Why Go?
- Pre-arranged job before you leave!
- Program fee refunded if unsuccessful
- Accommodation Assistance
- Jobs for everyone!
- Great resort benefits
- Huge social life
- Orientation session before you leave
- Save money- so you can spend it!
- Free Season Lift pass at selected resorts
Overview
Our winter program for 2011/2012 season has now opened - get in fast for the best postions!
If you are considering a break from the norm, a ski season in Canada is an unparallelled experience. Just imagine waking up to the sight of fresh snow covering the magnificent Canadian Rockies, their peaks towering over 11,000 metres high! The views will be one thing, but the opportunity to explore the mountains and improve your ski or boarding skills over the period of your working experience in a World Class Resort is quite another...
Each year over 7,000 young Australians make bold decision to head over to Canada to work, play and ski for up to 2 years. The most popular jobs are to be had on the montain. OWH is the longest running company in Australia, UK and New Zealand to offer hundreds of exclusive jobs in some of the best resorts in the snow before you leave home. It might not seem a hard task to find work, however, most of these coveted roles are filled months before the season gets underway, OWH being chosen to hold Australian job fairs in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide, UK Job fairs in London and New Zealand job fairs in Auckland on behalf of the resorts. Most roles offer staff accommodation and other attractive benefits, such as free ski lift passes, as OWH work closely with the resorts to ensure that our participants are best looked after upon arrival in Canada.
Your Canadian working holiday is not all about work, there is the cultural and social side to the jobs which is very important. All rersorts offer a lively social scene, with parties, organised trips and social gatherings througout the season. Living overseas is widely regarded as a positive addition to your resume, and demonstrates maturity and ability to adapt to change and handle life outside your comfort zone. So not only are you about to have a great time, you are inveting in skills for your future career!
The Resorts
OWH work with the following resorts/companies
- Kicking Horse
- Big White
- Silver Star
- Whistler
- Nakiska
- The Bulldog Hotel *
* season lift pass not included at The Bulldog Hotel
Inclusions
- Pre-booked face-to-face interview with a Canadian resort
- Accommodation or housing assistance
- Unsuccessful applicants receive program refund!
- Season lift pass!
- Invitation to our Powder pre-departure party
- 1 Free night in a Samesun Hostel (Vancouver, B.C or Banff)
- Arrival Pack - with 'WHC' Sunglasses
- Great Resort discounts on retail, rentals, food & beverage
- 24-hour ongoing support
- Powder in-country support from our Vancouver office
- Visa Assistance
- Ski pass * (except Bulldog Hotel, staff discount on season lift pass)
OWH can also help you with:
- EXCLUSIVE Canada kickstart arrival packages
- Student and working holiday airfares
- Travel insurance
- International Student Cards
- Awesome tours and accommodation
**Pre-departure parties in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. Conditions apply, for full details please refer to the application form. Program fee is subject to change without notice and does not include flights, insurance or working holiday visa fees. Travel insurance is compulsory.
Working Holiday Visas Canada
2008 saw some big and exciting changes to the Canadian Visa program, as of 02 January 2008, the visa program is no longer a "once in a lifetime" opportunity, rather applicants are eligible to apply for the Canadian Working Holiday visa as many times as they like from 18 - 30 years inclusive. However exciting this is, there are some rules around this, and participants must be careful to ensure they are eligible for this visa.
Eligibility Criteria:
Participants must:
- Hold an Australian passport valid for the entire period of your intended stay in Canada (three years minimum validity is recommended) and;
- Be aged 18-30 years inclusive at the time your application is received. Your application must be stamped as received by the Canadian Consulate General in Sydney on or after your 18th birthday, or before your 31st birthday, and;
- Be medically and criminally admissible to Canada under the Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
If you meet the above criteria it is possible to apply for the working holiday visa online at www.whpcanada.org.au . The visa fee is currently $190* (not included in the OWH program fees) and is payable direct to the Canadian Consulate.
Letter of introduction
Once you have applied and are successful for your working holiday visa, you will be issued with a letter of introduction (this will be mailed to you, so make sure when applying you provide an up-to-date address). This letter is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and is must be presented to the Canadian Immigration upon arrival in Canada. Make sure you DO NOT LOOSE THIS LETTER or you will have to apply for the visa again.
Arriving in Canada
Once you arrive in Canada, you present your letter of introduction and at their discretion, your 24 month visa will be issued. You will be (in addition to the letter of introduction and your passport) be asked to prove evidence of funds of minimum $4000 AUD. This proof of funds may be in the form of cash, bank statement (certified), credit card statement or travellers cheques.
Check your passport is valid for a minimum 2 years from date of departure from Australia.
If you require more information, please ask your consultant or check online at www.whpcanada.org.au
*Program fee correct at time of writing, however, subject to change.
FAQs
Who is eligible to apply?
Anyone able to work legally in Canada
Do I need a visa?
Yes, you need a Working Holiday Visa. You must be aged between 18 and 30 inclusive to apply for a visa and be an Australian or New Zealand passport holder with a min 36 month validity.
Visa Changes from 2 Jan 2008:
- work permits will be issued for 24 months
- there will be no limit to the number of places available
- participants can participate more than once, as long as they continue to meet the age criteria and all other admissibility and eligibility requirements.
Upon Arrival:
- The expiry date of the Letter of Introduction will be clearly indicated and it must be presented at a Port of Entry on or before its expiry. This date cannot be altered, extended or changed under any circumstances. You cannot transfer your Letter of Introduction to any other person or name.
- Present your Letter of Introduction and passport to the Port of Entry Officer.
- Present evidence of AU$4000 (or the foreign currency equivalent) in available funds. This may be in the form of travellers' cheques, cash, or a bank or credit card statement in your name showing a balance of at least $4000. You must carry this evidence with you or you may forfeit your chance to be issued a 24 month stay in Canada.
- If the Port of Entry Officer is satisfied that your entry is not contrary to the Immigration and Refuge Protection Act and Regulations, a work permit will be issued.
- Check your Work Permit carefully. Make sure you understand all the information on it. Check the date of expiry on the Work Permit - if you think there is a mistake, immediately ask the officer who issued it to you. It is your responsibility to check your Work Permit thoroughly at the time it is printed.
When are interviews with the Canadian resorts held?
The recruiters come to Australia to conduct interviews in May - August 2008 depending upon the resort. You will need to be in Australia for these interviews. If you happen to be in the UK we will be able to arrange a phone interview with Lake Louise or Big White. Ask us for more information.
What resorts do you work with?
- Lake Louise
- Whistler
- Big White
- Silver Star
- Banff
- Nakiska
- Crystal Holidays (Chalet hosts, Resort rep and Hotel host in different locations)
I am a student, can I apply?
If you are a graduating student, then absolutely. Also, should you just have finished school and are interested in having a GAP year, then this is for you! Students returning to university are not able to make the minimum 6 month commitment and therefore, are generally not employed.
Where do I apply for a visa?
You can apply and get all the details from www.whpcanada.org.au. You must be aged between 18 and 30 inclusive to apply for a visa and be an Australian passport holder. The visas are released each year in January and when they run out they're gone until the following January so planning is important. We cannot accept your application unless you are intending to apply immediately or have received your working holiday visa or if you have a Canadian passport.
Can I specify a particular position that I want to apply for?
Yes you can certainly tell the interviewer that you want to apply for a particular position. However, bear in mind that some positions are very popular and you may be limiting your chances of being offered a job. We recommend that you list a preference, however, flexibility is an attractive trait for employers!
Can I get interview advice and assistance?
Yes, we have a dedicated Program Co-ordinator who will conduct a brief pre-screening interview with you and provide you with advice on the interview process and how best to prepare for your interview with the resort. The co-ordinator is dedicated to you right up until you interview and after!
What kind of people are we looking for?
We are looking for people who are outgoing, hard working, able to work the full season and who really want to be in Canada. Some jobs require a certain skill set but most do not. Customer service experience is a plus.
Can I go with a friend or partner?
Yes of course you can go with a friend or partner. We have a lot of success with friends/partners getting jobs at the same resort. Please do be prepared, though, that you may not both receive a job offer as it is subject to the interview process and can.t guarantee you will both be accepted. However, our success rate with friends and couples is outstanding, so you should not have too many worries!
What happens if I am not offered a job?
Should you not be offered a position by one of our resorts, you will receive a full refund of the program fee.
What if I am offered a position I don.t want?
Unfortunately, if you are offered a position and do not wish to accept it, then you will forfeit your program fee.
Do I need to have experience at skiing / boarding if I.m working in a ski resort?
For most positions you will not. We have many participants who have never seen snow! There is no better way to become experienced, than to spend a season working at a ski resort though, if that's what you are looking for. Working as an instructor or a liftie would be the exception.
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What positions are available?
There is a wide variety of positions for those who love the snow and those who just want to be there. The more flexible you are with your choice the more likelihood of getting offered a job.
Jobs include:
- Lift Operator
- Rental Technician
- Greeter Rental Host
- RR Sales Associate
- RR Cashier
- Group Sales Ticketing Hosts
- Reservation Host
- Guest Relations Host
- Host
- Retail Technicians
- Rental Cashiers
- Retail Sales Associates
- Repair/Tuning Technicians
- Retail Merchandiser
- Retail Boot fitters
- Ticket Seller
- Rental and Retail Shop Clerk
- Storeman Attendant
- Lift Operator
- General Snowmaker
- OGS Parking
- Admin Assistant
- Indoor Attendant
- Outdoor Attendant
- Snow school - Admin
- Night Security Officer
- Food and Beverage Lodge Supervisor
- Line Cook
- Houseperson
- Server
- Dishwasher
How long are you expected to work?
The ski season runs from early November to mid May but obviously depends upon the amount of snowfall. You are expected to work the entire season and there are rewards for this. If you are not available to work the entire season then unfortunately you will not be considered for this program.
What is the average wage?
Wages vary according to job type and resort. In general, pay rates average between $5.50CAD per hour to $14.00CAD an hour.
How many hours a week will I work?
This will depend upon the time of season, as some periods are very busy and you will work more, whilst the start and end of the season is quieter and the hours may be reduced. Generally you will work 32-40 hours per week during high season.
What uniform is required?
As a general rule, you will need to bring black pants and work shoes. The rest of the uniform will be provided. Some resorts will ask for a deposit to ensure the uniform is returned in good condition. If you are in a job that requires you to work outside you will be provided with the appropriate uniform.
What is the policy of the resorts towards piercings, dyed hair, dreadlocks, etc?
Hair must be neat. For females, hair must be tied back when it is a safety issue. For males, hair must be above the collar and cut to mid-ear length at the sides. Jewellery should be worn in moderation. Women may wear one earring of the same size in each ear. Men may wear one small stud or ring. Other facial jewelry or exposed body piercings must be removed while at work, such as tongue rings or studs. Personal hygiene is important and aftershave and perfume should be kept to a minimum.
What temperatures can I expect during the season?
Winter Season: In a word - cold. The temperature can get down to minus 30. As long as you wear lots of layers you won.t be too cold and the longer you are there the more you get used to it. Summers are mild. The temperature can get to 30 degrees, although mainly it is about 25 degrees.
Will I need to buy a car?
No. Some staff will chip in and buy a car together, but in most instances you will not need one.
What about accommodation?
Some resorts provide staff accommodation whereas others will provide you with assistance in finding somewhere to live. Each resorts provides different options. Your first nights accommodation is free as part of the program so that is a great start! We also have a great Flexi-pass which can be purchased in advance and entitles you to 5 or 10 overnights at various locations throughout Canada.
If I live in staff housing, what is provided and what will I need to bring?
What is provided?
- Single bed with mattress cover
- Pillow
- Chair
- Dresser
You will need to bring:
- Bedding
- Alarm Clock
- Bath Towel
- Toothpaste, razor - the usual toiletries
Will I get free-time?
Yes, you will definitely get free-time. You will have a normal 32-40 hour working week, which leaves plenty of time to hit the piste to perfect your skiing or snowboarding!
Will I get a free ski pass?
Almost all of the jobs offered by the resorts include a free or discounted ski pass!
Will I have an opportunity to visit resorts other than the one I am working at?
Yes you will. The resorts often organize trips for staff to ski / board at partner resorts.
Should I buy ski or boarding equipment in Australia or Canada?
Definitely in Canada. There is a far greater range and it is often cheaper. You may also be able to get staff discounts off equipment if purchased at your resort.
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When should I apply for the program if I am traveling in 2008?
Now! Space on the program is already filling fast so the earlier the better. Visas for Canada are limited and so is interview space and we wouldn't want you to miss out.
What is the orientation night and the orientation handbook?
The orientation night is a great opportunity to get those last minute questions about Canada answered, hear more details about what happens upon arrival, and meet others who are off to Canada as well. Your handbook will give you all the information you need to know about taxes, Social Insurance Numbers, bank account, directions to your resorts and other very useful information. It is a very informative and social evening that is always lots of fun.
Will I need to take out travel insurance?
It is compulsory for all foreign applicants to purchase travel insurance covering them for the duration of their employment with the ski resorts, regardless of whether or not you think you may be eligible for Company Benefits. OWH has very affordable and comprehensive travel insurance available.
Should I book my flights with Overseas Working Holidays?
Absolutely! We have negotiated special working holiday airfares for people on our programs that are not available to the general public. This will save you heaps of money. We are also part of Flight Centre Limited, so we have access to all of their airfares as well.
How about tours and accommodation?
Absolutely again! We have great deals on tour packages and accommodation options - just let us know what we can do for you.
How do I get started?
Complete an application form and send it along with your $200 registration fee to Overseas Working Holidays, or contact us for more detailed information.
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Hi, Just searching through my emails and I found one from OWH so I thought Id reply and say thankyou for giving me the opportunity to meet the best friends I've ever had.
