Event Registration

Ski for Light Canada 2024

William Watson Lodge located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Alberta welcomed us back for the Ski for Light Canada event from January 22-28, 2024. They completed their extensive renovations to the main lodge and also upgraded some of the cabins. For more information check out http://www.williamwatsonlodgesociety.com

Registration

Preference will be given to skiers and guides who intend to participate for all six days of the event. 

Registration opens September 15 and the application deadline is December 1, 2023

Ski for Light Canada uses an online registration service called ZONE4 that allows payment to be made by credit card, cheque, or Interac E-transfer. If you use a credit card for payment, you will be charged a processing fee of 2.8% of your total payable. Alternatively, you can mail cheques to:

Don Lee, Treasurer
114 Patterson Hill SW
Calgary, AB T3H 3J3

Or you can send an Interac E-transfer to: treasurer@skiforlight.ca

Click on this link to register.

Cost

Prices shown include accommodation, all meals and activities from Monday evening January 22  through Sunday morning January 28. Prices do not include bedding, towels, or toiletries.

Full payment is due by December 15, 2023.

Skiers $600.00 Cdn. Guides: $520.00 Cdn. 

A non-refundable $10.00 membership fee will also be charged.

Limited financial assistance is available on request via an online form linked below. Please apply by October 15, 2023. If your request is approved you will receive a code to enter into Zone4 that will reduce your registration fee. 

Click on this link to apply for financial assistance 

Additional and Optional Expenses

Transportation to and from William Watson Lodge:

• Round trip bus fare: $50
• One-way bus fare: $35

Kananaskis Conservation Pass: Parks Alberta requires that all vehicles parking in Kananaskis Country pay a daily fee of 15 or $90 per week. Passes can be purchased at William Watson Lodge or online.

Ski Rentals: Cross-country ski equipment rentals are available for $60 for the week. Arrangements and payment  can be made during your Zone4 registration.

Sleeping Bags: Bedding and sleeping bags should be on your personal packing list. If you need to rent a sleeping bag, a limited number are available on a first come, first serve basis. The fee is $30 for the week and can be booked during your Zone4 registration.

Transportation to and From William Watson Lodge 

If you are arriving by plane or bus into Calgary, you may reserve and prepay for a seat on our Charter Bus. The bus will leave at 4:00pm sharp on Monday January 22 from the Scandinavian Centre in Calgary. The return bus will leave William Watson Lodge at 8:00am on Sunday January 28.

Please arrive into Calgary no later than 2:00pm on Monday January 22 so the bus can leave on time. If you cannot arrive at this time, please arrive a day earlier and book a hotel. 

When planning your departure, keep in mind that it is 2 hours back to Calgary. Please schedule your flight or bus after 12:00pm.

Transportation to the Scandinavian Centre: Volunteers from the Sons of Norway will be on hand to pick up participants at the airport, bus depot and hotels. They will bring participants to the Scandinavian Centre. To arrange for a pickup, please contact Tracy Mousseau at 416-930-2799 or email Tracy.Mousseau@gmail.com with your arrival details.

The Scandinavian Centre is located at 739 20 Avenue NW, Calgary Alberta

Cancellations: If there is any reason you are not able to make the bus departure, please contact Tracy Mousseau at 416-930-2799 or email tracy.mousseau@gmail.com by 4:00pm on Jan 15.

Accommodation

William Watson Lodge provides year-round, barrier-free, wilderness lodging for persons with disabilities, seniors, and their families. It’s situated in beautiful Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, overlooking Lower Kananaskis Lake. The goal of this facility is to connect people of all abilities, all ages, and all cultures to recreational opportunities in nature. 

Room booking for the event will be done by Ski for Light Canada from the registration forms. The form has spaces to indicate if you have preferences for a specific cabin and /or roommates.

The Lodge has two  coin-operated clothes washing machines. At this time, loonies ($1 coins) are needed.

WIFI and cellular services are very limited in and near William Watson Lodge. Consider yourself to be “Off the Grid” when you are there. WIFI is available at the Parks Alberta Visitor Centre (how far away)

What is included in the cabins?

• 2-single beds or 1 double bed per bedroom. 
• Kitchen cooking utensils, cutlery, plates, bowls, etc. 
• Common areas include kitchen, bathroom with shower, dining area and lounge 

What do I need to bring?

• Ski Equipment: skis, boots, poles, and helmet (optional). Equipment rentals are available when registering via ZONE4.ca. Cost for rental equipment will be $60 Cdn for the 5 days. 
• Appropriate Clothing for outdoor winter activity & loungewear. Non-slip boots/footwear
• Refillable water bottle & carrier like a small backpack for toting extra mitts & supplies
• Bedding – sleeping bag (or sheets & blankets) and pillow. The mattresses are covered with vinyl, so some people like to bring a sheet to cover the vinyl mattress even when using a sleeping bag. If you need to rent a sleeping bag for the week, please indicate on the registration form. They are $35 Cdn for the event. 
• Towels, face cloths and toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste) 
• Indoor shoes or slippers
• Medications & prescriptions
• Snacks & recreational beverages, or any supplementary foods like granola or protein bars for taking out on the trail

Note: If you have a personal tracking device  enabled with satellite capability like a Garmin or a smart phone with satellite S.O.S., please bring it for your personal safety, especially  if you plan to ski outside of the Elk Campground double-tracked course.

The closest shopping is at Canmore, 86 km from the lodge, so come prepared.

Main Lodge

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided in the main lodge. 
• Morning stretching, announcements and all group activities will take place in the main lodge. Limited WIFI is now available in the William Watson Lodge Library! 
• Guides will be expected to escort their skiers to and from the dining area and assist in serving when needed. 
• Cabin cleaning responsibilities must be completed by every person prior to check-out Sunday morning. 

Meals

Meals will be provided. Please indicate any special dietary requests on theZone4 registration form

Skiing

We will have exclusive use of the Elkwood Campground, which will have double-tracked ski trails as well as access to all the ski trails of Peter Lougheed Park.

On “free day,” visually impaired skiers are  responsible for asking if their guide is available that day. Please ask in advance so that an alternate guide or activity can be organized for you! There is plenty to do!

Ski Rentals

If you need to rent ski equipment for the event, please choose that option on the registration form and the $60 Cdn. cost will be added to your amount payable. We will contact you with regards to height, weight, and shoe size. Sandy Lecour has generously agreed to pick up and return rentals on your behalf. 

Activities

Among the activities planned for the event are: 

• The Annar Jacobson 10 km Memorial Classic and the 2.5 and 5 km races. Sign up on the registration form! 
• Banquet and award night. 
• Quiz Night. 
• Silent and Live Auction( Please bring anything you may have to donate to the auction fundraiser! ). 
• Music jams
• Additional entertainment. 

Annual General Meeting

As members of Ski for Light Canada, you are invited to attend the AGM.

Contact Information for William Watson Lodge

Phone: 403-591-7227 or for toll-free in Alberta, dial 310-0000 followed by 403-591-7227

Mailing Address:

William Watson Lodge
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
P.O. Box 130
Kananaskis Village,
Alberta, Canada
T0L 2H0 

Cancellation Policy

The following outlines our policy regarding cancellations: 

Non-refundable costs:

• Membership dues of $10 
• The Zone4 processing fees 
• Any costs incurred by payment with credit cards 

If Ski for Light Canada must cancel the event due to Covid restrictions, all refundable registration fees will be reimbursed. 

If you cancel:

Before December 1, 2023: You will be reimbursed your registration fee minus the above non-refundable costs and a $50.00 administration charge. 

After December 1, 2023: No refunds will be given after registration closes.

Exception: Under extenuating circumstances, at the sole discretion of the board, refunds may be given by request. 

If you have any questions about the event or the registration process, please email info@skiforlight.ca

 

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