Big White ending season early to fight COVID-19 infections

Given increased COVID-19 cases, an uptick in interest by skiers from outside the region and the unauthorized partying at a Big White restaurant earlier this week, the resort has decided to close on Monday, April 5 rather than April 11.

“We made the decision to stay open until April 11 back in June of last year,” Peter Plimmer, president and CEO of Big White Ski Resort Ltd. said in a news release. “Since then, a lot has changed. In the past week, even more has changed.”

With Whistler and Blackcomb being ordered to close on Monday and other ski hills scheduled to close April 5, there’s been increased interest from Lower Mainland residents trying to book rooms and lift tickets at Big White, the release states.

Plus there was the party at Charley Victoria’s at Big White on Monday where young staff members partied in a crowded room without wearing face masks or safe distancing.

READ MORE: Big White restaurant owner issues apology for party that broke COVID rules

“Big White Ski Resort Ltd. recognized closing early as a necessary action to keep its guests, residents and team members safe from COVID-19,” the news release states.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort said in an announcement it was ceasing operations today. The resort said due to a staff shortage attributed to "COVID-19 circumstances" it made the tough decision to close for the season.


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Rob Munro

Rob Munro

Rob Munro has a long history in journalism after starting an underground newspaper in Whitehorse called the Yukon Howl in 1980. He spent five years at the 100 Mile Free Press, starting in the darkroom, moving on to sports and news reporting before becoming the advertising manager. He came to Kelowna in 1989 as a reporter for the Kelowna Daily Courier, and spent the 1990s mostly covering city hall. For most of the past 20 years he worked full time for the union representing newspaper workers throughout B.C. He’s returned to his true love of being a reporter with a special focus on civic politics