John Worrall

Area Manager (and past General Manager) of Lake Louise Ski Resort during a period when it grew into one of Canada’s largest and most iconic ski destinations. His tenure aligned with the transition from early ski-mountaineering roots to a modern downhill hub.

Personal connection: Worrall’s link to Lake Louise began in childhood during the early 1950s, when ski mountaineering was popular. He recalled climbing mountains that are now lift-served, long before organized downhill skiing took hold. By the mid-1950s he witnessed the shift toward developing major ski resorts from “raw primitive mountain wilderness.” After years travelling and working at prominent European resorts, he returned to Lake Louise, describing it as the place he had been seeking all along.

Area Manager: Worrall oversaw operations across three mountain faces; each with distinct skiing; and promoted the resort as a premier destination. He collaborated with General Manager Rodney Touche on initiatives such as the Ski Friends program. In its early days, founders Barb Spear and Patti Weightman worked with Worrall and Touche to establish volunteer-led complimentary ski tours, recruiting qualified locals to enhance guest experiences.

Legacy: A 2013 video, “Voices from Lake Louise’s History,” produced by Lake Louise Ski Resort & Summer Gondola, features Worrall sharing his story. He reflects: “I’m the area manager at Canada’s largest ski resort… I think that I found the place that I was looking for all those years right here at Lake Louise.” The piece underscores his role in shaping the resort’s identity as it grew into a world-class facility with over 4,200 acres of terrain.