Work, Study, and Play the Canadian Way

Be immersed in Canadian language and culture while working at a winter playground. Your English will flourish once you take your classroom lessons into practice, where you will speak English with co-workers and clients in the community and at the resort.

The program will prepare you for potential employment at Mt Washington Alpine Resort—Vancouver Island’s ski and snowboard destination, and a hub for a variety of winter activities. In addition to English training, students will receive a job-readiness component that will prepare them for the Canadian workplace, and for their duties at Mt. Washington.

Successful students will enjoy the many benefits of being a Mt. Washington employee. Not only will they be paid a domestic wage for their work, they will also receive:

• Free season’s ski pass
• Free ski/snowboard lessons
• Free rentals (depending on availability)
• Meal and merchandise discounts
•Access to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tubing, and more activities.

Program Length

The academic portion of the program is 10 weeks long. It includes two months of ESL training and two weeks of mandatory job preparation.

Requirements

Students must enter the program with a TOEIC score of at least 650, or a TOEFL of 400, together with strong speaking skills, or the recommendation of an approved Education Advisor. Students must possess a valid work permit and should have at least one year prior work experience.

Program Outline

1. Classroom training—20 hours per week

2. Employment

Once the classroom component has been successfully completed, students will be eligible for employment at Mt. Washington Alpine Resort. Students will be offered positions based on demonstrated and verified skills as well as language proficiency, as tested. Decisions as to the student’s employability and the position offered are at the sole discretion of Mt. Washington. A positive attitude is mandatory for success.

Winter Season at Mount Washington generally runs from December to April, depending on weather conditions. Positions available at Mt. Washington include: