The Lake Louise Ski Friends program, established in 1978, is the world’s first volunteer-led mountain hosting initiative; a model later adopted by premier resorts such as Whistler (1987). Founded by Barb Spear and Patti Weightman, wives of volunteer ski patrol members, the program was negotiated with resort leadership including General Manager Rodney Touche and Area Manager John Worrall. The first eight volunteers launched the concept of the “Mountain Host” as it is known today.

Purpose. In the late 1970s most guests stayed on the Front Side (Whitehorn runs); the Back Side, Far Side, and Temple area were underused despite better snow. Spear and Weightman proposed a volunteer corps offering complimentary tours to guide guests through the resort. The program balances guest service with operational efficiency and has become a primary reason many international visitors return; some Friends have volunteered for over four decades.

Structure. Ski Friends are self-governing with an executive board. Membership requires an annual fee ($180), a uniform levy ($100), and a minimum of 12 days per season (typically two per month from November through April). Applicants are evaluated on skiing ability, resort familiarity, and public-facing experience to ensure they can navigate everything from green runs to single black diamonds. The “Yellow Jacket” has become the symbol of the program, visible in the base area and at the meeting point in front of Whiskeyjack Lodge.

Tours. Tours run twice daily (10:00 am and 1:15 pm), seven days a week. Guests are stratified by ability so no one is placed in terrain beyond their skill. A specialized “Heritage Tour” covers the geology, biology, and human history of Lake Louise and Banff National Park; Indigenous presence (Ho-run-num-nay), Tom Wilson, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Swiss guides; typically on blue and green terrain. Volunteers share insights on the Victoria Glacier, glacial flour, wildlife corridors, and the UNESCO World Heritage site. By 1985 membership reached 90 and the “Amongst Friends” newsletter began; Whistler modeled its Mountain Host program on the Lake Louise manual.

Safety and patrol synergy. Ski Friends complement the Ski Patrol. By guiding guests into appropriate terrain, they reduce “courtesy rides” (transport of overwhelmed but uninjured guests) and support boundary awareness. The West Bowl expansion (2020) increased demand for terrain guidance. The program is distinct from the Go International volunteer program, which focuses on summer conservation and trail work in exchange for accommodation.