BANFF, Alberta – Skiing and snowboarding will briefly take a back seat to remembrance at Banff Sunshine Village on Wednesday, November 11, as the Canadian resort pauses lift loading to honor those who have served in the military.
According to the resort’s Remembrance Day announcement, Sunshine Village will stop loading its gondola and operating chairlifts at 11 a.m. for a moment of silence. The quiet will then be broken by the sound of a bagpiper, marking the conclusion of the tribute.
The ceremony coincides with Canada’s annual Remembrance Day observance, which honors military personnel who have served and sacrificed their lives in times of war, conflict and peacekeeping operations.
Remembrance Day in the Canadian Rockies
November 11 marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended fighting in World War I in 1918. Across Canada, people observe a period of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to remember those who served.
The tradition extends well beyond formal military ceremonies, with schools, businesses and communities across the country participating. Veterans Affairs Canada encourages Canadians to mark the occasion by attending ceremonies, wearing a poppy and thanking veterans for their service.
Sunshine Village’s Ski Season Is Just Getting Started
The ceremony comes just days after Sunshine Village joined other Banff-area ski resorts in opening for the 2026-27 winter season.
The resort opened Saturday, November 7, with limited early-season terrain, including a beginner conveyor and a hike-accessed rail park on lower Strawberry. Its gondola is also operating, while additional chairlift-served terrain will open as snow conditions permit.
Sunshine Village’s Remembrance Day announcement also references complimentary skiing for active and retired NATO military personnel with proper identification, although the resort has not yet announced the applicable dates.
If you have never had the pleasure of skiing at Sunshine we highly highly recommend it. It’s an amazing place for families and has plenty of challenging terrain to keep the more sporty skiers and snowboarder occupied. The lodges are amazing, the staff is quintessentially helpfully Canadian and its a we place we look forward to visiting as much as possible. Good on them for putting resort operations aside for a moment to honor their country’s brave servicemen and service women.
