Lake Louise Conservation

Candidates should have strong interpersonal, communications, and problem solving skills, strong ability to work independently and as part of a team and be an enthusiastic person who stays positive in less than perfect circumstances.

Candidates should also have a desire to work hard, make a difference, and a willingness to remain flexible and positive through ever changing project work, locations, and weather conditions.

Volunteers must be physically fit, have proper clothing and hiking gear (footwear must have tread suitable for trail hiking), and able to do some periodic heavy lifting and hiking in mountain areas. As a volunteer at Lake Louise you should be able to hike for several hours and carry your own equipment.

Please contact us if you have questions about footwear or what to bring. Candidates who come with footwear not appropriate for mountain activity will be required to buy it or will not be allowed to participate in group activities that require it.

All volunteers will have 1 full day of training in Lake Louise upon arrival including an introduction to the area, safety presentation, and overview of the types of activities that will take place during the 4 week volunteer period.

The LLSR Senior Manager takes the lead in managing the Volunteers during the program and the Team Leader for LLSR provides daily support and supervision during projects.

Projects include:

• Visual Aesthetics improvements through refurbishing (scraping, sanding, painting, and/or staining) infrastructures. Which in turn means reduction to the waste stream – an environmental contribution! As a volunteer with us, you will find personal inspiration and connection to nature, learn about and contribute to conservation, improvements to visual aesthetics, community support, and experience the ‘backstage’ management of Canada’s favorite ski resort.
• Volunteers will be taken on hikes including to Skoki Lodge a National Historic Site and the birthplace of skiing in Lake Louise as well as sightseeing road trips.
• IMPORTANT: The volunteers play a critical behind-the-scenes role in visual aesthetics improvements because starting in 2022, Parks Canada in collaboration with Lake Louise Ski Resort moved its Park and Ride mass transit summer bussing program to the ski area bringing thousands of park users to a significantly upgraded Visitor Experience. Locating its bussing hub to LLSR is a significant CONSERVATION initiative that reduces vehicle traffic in important wildlife corridors in Lake Louise.
• Starting in 2013, the ski area took over the maintenance responsibilities of the Friends of Yoho Commemorative Bench program. A commemorative bench with plaque dedication is a thoughtful way to remember people. It’s also a place for family and friends to reflect on memories and shared times. These benches are located in various marquee sightseeing locations like Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake, Takkakaw Falls, and more!
• Assisting other departments with their many hands’ support
• The program manager spends time with the groups talking about and/or demonstrating various things such as erosion control methods and more. The groups learn many different things through listening or doing.
• Litter removal and general clean-up on lift alignments, ski runs, and around built infrastructure and associated areas and/or in support of community-organized events.

The volunteer duties are dynamic so it can vary, sometimes daily depending on the needs of the LLSR. The ski area program manager and Team Leader do their best to make every day a unique experience! The best experiences occur when the groups GO WITH THE FLOW of the program.

Volunteers work 5 days on, 2 days off, 8.5 hours per day (1/2hr off for lunch). Depending on program needs, start and finish times can vary between 8am-4:30pm or 9am-5:30pm.

2025 group volunteers work Tuesday to Saturday with Sunday and Monday off. Groups arrive at Lake Louise on a Monday and start on Tuesday and finish on a Saturday and check out on Sunday.

During their free time, volunteers can enjoy the beautiful town of Lake Louise and the surrounding area (the town of Banff is only 45 minutes away). Volunteers are encouraged to get involved in the community and experience the culture of Lake Louise, Field and Banff.

Arriving and departing Lake Louise is the responsibility of the volunteer. We recommend flying into Calgary, and taking a bus from the Calgary airport and using one of the airport services from Lake Louise back to the airport in Calgary.

Bus options from Calgary to Lake Louise & Lake Louise back to Calgary:

Brewsters or Banff Airporter: www.brewster.ca / www.banffairporter.com.

There is also the option to take a Moose Travel Company bus tour from Vancouver to Banff: www.moosenetwork.com

Upon first arriving in Lake Louise, volunteers can check in to the Charleston Heights Residence between 8am – 6pm.

Detailed arrival information will be sent to the volunteer pre-departure.

As part of the program, a complimentary 4-week accommodation is available. The housing is situated at Lake Louise Ski Resort and is referred to as Charleston Heights. Each volunteer has their own single occupancy lockable room with WiFi at no cost. The unit will contain a bed, desk and chair, storage space for clothes and items, and a TV.

Bathrooms/showers and on-site coin operated washers and dryers are shared facilities. You will need to purchase your own laundry detergent.

There is a staff cafeteria located on-site that provides tenants with breakfast, lunch, and dinner services at an affordable cost as well as ready-to-go options. There is no access to the kitchen.

Parking staffs are available. You will have to register your vehicle with the Housing Department.