Tips for Working in Banff + Sunshine Village & Banff Gondola Employment Review
Did you know that in order to live in Banff you must also work in Banff? Working, living, and playing in Banff all go hand-in-hand. You can’t do one without the others. I lived in Banff for years and as such have plenty of experience working in Banff – including at the Banff Gondola, Sunshine Village, and Parks Canada.
In this post I’ll go over what it’s like to work at the Banff Gondola, what it’s like to work at Sunshine Village, how to find a job in Banff, and tips for the best employment opportunities in town.
If you’re planning to work and live in Banff, check out this post which outlines everything you need to know about living in Banff. My complete local’s guide!
Skip Ahead:
- Do I need to work in Banff?
- How to find a job in Banff
- Tips for working in Banff
- Best jobs in Banff
- What it’s like to work at Sunshine Village
- What its like to work at the Banff Gondola
As you read this post, please consider clicking the links throughout. These are affiliate links which means when you book a hotel or purchase a product, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you (full disclosure). These commissions fund The Holistic Backpacker and help me write more blog posts.
Thank you for supporting my work!
Banff Google Map: 600+ Pins
Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Banff?
Then my Banff map is for you!
Get my 600+ recommendations for hiking trails, viewpoints, can’t-miss spots, and unique activities all in once place.
Full of LOCAL hidden gems & insider travel tips!
Once click and the map is autosaved to your Google Maps app – a digital tour guide that fits in your pocket.
Quick Banff Guide
Parks Pass: You will need a National Park Pass for each day you’re in Banff. Passes can be purchased at the East Parks Gates, the Visitor Centre, any of the campgrounds, or online. If you’ll be in any of Canada’s National Parks for more than 7 days in a 365 day period, an annual Discovery Pass offers a better rate than purchasing individual day passes.
How to get to Banff: fly into Calgary International Airport. From here, rent a car, RV, or take one of the following shuttles to Banff:
- Budget: On-It runs during the summer months and Pop-a-Ride is a ride-share program. You can use my Poparide link to save $5 on your first trip.
- Top private shuttles: Banff Airporter and Brewster.
- Car rental: having access to a car is the best way to travel to/from/within Banff. Here are the best budget car rental options for Canada.
Best Tours in Banff: here are all my recommendations for the best tours, activities, and unique experiences in Banff & beyond.
Roam Transit: once you arrive in Banff, use the local transit service as much as possible. There are bus lines within town, plus lines to popular spots like Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon. The bus to Lake Louise should be reserved in advance.
Parking: the best spot to park is the free lot next to the train station. More information about parking in town can be found here and parking fees can be paid here. Bylaw is strict, so ensure you’re following parking rules exactly.
Lodging & Camping: Here’s my guide for hotels in Banff (Organized by Category). If you’re visiting during peak summer (mid June to early September), make your lodging reservations FAR in advance. Front country and backcountry camping reservations must be made on the Parks Canada reservation system. The system typically opens in February and it’s recommended you make reservations then.
Reservations: for activities and restaurants should be made well in advance during summer. Get Your Guide and Viator are popular tour booking platforms whereas OpenTable is used for restaurants.
When to visit: Hiking – July to mid September. Backcountry camping, wildflowers, & water activities – July to August. Fall colours – mid September to early October. Wild ice skating – usually early December. Skiing (best snow), coldest temps & frozen waterfalls – January & February. Northern lights – December to February. Best spring skiing – March to April. Quietest months to visit – April, May, October, and November.
Visiting Moraine Lake or Lake Louise? Read my guide for how to get there with the new road closures. If you want to see Moraine Lake at sunrise, you can book a shuttle here.
Wildlife Safety: 11 ways to stay safe from wildlife, bear safety, & bear basics.
General Canada Travel Tips
Travel Insurance: ALWAYS purchase reliable travel insurance before your trip. This insurance is trusted by backpackers and adventure sport enthusiasts around the world. You can also use my link to receive 5% off SafetyWing policies. Here’s a blog post with more trustworthy travel insurance options you can compare.
Public transit is not common in North America, however every big city has their own local transit system. If you want to venture out of big cities or to any natural spot, plan to rent a car – here are the best budget car rental options in Canada. Trains (Via Rail) are not well connected within the country and are expensive. Hitchhiking is relatively uncommon here, however Poparide is becoming more popular for ride sharing.
Phone: popular providers are Rogers, Telus, and Koodoo. SIM cards can be purchased at the airport, phone stands, or provider storefronts. Canada has some of the most globally expensive phone rates.
Language: English & French (in Quebec).
Currency: Canadian dollars – displayed as “$” or “CAD”. Both cash and card are accepted everywhere.
Visas are typically not needed for stays up to 6 months in Canada.
Tipping culture: You are expected to tip 15-20% minimum on every meal. You are also expected to tip drivers, hair dressers, or anyone providing a “service” to you.
Tax: is not included in the price you see. Each province has their own tax bracket – Alberta 5%, Ontario 13%, British Columbia 12%, etc.
Helpful Banff Blog Posts
- 25+ Epic Lake Louise Hikes
- Step-by-step guide for planning a trip to Banff
- Best Hotels in Banff – Organized by Category
- How to get to Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
- 50+ Things to do in Banff in summer
- 30+ Epic things to do in Banff in winter
- Complete guide to the Icefields Parkway
- How to travel Banff without a car & 50+ Banff hikes accessible via bus
Do I Need to Work in Banff?
In short – yes. You need to work in Banff if you plan to live there.
Banff has a “need to reside” rule which means if you live in town you must work in town simultaneously. No one necessarily enforces this rule, however if you’re moving to Banff and are in need of housing, many landlords will not consider you as a tenant unless you have employment lined up.
Keep in mind, many businesses in Banff will not consider you for employment unless you have housing lined up due to the ongoing housing crisis. Good luck trying to figure out this riddle.
Aside from the need to reside rule, you also need to work in Banff because it’s expensive. Rent prices, groceries, activities, eating out – everything is overpriced because you are literally living in a tourist town. If you don’t work in Banff, your savings will run out quicker than you think. Many locals have 2 jobs just to pay the bills.
Additionally, working in Banff is the fastest way to make friends in town. This is especially great if you’re moving to Banff solo (like I did).
Connect via socials:
Sign up for emails to receive a 25% discount on my travel maps + occasional updates on new hiking guides & travel resources.
Taylor ♡
How to Find a job in Banff
For those new to this little mountain town, finding a job in Banff may seem overwhelming. Most jobs in Banff revolve around tourism and hospitality. Unless you love dealing with clueless tourists, flipping beds, or cleaning toilets – you probably won’t find your dream job in Banff.
Realistically no one comes to Banff to work. They do it for the lifestyle.
The best way to find work in Banff is to use Indeed. Indeed is the largest job-finding platform in Canada and all the local businesses post their open positions here. using Indeed is a sure-fire way to find work in Banff.
If you know exactly where you want to work in Banff, you can also apply to individual businesses via their career page or business emails. This approach typically has a lower success rate, but slightly higher if you’re able to drop off a resume in person.
I’d recommend applying to as many jobs as possible and to not be picky when the offers come in. There’s nothing saying you can’t accept one job in Banff, then change positions/companies later on. Local businesses see high employee turnover rates compared to almost anywhere else. Banff is a transient tourist town. Business owners here get it.
tips for working in banff
Banff Google Map: 600+ Pins
Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Banff?
Then my Banff map is for you!
Get my 600+ recommendations for hiking trails, viewpoints, can’t-miss spots, and unique activities all in once place.
Full of LOCAL hidden gems & insider travel tips!
Once click and the map is autosaved to your Google Maps app – a digital tour guide that fits in your pocket.
Tips for Working in Banff
Banff relies heavily on seasonal work meaning many jobs run for only half the year. Locals typically have two jobs they rotate between; a summer and a winter job. If you’re searching for work in Banff, generally try to follow this trend and apply to jobs a couple months before each season starts.
The summer season runs from mid June to September and the winter season runs from early November to late May
Here are a few things to look for when searching for work in Banff:
Staff Accommodation: since Banff is a transient town, many businesses offer their employees discounted staff accommodation. This is great as it makes it easy to move to Banff despite the housing crisis and saves you some $. The downfall to staff housing in Banff is that it “traps” you in your job. If you quit, you’re homeless. You will also likely have to share a bedroom/small area with (multiple) strangers.
Working Hours: there are unfortunately businesses in Banff who overwork their employees. Look for companies who clearly state their working hour expectations and offer time off – at the end of the day you’re moving to Banff to have fun. Working evenings is best so you can spend your days hiking or skiing and your nights working.
Employee Perks: some jobs in Banff come with employee perks. These often come from restaurants, hotels, or excursion-based companies. As a Pursuit employee you get their tours free and discounts on hotels. The Fairmont offers amazing employee benefits compared to other hotels in the area, and BHC offers epic restaurant discounts all over town.
Rate of Pay: obviously this is important everywhere. Anything serving-related or Parks Canada is going to guarantee you the highest wage in Banff unless you have a specialized skill. Entry level jobs (ie. ski resort employee or retail) is minimum wage. Unfortunately many Banff locals have 2 jobs to afford the high prices in town.
Advancement Opportunities: aside from potentially switching departments or becoming management at your entry level job, there are few advancement opportunities in Banff. Most jobs are unskilled.
Working in Banff and finding a job in Banff
Best Jobs in Banff
Some jobs in Banff are better than others. Since you have to work in Banff, you might as well try to make it worth your while. Below are the highlights and “lowlights” of each work industry in Banff.
The highest paying job in Banff is easily anything that rests within the serving industry. Tips are absolutely mad in Banff, especially if you manage to land a job at one of the BHC restaurants. Servers during the summer months easily make close to triple the standard Banff salary at any other job in town.
Parks Canada is the second highest paying job in Banff. Generally the job is very relaxed, you receive paid time off (depending on your contract), and there are plenty of departments so there’s a variety of work. Working with Parks Canada is one of the hardest jobs to land in Banff. The town of Banff also has a limited number of higher paying positions with a similar vibe to Parks. There’s also BLL Tourism which has a slightly higher than average entry pay for Banff.
If you’d like to work for a hotel in Banff, you can usually snag staff accommodation at a great rate at the trade off of dismal work and minimum wage. Some hotels, like the Fairmont, offer epic staff deals and benefits, but this isn’t always the norm. Hotel work is typically the first job newcomers to Banff start with.
Pursuit is a company that owns a huge portion of Banff’s establishments and services: hotels, excursions, restaurants, transportation services, attractions, etc. They unfortunately have a bad reputation when it comes to greed, employee treatment, and care for the environment. Despite this, many Banff newcomers land a job with them based on the fact they offer discounted staff accommodation and freebees/discounts on everything they own. I have a review of what it’s like to work for them below.
There are also of course minimum wage jobs like cashier, ski resort employee, retail, and tour guide. Guides make tips and have some employee perks, ski resort workers get a free season pass. Every other minimum wage job in Banff is just that – a minimum wage job.
best jobs in banff and highest paying jobs in banff
What it’s like to Work at Sunshine Village
I won’t lie, my experience working at Sunshine Village was pretty epic. Not everyone has as great of an experience as I did but I hit the jackpot. It was covid so the slopes were empty and I wasn’t too concerned about saving money at the time so I spent most of my days skiing rather than working.
Here’y my Local’s Guide to Skiing Sunshine Village
and my guide to The Best Banff Ski Resort (SkiBig3) & Which Pass to Purchase
I was in the ticket booth when I worked for Sunshine. Most of my days started early (I’d show up for work before the resort opened), I’d work until latest 2pm, then hit the slopes after work. I was also on part-time hours at the time and took plenty of days off to ride other resorts. This is NOT everyone’s experience and was exclusive to covid times.
I found my supervisors in guest services to be very understanding, accommodating, and personable. I have nothing negative to say about working for Sunshine Village, however I’ll list the overall pros and cons below.
what it’s like to work for sunshine village
Pros of Working for Sunshine Village
Banff Sunshine Village is commonly one of those places Banff newcomers land. Working for them means you get a free season pass and there’s limited discounted staff accommodation. If you’re offered this, try to snag a place in town rather than on-mountain. If you’re on-mountain you’re trapped up there outside of resort working hours.
Your Sunshine staff pass grants you free days at ski resorts around Alberta and British Columbia which is very appealing to those looking to ski multiple resorts throughout the season. Reciprocal deals are sometimes discounts and there are black out days. I’d list the specifics here, however these details are always changing.
Sunshine employees are also able to apply for Pro Deals. This means you can get epic discounts on brands like Oakley, Fjallraven, Salomon, Burton, and so many more. A couple of my favourite Pro Deal platforms are Expert Voice, Amer Sports, and Outdoor Prolink.
Working at Sunshine Village is also a great way to make friends who are interested in riding. Many departments offer their employees 2hr ride breaks mid-shift giving you a chance to ride with your new friends. There’s also a free staff bus to and from Banff so you don’t have to worry about having a car or dumping money on gas to get to/from work.
pros of working for sunshine village banff
Cons of Working for Sunshine Village
It’s a well known fact that ski resorts are money-hungry. Sunshine is no different to this. At the end of the day the resort is out to make cash even if it means doing the wrong thing. An example being when they kicked all their employees out of staff accommodation during covid with less than 48hrs notice, leaving hundreds of Sunshine employees homeless. Other establishments in Banff had to step up to sort this out.
Many employees find that they do not have enough time to ski when they work at Sunshine Village. Full time hours while the resort is open leaves you with only your weekend days to ski, plus the occasional ride break mid-shift. The pay at Sunshine is also only minimum wage which means you may also have to pick up a second job to afford to pay the high prices of Banff.
When you work for Sunshine Village you’re likely to have an outdoor position. Winters in Banff are brutally cold. If you’re standing outside all day, this can be very challenging and unenjoyable for some.
And finally, many jobs at Sunshine are repetitive and not exciting (to be fair many jobs in Banff are like this). Again, you usually don’t move to Banff to work your dream job.
Despite the cons of working for Sunshine Village, many of their employees return for future seasons as they really enjoy the social aspect and free season pass.
cons of working at sunshine village banff
Positions Available at Sunshine Village
If you’re going to work for Sunshine Village there are a few employment opportunities to consider. These are generally the main jobs at Sunshine Village:
- Ski Instructor: is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of working at Sunshine Village. You must be qualified and Sunshine usually takes instructors with previous work experience.
- Lift Attendant: is the main entry level position. I won’t lie, this one sucks and you should avoid it at all costs if you don’t LOVE the cold. Although your coworkers may be fun, this position guarantees you standing in place in freezing cold temperatures for hours at a time.
- Guest Services: think ticket windows, season passes, retail, handing out rental equipment. I’d honestly recommend trying to get one of these positions when you apply to work at Sunshine. They’re indoors (aka warmer) and fairly easy. If you work in tickets you usually put in half days.
- Hospitality: there are many restaurants and a hotel at Sunshine Village. Working at Trappers will bring in the highest tips.
- Daycare: if you enjoy working with children there are a limited number of on-mountain daycare positions available at Sunshine Village.
- Custodial/Security/Parking Attendant: these are all fairly self explanatory.
- Ski Patrol: varies between rescues, first-aid, and mountain maintenance. Depending on the position you need to be first aid certified (or higher) and have exceptional riding abilities.
Want to work at Sunshine Village? You can apply through their website. I recommend applying around mid September as the season starts early November.
how to work at sunshine village banff
What it’s like to Work at the Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola is one of the main attractions in Banff. Like Sunshine Village, the Banff Gondola is a place many Banff newcomers land when they first arrive in town.
Here’s my Sulphur Mountain & Banff Gondola Guide
I’ll be honest, working at the Banff Gondola was not great. Overall I found the work boring and repetitive, the pay was low for the experience we were expected to provide, and employee time off was generally not respected.
I had a great time working at the Banff Gondola my first summer in Banff because it was covid and operations were drastically reduced. I returned for a second summer the year after, but ended up quitting after a few weeks based off agreements not being followed and unfair treatment from superiors.
Although this review is for working at the Banff Gondola, this review generally applies of most Pursuit-owned jobs. Think Lake Minnewanka, Columbia Icefields, etc.
What it’s like to work for the Banff Gondola
Pros of Working for the Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola is owned by a company called Pursuit which – literally – owns half of Banff. Restaurants, hotels, transportation providers, attractions. Everything. They also own attractions and hotels in neighbouring communities like Jasper and Golden.
When you work for the Banff Gondola you’ll get every attraction and transportation free, plus discounts on hotels and restaurants. You also get these discounts for friends and family which is a HUGE perk to Banff newcomers looking to experience as much as possible during their first year in Banff.
The staff who work at the Banff Gondola turn over really quickly which means your coworkers will usually be made up of fresh, excited travellers. It’s usually very easy to make friends when you work for the Banff Gondola.
The Banff Gondola also provides discounted staff accommodation. Their staff accommodation varies in quality, but with the state of the housing crisis anything is better than nothing.
If you’re working at the upper station, you are surrounded by mountain views – views people fly across the world to see. There are a couple restaurants up here. Employees working at the restaurants make good tips.
perks of working for the banff gondola
Cons of Working for the Banff Gondola
For starters, a con for working at the Banff Gondola is the pay. It’s one of the lowest paying jobs in Banff, yet you’ll constantly hear the phrase “we provide world-class experience.” If you don’t provide what management deems a “world class experience” (at your minimum wage pay), you’ll hear about it.
Parking at the gondola is crazy so you’re not allowed to drive to work and must take public transit. Unfortunately during the summer months the bus (which is free with a residents pass) can be very late and take extended time due to traffic – adding sometimes 2 hours of unpaid commute time to your work day. On top of that, if you work at the top of the gondola you’re not able to clock in until you’re at the top and must clock out before you leave the top. Gondola travel time + waiting for a gondola cabin (which can be lengthy) adds more unpaid work-related hours to your day.
I found time off to generally not be respected and shift hours rotated making it hard to find a routine/use time outside work for fun activities. Many of my coworkers before and after I worked there made it clear they worked many overtime hours despite wanting to stick to their regular scheduled hours.
I ultimately quit my job at the Banff Gondola because I was unable to book days off in advance, despite being sent home early daily (this was before the summer season kicked up). After multiple emails and speaking to superiors in person, it was made clear there was no real reason for this and nothing was going to change.
Most jobs at the Banff Gondola are repetitive and boring (like many jobs in Banff, to be fair), plus many employees have had problems with supervisors regarding various issues.
Overall I would say working at the Banff Gondola is unfortunately not the best option for the above reasons.
banff gondola employee review.
Positions Available at the Banff Gondola
The Banff Gondola is a large operation which means there are plenty of employment opportunities available. Some workers are stationed at the top of the gondola, whereas others are stationed at the bottom.
- Guest service agent: varies between the top and bottom, but usually revolves around selling tickets.
- Lift attendant/operations: run and service the gondola. This position is loud, repetitive, and requires you to be in outdoor conditions on cold or rainy days. I’d recommend avoiding this position if you can.
- Food and beverage: make more money due to tips. If you have experience with fine dining, serving at the Sky Bistro will bring in good money.
- Building and grounds: is the janitorial team which rotates between the top and bottom. They have a big job to keep the gondola facilities clean, and (obviously) are exposed to a lot of chemicals. This job at the Banff Gondola seems to be one of the “chiller” options as the staff has cleaning objectives, but finish them at their own pace.
- Parking attendant: directing traffic – honestly also seems like one of the more chill positions and you get to move around and be outside all day.
- Retail: self explanatory.
If working at the Banff Gondola seems like a good fit for you, you can check their current openings here.
Next: My Local’s Guide to Living in Banff: Everything You Need to Know
what it’s like to work at the banff gondola and how to get a job at the banff gondola
Banff Google Map: 600+ Pins
Don’t feel like scrolling through blog posts trying to find things to do in Banff?
Then my Banff map is for you!
Get my 600+ recommendations for hiking trails, viewpoints, can’t-miss spots, and unique activities all in once place.
Full of LOCAL hidden gems & insider travel tips!
Once click and the map is autosaved to your Google Maps app – a digital tour guide that fits in your pocket.
what it’s like to work in banff
Happy adventuring!
Taylor ♡
Like This Post?
Share with friends or save it for later!
About The Author
HI, I’m Taylor – the voice behind The Holistic Backpacker.
After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring.
I now spend my days travelling the world, climbing mountains, and spending nights under the stars in the Canadian Rockies backcountry.
I created The Holistic Backpacker so I could share my adventures and help connect people like you with the same amazing experiences.
