program

Posted On: March 31, 2023 |

Here at Big White Ski Resort, we care, more than anything else, about providing a top quality experience not only for our guests, but for those who make their home on the mountain – including our extensive clowder of Snowcats.

For too long, Snowcats have been treated in a way that prioritizes what they can do for us, and not what we can do for them. That's why we've created the only Snowcat Sanctuary in Canada, offering activities, as well as top quality grooming and housing to help our clowder of snowcats make the transition from life in human care back into the wild.

"As always, Big White Ski Resort is leading the way in Canada. Our Snowcat Sanctuary is the first of its kind, and will likely revolutionize the way that ski resorts around the world approach management of this species," says Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort Ltd. "While many have used snowcats to groom and maintain their resorts, we've instead opted to build a team of elite individuals to hand shape the slopes – providing a never-before-seen quality of corduroy for our guests."

This team of artisanal grooming professionals is available at a moment's notice, and has replaced our snowcats so that they can be integrated into our Snowcat Enrichment Program and eventually, released back into their natural habitat with the skills they require to thrive.