Big White Ski Resort beats out the Calgary Stampede to be ‘business of the year’ at Canadian Tourism Awards

Big White Ski Resort is not only awesome at the Okanagan, BC and Western Canada levels, but on the national stage, too.

As such, Big White was named ‘business of the year’ at the Canadian Tourism Awards at a ceremony last night in Gatineau, Quebec.

The 2,834-acre ski resort, located 60 kilometres east of Kelowna, beat out two other finalists to win the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s highest award — the Calgary Stampede and Charmed Resorts of Blairmore, Alberta.

Besting the internationally renowned Calgary Stampede, the 10-day rodeo and festival that’s dubbed ‘the greatest outdoor show on earth’, is quite a coup for Big White.

But, then again Big White is also internationally renowned for oodles of powder snow, spectacular terrain, Canada’s second largest lift system and charming ski-in, ski-out village.

“As a Canadian, family-run business, this is an incredible honour,” said Peter Plimmer, owner and CEO of Big White.

“This isn’t achieved by one person. Whether someone has worked at Big White for one season or for 40, I am grateful for their dedication and proud to share this award with them.”

Annually, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (which represents the $130-billion a year tourism industry coast to coast to coast) hands out trophies in 12 categories — but ‘business of the year’ is considered the pinnacle.

It’s awarded to a business that excels in six areas — overall strength and viability, visitor satisfaction, growth and innovation, contribution to and enhancement of the wider tourism industry, commitment to human resources and fostering equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Big White was founded in 1963 with a single, simple t-bar left.

It’s grown into a world-class resort with 16 lifts (including high-speed quad chairlifts and a gondola) serving 119 runs that are covered every year with 25 feet of snow with a 2,319-metre summit and 777-metre vertical drop.

There’s also Nordic skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horse-drawn sleigh rides and dog sledding at Big White and village infrastructure of shops, restaurants, hotels, spas, condominiums and chalets.

The ‘business of the year’ accolade comes hot on the heels of Big White vice-president Michael J. Ballingall being named ‘business leader of the year’ at last month’s Kelowna Business Excellence Awards.

The 2025-26 winter season at Big White is set to launch Nov. 27.