Skiers planning to visit the Bow Valley this winter will experience a delay in the start of their skiing adventures. The ski lift operating hours at all four major ski resorts in the area are being adjusted due to Alberta’s transition to permanent daylight time.
Nakiska, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Mount Norquay have confirmed that their ski lifts will commence operation at 9:30 a.m. MT. Nakiska’s lifts will run until 4 p.m., while the lifts at the other three resorts will operate until 4:30 p.m.
Mount Norquay’s marketing manager, Jasper Johnson, mentioned that the ski hill has traditionally operated from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for many years. This adjustment marks a significant change for them, and they will evaluate its impact on operations as they move forward.
The shift in operating hours aims to provide the ski hill staff with more daylight for preparation and safety checks before skiers arrive. Norquay plans to review the hours of operation at the start of February when daylight hours naturally increase.
The Alberta government’s decision to switch to permanent daylight time in April 2026 means that the sun will rise later, with Banff not seeing daylight until around 9:45 a.m. by late December. Despite this change, Johnson reassures skiers that the timing adjustment should not pose a significant inconvenience, as the pre-sunrise dawn light will allow for visibility beforehand.
Representatives from Sunshine Village have expressed concerns about the challenges posed by Alberta’s time change, noting that it may impact the ski resort’s operations and visitor experience. They aim to maintain Alberta’s reputation as a welcoming and beautiful destination with great snow, despite the darker mornings.
Lake Louise Ski Resort’s director of sales and marketing, Emmett McPartlin, hopes that the delayed opening will have minimal effects on guests’ skiing experiences. The resort will assess potential adjustments to services like ski lessons and shuttles in the coming weeks.
While Lake Louise and Sunshine are scheduled to open on November 6, Mount Norquay will open on November 7, and Nakiska will offer a preview week starting November 7, with regular operations starting later in the month.
