Canada — Whether it be in the East or the West, Canada is home to some world-class ski resorts. These resorts are known for their ample powder, cold days, and lively apres. There are also smaller mountains that provide a more tranquil experience.
Last ski season saw some marquee additions, including the Stagecoach expansion at Castle Mountain and the Richardson’s Ridge expansion at Lake Louise. This offseason, the country’s ski resorts are seeing improvements that avid skiers and riders will love.
Here are six ski resorts that are seeing big upgrades, plus some honorable mentions.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
For years, the Blackcomb Glacier was served by the Showcase T-Bar. However, this system offered limited uphill capacity and was affected by the shrinking glacier. This offseason, Whistler Blackcomb is replacing the surface lift with a SkyTrac fixed-grip quad chairlift. The new lift is being mounted to bedrock rather than the glacier, with earthwork completed. It provides quicker access to the Showcase Bowl and Blackcomb Glacier, home to advanced and expert terrain. Construction is on schedule and will debut during the 2026-27 season.
Kimberly Alpine Resort, British Columbia
After years of begging from guests, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies is finally investing big money in its properties. At Kimberley, the Tamarack Double Chair services intermediate and mostly advanced trails and glades on Tamarack Ridge. It’s being replaced this offseason with a Leitner-Poma and SkyTrac fixed-grip quad. The new chairlift will follow the same alignment but double capacity. It’s scheduled to open during the 2026-27 season.
Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta
Last ski season, Lake Louise opened up the first phase of the Richardson’s Ridge expansion. This added five beginner and intermediate trails, which are serviced by a new high-speed quad chairlift. Lake Louise is currently doing more glading work on Richardson’s Ridge to add advanced glades and a connecting trail to Larch. Additionally, their snowmaking system is being expanded to Richardson’s Ridge, and the Top of the World Chair is undergoing a refurbishment.
Sir Sam’s, Ontario
This offseason, a small Ontario ski area is upgrading its lift infrastructure. The Eagle View double chairlift has been removed and is being replaced with a new Doppelmayr Alpenstar fixed-grip quad chairlift. The C$4 million chairlift will be 338 meters long (approximately 1,109 feet), rise 74 meters (243 feet), and carry 2,028 passengers per hour, possibly alluding to the American election year Canadians are looking forward to. The ski area is asking guests for name suggestions. Work on the new lift is underway, and it’s scheduled to open during the 2026-27 season.
Mont Sainte-Anne, Quebec
The Quebec ski resort has begun work on its modernization plan in collaboration with the province.
The Express du Sud (Southern Express) was a high-speed quad with bubble covers. The Tortue chairlift was a fixed-grip quad from 1987. These will be replaced by a detachable high-speed six-pack bubble chairlift named Évolution Expres (didn’t need to use Google Translate to know it means Evolution Express in English). Its new positioning will provide better access to other sectors of the mountain. The new Southern Express will have a ride time of 7.28 minutes, making it four times faster than its predecessor. The chairlift will have 97 carriers and can carry up to 2,400 people per hour.
The goal is to open the chairlift in early 2027. Two more lifts are planned for 2028.
Mont Sutton, Quebec
Located just above the Vermont-Quebec border, Mont Sutton is a ski resort that’s known for its glade network. This offseason, Mont Sutton is replacing three double chairlifts on the West Side with a new SkyTrac fixed-grip quad chairlift. Equipped with a loading conveyor, it will offer a simpler loading experience for families, though some dislike this loading method. The goal is to complete the chairlift this November.
Honorable Mentions
- Big White is upgrading its beginner experience with new lifts and a small terrain expansion.
- Cape Smokey is increasing its snowmaking capacity and has begun a 4.5-year expansion plan.
- Fernie and Kicking Horse are both planning new chairlifts to be installed for the 2027-28 season.
- Mt. Norquay continues planning its replacement of the North American chairlift with a gondola. It needs approval from Parks Canada, which could come at the end of this year.
- Mount St. Louis Moonstone is spending C$1.6 million on snowmaking upgrades,
- Troll Resort continues work on its multi-year expansion. A few more runs are planned for the lineup this upcoming winter.
Image/Video Credits: Whistler Blackcomb (Matt Sylvestre), Kimberley Alpine Resort, Lake Louise Ski Resort, SRG Skiing, Sir Sam’s, Mont Sainte-Anne, Mont Sutton (Salaheddine Chtioui)
