Since 2012, Mount Cain Alpine Park Society has partnered with Island Coastal Economic Trust to make five major investments in development of this significant regional tourism and outdoor recreation destination on northern Vancouver Island:
- Construction of a hostel lodge in 2012
- Establishing a modern operations and maintenance building in 2012
- Significant expansion of staff lodging in 2015
- Financing of summer grooming operations in 2018
- Upgrading of safety equipment to allow opening during the COVID-19 pandemic
Collectively, these investments have enabled this vital North Island recreation destination to expand operations, hire more youth, welcome more skiers, and stay open through the challenges of climate change and the COVD-19 pandemic.
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Tucked into the mountains of northern Vancouver Island, Mount Cain has quietly built a reputation as one of British Columbia’s most authentic ski experiences. Run by a non-profit society and powered by volunteers, the community hill has evolved from a grassroots project in the 1970s into an economic driver and cultural centrepiece for the North Island. More than just a ski area, Mount Cain remains what it has always been: a labour of love, sustained by the people who believe in it.
Built by Community, Sustained by Passion
The Mount Cain Alpine Park Society was incorporated on August 31, 1977, though skiers had likely been exploring the terrain since the early 1970s. An access road opened in 1978, a lodge followed in 1979, and by the late 1980s two T-bars were operating and most of the present-day runs were open.
From the beginning, forestry and other local industries were instrumental in getting the hill up and running, donating time, equipment, and expertise to build its earliest infrastructure.
“Mount Cain was built by lumberjacks, fishermen, and miners, along with teachers, administrators, everybody” said Mike Green, Director of Operation for the Society. “Overwhelmingly, the community supported the endeavour.”
It wasn’t until the 1990s that visitors from outside the North Island began discovering the hill. As word spread, Mount Cain develop a reputation for offering a rare and authentic skiing experience.
“You’ve seen that shift drastically,” said Green. “People driving by Mount Washington to go to Mount Cain, I never thought I’d see that happen. But there’s a whole niche of people that love Mount Cain and what it brings.”
Further attention came following the 2020 release of Frozen in Time, a ski movie showcasing Mount Cain’s unique vibes and spectacular skiing. Since then, visitors have traveled from as far as Europe to experience the hill.
“It had quite literally been ‘frozen in time’ until the recent heat of social media and broader reach have thawed that freeze a little,” said David Mazzucchi, Director of Ticket Booth.
The growing profile of the hill now means the Society itself is considered an important stakeholder in the region, with a place on public advisory boards and involvement in recent projects and planning tables involving ‘Namgis First Nation, Western Forest Products, and the Province.
Yet for those who cherish it most, Mount Cain remains what it has always been: a scrappy, community-run labour of love.
“Mount Cain is for the people, by the people,” said Green, “and the community that keeps it running do so for the love of the mountain and skiing. It’s where the mountain’s welcoming and inclusive culture comes from.”
Recreation Rooted in Authenticity
Mount Cain means many things to many people, but first and foremost, it’s a great place to ski.
The hill typically receives a substantial annual snowfall between six to ten metres. Access to the backcountry is unparalleled and you can get the kind of day of skiing in at Mount Cain that you could only get via heliskiing in most other places.
Organizers intentionally position the hill as an alternative to more profit-driven resorts, striving to keep costs low and vibes high. Children aged 12 and under ski for free, and volunteers can earn discounted or free passes. Reservations for the limited accommodation fill up within a half hour of opening each season.
“It’s got that character people are looking for,” said Ryan Stuart, Community Engagement with Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. “It’s like the old days up there, in a good way. It just has that feel. It’s the social thing, the community thing, and it’s the skiing. It all comes together.”
What even North Island residents endure to reach the mountain speaks volumes about its appeal.
“For some remote school groups to get here it’s bus, ferry, bus, sometimes a three-hour gravel road trip, just to get to Mount Cain,” said Mazzucchi.
For locals especially, the hill is more than a recreation site; it’s a winter refuge and a part of what makes living on the North Island so special.
“You see lots of people from Sayward, Sointula, Port McNeill, Port Hardy, all over,” said Green. “Northern Vancouver Island can be little grey and dreary in the winter, but it’s a whole different world when you get above sea level and into the mountains.”
“It’s a part of the region’s identity, almost like a member of the family,” said Stuart. “There’s an ownership there you don’t get at most hills.”
“I know I probably wouldn’t still be living on Vancouver Island if it wasn’t for Mount Cain,” added Mazzucchi.
An Economic Engine for the North Island
Mount Cain’s constitution includes a mandate to create employment opportunities for North Island residents, while providing affordable, sustainable recreation.
Paid roles span lift operations, administration, road maintenance, grooming, caretaking, ski instruction, retail, ticketing, ski patrol, and more.
As the hill’s popularity grows, so does its economic importance, especially during the slower winter tourism season.
“Having an asset like Mount Cain, where people can come for a winter experience, is huge,” said Natalie Stewart, a born-and-raised North Islander working in tourism and destination development with 4TVI. “It really drives that seasonal dispersion, so the region has something to offer year-round.”
Organizers say they see a lot of people coming from Comox Valley and, increasingly, Victoria.
“Increased visitors to Mount Cain leads to more spending in the communities, as people going up the mountain come visit and stay in Woss, Sayward, Port McNeill, Port Hardy,” said Stewart.
And there’s still room for growth, although any expansions or upgrades are approached cautiously, to not impact what people come to the hill for in the first place.
“The tourism and the recreation industries on Vancouver Island are only going to increase,” said Green. “We do everything conservatively, but we see opportunities to expand, especially into the summer. We’re taking some first steps and getting studies done.”
Shaping Futures for North Island Youth
Each winter, Mount Cain becomes the region’s largest employer of youth. For generations of young people the hill has provided a first job, and often a first time living away from home and parents. It’s for this reason that Cain has become known as a place where youth can come, gain work and life experience, and find community.
“Young people learn skills in operations or sales, tourism, all kinds of things” said Green, whose own children had their first jobs on the hill. “Then they can take those skills elsewhere.”
Many have gone on to build successful careers with the experience they gained at Mount Cain.
“When I was young, one of the groomer operators I worked with, he ended up owning his own logging company. Mount Cain was his first operations job,” recalled Green. “You hear lots of stories like that.”
“For North Islanders, it’s just been a tremendous place for youngsters to develop,” said longtime volunteer Dazy Weymer. “It gets them outside, doing healthy things, and there’s great value in hanging out with the people who make the mountain run.”
New staff accommodation completed in 2015, with the assistance of a Trust investment, expanded capacity for youth workers, replacing what was lovingly called the ‘Sayward Shack,’ an aging, rodent-infested building there since the hill’s beginnings.
“It was a great day when they set that thing on fire,” laughed Mazzucchi. “Now we have a place where our mostly young staff have a safe, welcoming place to come home to.”
Dazy’s wife Chrystal sees the impact of the hill now spanning multiple generations of youth.
“I’m now teaching skiing to the kids of the kids of friends we first met there. That intergenerational thing is huge. Families become such a part of the community.”
Powered by Volunteers
Volunteerism has defined Mount Cain since its earliest days.
Weymer joined the mountain’s ski patrol in the late 1970s, and both he and his wife Chrystal have dedicated countless hours to the hill, including service on the Society’s board.
“There’s lots of people that go up and enjoy Mount Cain, and then there’s those who realize the volunteer effort that goes into keeping that place running,” said Weymer. “There are people who devote huge chunks of their lives to keeping that place going.”
The non-profit Society is governed by a 15-member volunteer board, while community volunteers assist with everything from machinery repairs to events to ski patrol to everything else that keeps the hill running.
It’s part of the hill’s charm that when something goes wrong, the whole community rolls up its sleeves and everyone chips in to help out, donating equipment, time, and know-how to get the job done.
“It’s just that vibe and atmosphere Mount Cain has as a community ski hill,” said Green. “It can lead to some weirdness and haywire-ness, as we patch things together with volunteer help and so on, but the people who love it, really love it.”
“It leads to such wonderful camaraderie,” said Weymer. “You’re with people you really love and admire, accomplishing something.”
Partnerships Make it Possible
Outside sources of funding have also been critical to the hill’s evolution.
“Grants give us that opportunity to grow and add pieces that benefit our members and the North Island in general,” said Green.
Island Coastal Economic Trust has been proud to partner with Mount Cain and invest in essential infrastructure over the years, including a maintenance shop that houses groomers, tools, generators, and fuel.
“To be honest, I don’t know how the heck they managed before that,” said Mazzucchi.
Pandemic-era funding allowed the hill to purchase safety equipment and remain operational while meeting distancing requirements. As a result, the hill was able to open and had record-breaking seasons in 2021 and 2022 as outdoor recreation surged.
Additional support for ski run maintenance during the summer has allowed the mountain to open during low-snow years.
And the Trust is just one of many partners that have contributed to the Mount Cain story over the decades.
“Partnerships we have with businesses, with granting organizations, with volunteers, are really what makes it all happen,” said Green. “It’s amazing when you see a project coming together with all the support, all for the love of skiing.”
Looking Ahead
Organizers believe Mount Cain’s future is bright, though not without challenges. Climate change, increased costs, changing priorities for youth, and more all require thoughtful adaptation.
Sustainable growth, anchored in partnership, is seen as key to ensuring the hill remains a gem of the North Island for generations to come.
Increasing collaboration with ‘Namgis First Nation is one key focus. The Nation’s territory extends into the mountain, and leadership has plans for a community cabin adjacent to the current lodge that will expand accommodation and opportunities for both its members and visitors.
Whatever opportunities or challenges lie ahead, Mount Cain remains committed to preserving and celebrating the spirit that has defined it from the start.
“I was thinking the other day: why do we ski?” said Mazzucchi. “It’s not just exercise. It’s because it’s fun. And I have way more fun when I go to Mount Cain.”
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Impact Summary:
Economic Prosperity
- Since 2005, Mount Cain has attracted over $650,000 in investment to the region, including nearly $200,000 from Island Coastal Economic Trust.
- An investment in guest accommodation in 2015 from the Trust allowed Mount Cain to increase revenue by $3,200 per weekend
Social Empowerment
- Already the largest winter employer of youth on the North Island, a Trust investment in accommodation resulted in 18 additional beds, increasing capacity for youth staff
- Investment from the Trust in a new maintenance building allowed Mount Cain to increase skier capacity from 200 to 300 per day
Climate Resiliency
- A Trust investment in summer grooming enabled Mount Cain to open during lower-snow skiing seasons, an example of climate change adaptation
Trust Investments:
- 2012 – $90,000 – Capital and Innovation – Mount Cain Hostel Lodge
- 2012 (Completion) – $118,650 – Capital and Innovation – Infrastructure and Capital Improvements
- 2015 (Completion) – $48,500 – Capital and Innovation – Mount Cain Building and Lodging Expansion
- 2018 – $12,000 – Capital and Innovation – Extending Mount Cain’s operating season in low-snow conditions
- 2020 – $15,000 – Small Capital Restart Funding Program – Mount Cain 2020-21 Season Pandemic Upgrades
Key Partnerships:
- ‘Namgis First Nation
- Regional District of Mount Waddington
- Western Forest Products
- Vancouver Island North
- Western Educational Adventures
Online Resources:
- Mount Cain Alpine Park Website
- Vancouver Island North – Mount Cain
- Regional District of Mount Waddington – Mount Cain Alpine Park
- Mount Cain Instagram
- Mount Cain Facebook
Contacts:
Kyle Wells
Manager, Communications and Impact
Island Coastal Economic Trust
kyle@islandcoastaltrust.ca
250-871-7797
David Mazzucchi
Board of Directors
Mount Cain Alpine Park Society
info@mountcain.com
