Environmental Management System and Strategies

The Lake Louise Ski Area has series of interconnected strategies focused on managing and protecting the ecological integrity of the ski area in Banff National Park. Our Environmental Management System (EMS) includes multiple programs designed to ensure environmental goals are achieved and are continually improved as part of our business and operational plans.

From operating lodges and chairlifts to snowmaking systems, trails and parking spaces, every part of our day-to-day activities and the proposed projects in Long-Range Plan is designed to reduce the environmental impacts of our operations.

Key planning strategies include:

• Water Management and Aquatic Resources Protection and Management Strategy
• Wildlife Protection and Management Strategy
• Vegetation and Ski Run Management Strategy
• Regional Transportation Strategy
• Infrastructure Plans
• Ski Race and Special Events Best Management Practices
• Outdoor Lighting and Noise Best Management Practices
• Architectural Design Guidelines
• Heritage Tourism, Interpretation, and Education Strategy

Our dedicated on-hill environmental coordinator evaluates and continuously updates risk-based evaluations of all environmental aspects associated with our operations, contractors and service providers working for the ski area.

We have Environmental Management Plans with tasks, responsibilities, timelines and resources to reach objectives for:

• Water use and surface water
• Wastewater
• Waste
• Energy conservation
• Fuel, oil and chemicals
• Wildlife and wildlife habitat
• Vegetation

The EMS develops and issues annual objectives to address the significant environmental aspects for our operation and sets environmental performance goals and targets. These objectives also identify any areas requiring improvements in performance. We achieve implementation through the environmental management plans that identify the tasks, responsibilities, timelines and resources for reaching our objectives. We also review and evaluate these environmental management plans each year and modify them as needed.

Our EMS is built on a framework by the International Standards’ Organization which has established standardized environmental performance measures that can be applied by any engaged business. At Parks Canada’s direction, our EMS reflects procedures established by the US-based National Ski Areas Association for its ‘Sustainable Slopes and the Environmental Charter.’

All of the supplemental plans and strategies for our proposed Long-Range Plan are available in our Document Library.