Working at the Columbia Icefield
The Columbia Icefield is a special place. For many visitors to Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks, a trip to the Icefield is long remembered as a highlight of their holidays. Since we have a unique opportunity to show visitors from around the globe our spectacular landscape and to interpret the natural and human history of the area, our guests must be provided with the utmost in friendly and professional service.
It is for this reason that Brewster recruits as high a caliber of staff as possible and has policies in place to ensure that we are able to serve our international clientele in a highly professional manner. All staff members are issued uniforms and given appearance guidelines in order to ensure a consistent and professional image to the public.
The Icefield is a seasonal operation, running seven days a week from April 21st to October 17th of this year. Normal operating hours during our peak months are from 9:00am to 6:00pm. The Glacier Adventure attracts over half a million guests during a normal season. The Icefield also operates a 32 room hotel that is located on the 3rd floor of the Icefield Centre. The Inn is staffed 24 hours a day to serve the needs of our guests.
Bonus incentive plans are provided for staff members. Upon successful completion of his or her contract, each employee is eligible for a performance bonus, based entirely on his or her individual performance throughout the season. The performance bonus is up to a maximum of $1.00 per hour for every regular hour worked during the season. This can be a tidy sum for traveling, school, or getting winter recreation equipment!
In many cases, work schedules follow a six days on, two days off pattern so that employees' weekly days off are rotated.
Life at "The Ice"
The Columbia Icefield Centre and staff camp are at an elevation of 2,000m (6,500ft) above sea level and are located right next to the largest body of ice south of the artic circle. Both of these factors have an enormous impact on our local weather and it's normal to get snow at least one day of every month of the year, so pack accordingly! Throughout most of the summer, the weather is quite nice with sunny, warm days and cool nights.
The nearest town to the Icefield is Jasper at 108 km to the north, so Brewster provides all staff with accommodations in our "Ice Palace".
Staff may take the "Happy Bus" which goes to Jasper at least once every two weeks for an evening on the town. For many people this is a chance to get out of camp and socialize with others, or it can just be that you want a chance to get some shopping done. Events such as costume parties, Christmas in July, and the regular "isn't it time we have another event" party are also sponsored and organized by the staff for everyone's enjoyment and entertainment.
A variety of activities are available throughout the season. Backcountry skiing and snowboarding, ice and rock climbing, hiking, running, canoeing, biking, and sometimes just relaxing on the deck are all activities that our staff enjoy every year.
Columbia Icefield Staff Accommodation
Due to our remote location, the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure is unique in that all employees live on site in accommodations provided by Brewster. Brewster subsidizes staff housing, with your portion of the cost being payroll deducted. This means that you do not have to go through the hassles of finding your own living quarters, dealing with landlords, rent cheques, power companies etc. However, it also means that your job is connected to your residence - if you lose one, you automatically lose the other!
All of our staff reside in the "Ice Palace", a 100 unit, two-story building that can house up to 120 staff in high season. On each floor there are coin operated washers and dryers and pay phones. Each room consists of a double bed, closet, dresser, table and chair. Each employee has his or her own room and shares a washroom with one other employee.
In a separate building is our Kitchen and common area. Three meals a day are prepared for the staff and there is cold food available 24 hours a day for sandwiches and snacks. In this building there is also a large screen satellite TV and VCR and a pool table. We also have a large selection of board games, videos and books which staff are welcome to borrow. There is also a volleyball court, basketball court and road hockey space outside.
Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience charges a rate of $13.00 per day for your room and food. Brewster provides basic bedding for your room, but does not provide towels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Brewster pay my travel expenses to get to the Columbia Icefield?
Why do you have appearance guidelines?
How do I get to work from the staff accommodations?
I have never been to the Canadian Rocky Mountains before and would like to see as much of them as possible while I am working there. How can I do this?
Can I print the job application and send it in by fax?
I have just submitted my application. When can I expect to find out if I am being considered for a position?
Where is the Columbia Icefield?
What amenities are available at the Icefield?
I don't have a car. How can I get to Banff / Jasper / Calgary on my days off?
I would like to be an Ice Explorer Driver. Are there special requirements for this job?
How busy is a typical day at the Columbia Icefield?
My question isn't answered here! How can I find out what I need to know?
Will Brewster pay my travel expenses to get to the Columbia Icefield?
Brewster Glacier Experience expects that all staff members can find their own way to Banff, Jasper or Calgary and does not pay travel expenses. For staff going to the Icefield, we have free regular scheduled busses leaving from Banff, Jasper and Calgary that can get you to your new job.
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Why do you have appearance guidelines?
Brewster Attractions serves an international clientele with various cultural backgrounds and tastes and sets itself apart from other attractions by providing an excellent professional image. This conservative image includes good grooming and proper dress. Appearance is a very personal thing, but it is important that fashion styles do not draw the guest's attention away from the total Canadian Rockies experience.
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How do I get to work from the staff accommodations?
At the Icefield, the staff camp is literally across the road from the Icefield Centre, and staff members walk to work in the fresh mountain air.
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I have never been to the Canadian Rocky Mountains before and would like to see as much of them as possible while I am working there. How can I do this?
Brewster has many sightseeing tours that are specifically designed to share the splendor of the Rockies with our guests. Staff may join any of these tours for free on a space available basis by obtaining a pass from their supervisor.
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Can I print the job application and send it in by fax?
No, you can't. If you would like to apply via fax please forward your resume and a cover letter stating the job you're applying for and the date available to our toll free fax at 1-877-766-7433.
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I have just submitted my application. When can I expect to find out if I am being considered for a position?
Brewster Glacier Experience has 88 seasonal positions to fill every year, and we normally receive roughly 500 applications. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications, we are only able to contact suitable applicants to arrange interviews. Interviews are normally conducted within 10 working days of our office receiving your application.
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Where is the Columbia Icefield?
The Columbia Icefield Centre is located 108 Km south of the Town of Jasper on Highway 97, otherwise known as the Icefield Parkway, in Jasper National Park.
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What amenities are available at the Icefield?
The Icefield Centre has a restaurant, cafeteria, and gift shop. Aside from these services the nearest store is in the town of Jasper, 108 Km away.
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I don't have a car. How can I get to Banff / Jasper / Calgary on my days off?
Brewster has regularly scheduled express motorcoaches that come to the Icefield Centre every day during our operating season and can take you to any one of these destinations. Brewster staff may ride for free on these routes on a space available basis by obtaining a pass from their supervisor.
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I would like to be an Ice Explorer Driver. Are there special requirements for this job?
Ice Explorer drivers require a valid Canadian drivers license that is equivalent or better than an Alberta Class 2 with air brake (Q) endorsement. In addition, Ice Explorer drivers provide a high quality human and natural history interpretative commentary for the duration of the tour, so an outgoing personality is a definite asset!
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How busy is a typical day at the Columbia Icefield?
During our peak months, up to 5,000 people per day take the Glacier Experience between the hours of 9:00am and 6:00pm.
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My question isn't answered here! How can I find out what I need to know?
If you have come up with a question that we did not answer on our site, please contact us toll-free at 1-877-423-7433 or by e-mail at icefield@brewster.ca. If we get the same question enough times, we'll add it to this page!
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