Canadian Mountain Holidays

It was announced recently that the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker program is set to expand over the next weeks and months.

The program has already been broadened to include hospitality and tourism workers, which specifically addresses issues that affect resort destinations such as Whistler, Sun Peaks, and Panorama, and is to be further widened to include other trades. No specifics have been made public yet, though.

The idea is to ensure a better supply of qualified workers not only for the immediate future as the population ages, but also to cover the demands of Vancouver and the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralymic Games.

In addition, Human Resources and Social Development Minister, Monte Solberg, has advised that the Canadian Working Holiday Visa system is also being reassessed with a view to possibly including the UK, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.

So, if you’re interested in working in Canada temporarily, be sure to keep an eye on the Immigration Canada website.

Good luck!

Its official! Racing this weekend is a “GO”! For the first time in 15 years, Panorama Mountain Village will host World Cup Skiing!

After more than 20cm of snow fell on the area over the past couple of days, the FIS has given the go-ahead for the running of the women’s World Cup technical races this Saturday and Sunday!

It is estimated that more than 140 million television viewers worldwide will watch the action on the slopes of Panorama, where the course is said to be in great condition already, and will offer a fair test to the competitors!

A special event in will be held at 6pm in Invermere on Saturday, which will include the Parade of Nations and athlete bib draw, as well as a tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks!

Panorama Mountain Village is a great place for a family vacation, too, and the slopes are scheduled to open for public skiing and boarding from about December 8th!

Compass Tours specializes in reasonably-priced custom packages that include accommodation with any combination of transportation, skiing and snowboarding, and activities.

Contact us now so that we can start building your Panorama itinerary!

There’s less than a month to go before the fastest women on earth hit the slopes of Panorama Mountain Village in British Columbia, Canada!

On November 24 and 25, the Telus Panorama World Cup giant slalom and slalom events will be held, and excitement at the resort is already palpable!

Not long after the races have packed up, the slopes of Panorama open to the public for the winter 2007/2008 season.

Let Compass Tours help with your ski holiday arrangements!

We specialize in reasonably-priced custom ski vacation packages - flights, car hire, scheduled shuttles, accommodation, lift tickets/rental equipment/lessons, activities, etc.

Contact us now for more information about Panorama, and your free, personalized quote!

Wow, we’re only just into October and already seeing substantial snow dumps!

Whistler and Blackcomb mountains have a good couple of inches of the white stuff blanketing the slopes to well below the Roundhouse and Christine’s! But the golf courses should be ok until after Canadian Thanksgiving, when they’re scheduled to close for the winter.

Sun Peaks is showing good early coverage, too, with snow all the way down to the village! I guess the Sun Peaks Golf Course might be closing early!

Panorama’s peaks are already showing a nice dusting, too! Greywolf Golf Course should close on schedule at the end of this week.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Work has already begun on the repair and resurfacing of the notoriously bumpy Toby Creek Road, which runs between Invermere and Panorama!

The upgrade, slated for the full length of the road, is scheduled to be complete by the middle of October.

In the meantime, take extra care when driving the route and watch for workers!

Expect some minor delays, too.

After a bumper crop of snow last winter, which saw about 6 metres (over 236 inches) of snow fall on the slopes with consistently excellent conditions right through the season, Alpine Canada Alpin has announced that Panorama Mountain Village is now the National Training Centre for Canadian ski racers.

In addition, Panorama will return to the world stage during the Audi FIS Ski World Cup this winter, hosting the planet’s fastest ladies in the Giant Slalom and Slalom races in November!

This isn’t the first time that world class athletes have come to Panorama to enjoy the delights of skiing here! Last season saw teams from Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland on the slopes here!

So if you want to come and experience what all the buzz is about, give Compass Tours a call … we can put reasonably priced custom packages together for you with transportation, accommodation, lift tickets, rentals, lessons, and activities … even dinner reservations!

In the meantime … let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Even when you’re on holiday, you’ll probably feel the need to check your email accounts.

Here’s a great way to do it …

http://www.mail2web.com/

All you have to have is your email address and email password …

You can check your messages on any machine with internet access, from anywhere in the world …

And transfer them to your regular email program when you get home!

The availability of a free village shuttle service is an important consideration when you’re deciding which mountain destination to visit, and one with which Compass Tours can assist you!

A village shuttle is defined as a bus service that runs within the village area, transporting guests from one part of the village area to another part of the village area (this is not the bus service that transports you from outlying areas or from other cities to the resort area).

Panorama Mountain Village has a small enough area not to need a shuttle service.

Whistler and Sun Peaks, however, have become fairly large and relatively spread-out, so guests do benefit from the free village shuttle service that is available.

The shuttle makes getting from a point near your accommodation into the main village and to the lift bases much easier, and removes the need for visitors to have a car in the resort at all!

Accommodations that are located on the free shuttle route are often much more reasonably priced than those that are ski in/ski out, or right in the main village. These units are usually more spacious, and quieter at night, too!

The extent of the shuttle service varies from season to season (in Whistler the shuttle runs most of the year, but with a much more extensive service in winter; and in Sun Peaks, the shuttle only runs during the winter months).

What is peace-of-mind worth to you?

Imagine getting all the headaches of vacation planning, and the pain of payment, out of the way ahead of time, so that all you have to do is relax and enjoy your holiday!

You don’t have to worry if you’ll get a seat on the flight you want, a room in the perfect hotel, or a spot on the activity or tour you want to take.

You won’t end up being forced to take a flight at an inconvenient time, or that makes you change planes five times before you get to your destination. You won’t end up in the last, and nastiest, room in the hotel … or worse, in a room at the only hotel in town that no-one wanted to stay at! And you won’t face “sold out” signs for popular tours and activities!

Probably the best perk of all is that you won’t have to haul your wallet out every five minutes, because all the big stuff’s already been taken care of!

Yes, prices do change the closer you get to your departure date … but they usually go up because space on flights and in hotels becomes more and more limited, while demand is unchanged - or increases!

Prices only go down substantially when airlines, hotels, and other service providers are desperate to sell you what no-one else wants!

Yes, within 24 or 48 hours of arrival, you might find a smoking deal - but who needs the stress of waiting until the last second - especially when there are no guarantees that something suitable will come up?!

Many suppliers we work with in Whistler and Sun Peaks offer special deals in the form of “early booking incentives” - discounts for advance bookings!

I’m not here to tell you that last minute travel deals are not out there, somewhere, but is your enjoyment of your precious vacation time really worth the risk?!

You might get lucky … if you don’t mind where you’re going, or where you’ll be staying, or how long you’re staying.

But if you’ve got your heart set on a particular destination and your time is limited, don’t take a chance - book ahead!

Why would a group that’s not interested in somewhat extreme sports want to take a Canadian mountain holiday?

While there are many reasons for active people to go to the mountains, even stamp collectors, book-clubbers, quilters, and the like, will benefit from the fresh, clean air, and the awe-inspiring scenery of British Columbia!

That’s to say nothing of world-class dining, great shopping, and just getting away from the daily grind!

What’s considered a group?

Of course, there are the traditional definitions: Golf club, ski club, cycling club, book club, quilting club, bird-watching club … groups of people who get together to enjoy a shared interest or activity.

But there are many other types of groups, too: A family reunion, a circle of friends celebrating a special occasion … even a bunch of strangers brought together by someone who wants to travel, but doesn’t want to go alone!

What are the benefits of group travel?

Every group is different, but for the most part the best thing about traveling as a group is the price! Almost every supplier (hotels, activities, air and ground transportation, meals, etc) will extend discounts to groups!

Aside from that, there’s the simple pleasure of the company of like-minded individuals!