Work A Ski Season at Stoneham Mountain

Stoneham Mountain Resort is located 20 minutes’ drive from downtown Québec City, just on the outskirts of the city. Its sister resort is Mont-Sainte-Anne, also just outside Quebec, of which Stoneham is the smaller resort but with more night activities and better terrain parks. Both Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham are owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies which also owns a few resorts out west such as Fernie and Kimberley.

To get to the mountain from Québec City, take Highway 73 North and exit at Stoneham. Follow the road signs to the resort. From Montréal, take either Highway 20 East or 40 East to Highway Henri 1V Nord [#73 North], and Highway 40 East. Take Highway 73 North [Exit 167] and exit at Stoneham. Follow the road signs to the resort. Public transportation, rates and schedules from Québec City (French only) can be found here.

Season Dates

Typically the season opens in mid-November and finishes mid-April, weather permitting. The season is slightly shorter at Stoneham as opposed to Mont-Sainte-Anne as the average snowfall is a little lower.

How to Find Accommodation for the Season

No staff accommodation is offered at Stoneham. If you work a season at Stoneham, there are two options for places to live; Québec City or the town of Stoneham.

Websites such as www.kijiji.ca and www.lespacs.com are a great place to start when looking for seasonal accommodation. Average rent in Quebec is about $500 a month for a one-bedroom studio, and $750 for two bedrooms.

Québec City

Québec City is the capital of Quebec and is an absolutely awesome city, with a unique mix of French and Canadian cultures. The Old Town is a UNESCO heritage listed site and is the only city in North America which retains its original city walls.

If you live in Québec City, you will drive up to the mountain daily for work. Lots of employees share transportation, and it has the advantage of always being in the opposite direction to incoming traffic, as you leave the city when everybody gets in to work. Québec City has many European style café and bars, and the bar and club scene is among the best and liveliest in Canada. Living in Québec City is awesome if you want nightlife and entertainment and a more lively snow season.

The Grand Allée has most of the best bars and nightlife in Quebec, while La Rue St. Jean has a bunch of good pubs. Québec City is also well-known for its jazz scene. Places to visit include La Boîte à Pain for a fantastic breakfast, Le Billig for amazing crepes, and La Barberie for a huge selection of beers. The city really comes alive in winter, and there are a huge number of events, such as the Québec Winter Carnival, that are always worth checking out.

The food in Québec is also among the best in Canada, with a French influence in many of the restaurants as well as uniquely Québec food such as poutine (chips and gravy). Québec City is not so big and it is therefore easily navigable by foot around the various city sites.

Stoneham

The town of Stoneham is small, quaint and laidback. While it is getting bigger, and a few very nice restaurants of all types have popped up over the past few years, it is still more suited to families. Look for a place here if you are after a quieter winter season.

How to Find a Job

To get a job at Stoneham, send your resume to [email protected]. The best time to apply is between August and September, before the season starts. All types of jobs are available, including administration, ski schools instructors, lift operators, maintenance, snowmaking and others.

Minimum wage in Quebec is $13.50 an hour and less if you receive tips.

Interviews can be done via Skype or Facetime, so you can apply from elsewhere in the country without having to arrive for a face-to-face interview.

Staff perks include season passes and discounts in shops and cafeteria. Staff who work at Stoneham get out onto the hill as much as possible. A lot of staff will get a few runs early in the morning before their shift, at lunch time, or at night time after a big day at the office.

International Applicants

You will already need a valid Canadian working visa as Stoneham will not sponsor you for a Canadian visa. See Work a Winter Season in Canada for more info on getting a Canadian working holiday visa.

Instructors

Ski or snowboard instructors will need to already have their CSIA (Canadian Ski Alliance’s Instructor) certification to apply for an instructor job.

The Terrain at Stoneham

Stoneham is much smaller than Mont Sainte-Anne. Stoneham is more geared towards advanced riders, with around half of the trails either black or double-diamond runs. For experts, there is a good advanced area called “The 40’s trails”, which has a few nice double diamond runs.

Most of the terrain is on-piste with quite a lot of groomed trails. Stoneham and Mont-Sainte-Anee both have some of the most extensive night skiing in the country, with 19 lit trails each.

Average Snowfall

Average snowfall is 150 inches (380 cm) per year. The summit is a bit lower than at Mont Sainte-Anne.

Mountain Stats

• Summit elevation: 1,946 feet [593 m]
• Base elevation: 814 feet [248 m]
• Vertical drop: 1,132 feet [345 m]
• Skiable terrain: 333 acres
• Total resort area: 815 acres
• Longest run: “La Randonnée” / 2 miles [3.2 km]

Terrain Parks

Terrain parks are one of the big strengths of Stoneham. Stoneham has an Olympic half-pipe (22 feet / lit at night) which attracts some of the best riders in the area and makes Stoneham a popular area for the many awesome park riders that come out of Québec each season.

Additionally, the XL Park offers around 10 features [rails, boxes, wall ride, stairs] and 4 step-up jumps. The second XL Park has around 15 features [boxes, rails, etc]. There is also an intro park with 5 features, as well as an intermediate bordercross course.

Outside Work

The resort holds a big staff party at the end of the season, which is always tons of fun. Fellow staff are really friendly, and you’ll find that, all throughout the season, staff get together for mountain events and drinks at the end of the day.

Throughout the season, you will definitely check out Feu-Follet Restaurant and Quatre-Foyers Bar at Stoneham, which has a live band every Friday. Another unforgettable aspect of Stoneham is the Arctic Spas Zone, which is comprised of two giant outdoor hot tubs on the bar’s terrace, where you can get a drink and you have free access as a season worker.

The Leucan 12h Ski Challenge at Stoneham is awesome. Mountain events throughout the season include the Snowboard World Cup and Jamboree Festival which takes place at both Stoneham and downtown Québec City.