The Lake Louise Snow School is a cornerstone of alpine education in the Canadian Rockies, operating within a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of Banff National Park. Its roots lie in the 1920s–30s, when the area served as an access point for Skoki Lodge and early ski mountaineering; the first lift-serviced instruction began with a rope tow behind Temple Lodge (1952) and a Poma (1954). Dual ownership; Larch area vs. front valley; ended in 1971 when the operations amalgamated into the Lake Louise Ski Resort.

Leadership lineage. Franz Haaz (1955–1961) brought Swiss technical standards and laid the groundwork for competitive skiing. Mike Wiegele (1965–c.1970) focused on National Team coaching, powder, and high-performance technique before founding his heliskiing operation. André Schwarz (early 1970s) standardized instruction across the unified mountain under CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance) standards; he later became proprietor of the Post Hotel. Kevin Eaton (Director since c.2003) leads the school under the Charlie Locke family’s reacquisition, emphasizing multi-week youth programs and instructor training partnerships.

1980s expansion. Charlie Locke’s acquisition (1981) and infrastructure expansion; Paradise Chair (1982), Friendly Giant and Top of the World (1989); opened the Back Bowls and high-alpine terrain for advanced clinics. The Snow School developed “big mountain” instructional modules that remain a hallmark of its pedagogy.

Program architecture. The school offers tiered programs: Bow Valley Kids (BVK) for regional families (ages 3–17, multi-week developmental programs; private lessons for destination travelers; First Tracks (early-morning coaching before general public); and group lessons for all ability levels. Lake Louise is a pioneer in instructor training in Western Canada, partnering with organizations like Nonstop for intensive CSIA/CASI certification programs. The resort’s diverse terrain; four mountain faces; allows lessons to adapt to wind and visibility, and the Pipestone Express heated chair (2024/25) addresses cold-weather comfort.