Mt Norquay, Banff's local ski hill, turned out to be the first area in Canada to open, last Thursday 6th November, beginning its 90th season. It was quickly followed the next day by Lake Louise (pictured above) ahead of it staging World Cup races in a few weeks' time and Sunshine, the region's third area, has announced it will open this Saturday 14th November, meaning all three Banff areas will be open for the coming weekend.
Norquay is opening a new blue run this season, showing that even at 90 you can still offer something new.
Celebratory initiatives include a special 90 Cent (45p) day ticket offering once a month with all revenues going to local charities and the creation of a 'Norquay 90 Kolsch' beer by the local Banff Ave Brewing Company.
Lake Louise opened its Glacier Express Chair to mark the opening of the 2015/16 ski season with early season access to Bald Eagle, WiWaxy and Easy Street runs, with additional terrain opening in the coming weeks.
The resort has lots planned for the 2015-2016 season starting with the official Kick-Off Party on November 14th, the Men's and Women's World Cup races later this month and the opening of a brand new Sushi Restaurant, Kuma Yama, in the Lodge of the Ten Peaks.
Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort say they have a current base of over 46 cm (18 inches) and lots of all-natural snow having blanketed the resort over the past few days.
"Large snowfalls over the last couple of days have made this mid-November opening possible," said Dave Riley, Chief Operating Officer, Sunshine Village, "and we couldn't have done it without the hard work and determination of the entire Sunshine Village team."
The resort will unveil Canada's first heated chairlift this winter.
Elsewhere in Canada there's been heavy snowfall in some areas of the west of the country, most notably at Revelstoke in BC which has reported more than a metre and a half of new snow in the last 109 days. However most resorts in the area won't open until the end of the month or early December.
Sun Peaks in BC has opened today but for various national teams training ahead of the Lake Louise world cups, not to the general public.
When fully open the three Banff resorts have 8,000 acres of skiing combined served by two gondolas and 26 chairlifts. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the area is known for its exceptional natural beauty, rare wildlife and abundant landforms.