OUR TRADITION, OUR FUTURE  Our Impact

We recognize the environmental impact we have each time our helicopters take skiers into the mountains. It’s an undeniable fact of our industry. It’s also one of the reasons we are so committed to every sustainability effort we can make. We want to tip the scale toward positive impacts wherever possible.

We care deeply about the mountains. They have sustained people and wildlife for thousands of years. And they continue to provide both a livelihood for our families and life-changing adventure for our guests. They must be sustained for future generations. We take this shared responsibility seriously.

So, what are we doing about it?

In 2023, we partnered with BMO Radicle to measure and understand our greenhouse gas emissions, establishing a baseline for our carbon footprint. Now we will track our emissions annually to take data-driven, measurable actions to reduce our impact.

Learn More – Radicle, GHG protocol and carbon footprint terminology

While we measure and manage, we are already implementing other environment-focused programs in every part of our operation. Learn more about these below.

We hear from our guests, time and time again: “You have the best and friendliest staff ever!” We don’t take this for granted. Our mission is to be the best heli-ski place for our people to live, work, and play. We do this by truly caring about our staff and what they need to feel at home within the company and the community.

People Centered Initiatives

• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• A company culture where everyone can talk to anybody, and the leaders’ doors are always open.
• Company culture and policies that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
• A focus on employee wellbeing with an Employee Assistance Program for all staff and their families. We also ensure that mental health is integrated into our First Aid Training and an integral part of our critical incident response, training and resources.
• Staff programs and events aimed at physical, mental, and social wellbeing, such as employee recognition, ski days and ski lessons, Christmas and New Year’s dinners and gifts, and boutique discounts. We also host staff yoga, HIIT, and dance classes, candlelit cross-country skiing, skating lessons, campfires, wellness bingo, and the Wiegele Winter Games. We encourage our staff to participate in social groups that match their interests, such as music, crafts, dog-walking, or pet-sitting.  All intended to build a sense of community here in Blue River.   

We would not be where we are today without the support of the people of Blue River. 

Mike’s dream was to create a year-round, self-sustainable community of like-minded people who work, live, and play in the beautiful mountains surrounding Blue River. He was always a coach and mentor and passionate about providing the kids in Blue River opportunities they might otherwise not have. We continue to make his vision a reality by supporting the local community in as many ways as possible.

Community-Centered Initiatives  

• Providing free ski program to local kids on Saturdays.
• Donating annually to the Blue River School for gear and school trips.
• Maintaining the covered hockey rink for public use.
• Sponsoring the weekly team sports night at the local gym.
• Supporting community events and organizations such as Blue River Community Association, Ladies Auxiliary, Blue River Powder Packers, Canada Day celebrations, and the annual Harvest Dinner.

We pride ourselves on doing things the right way – the Wiegele way. Following the mandate of our founder, Mike Wiegele, all our decisions are grounded in ethics, integrity, and trust, with the multi-generational perspective of sustaining a healthy business for generations to come. 

We strive to build the world’s best heli-skiing experience, offering the highest standard of service beyond each guest’s expectations. To do this, we hold ourselves to high standards based on trust, accountability, and integrity in all our business practices. It is the responsibility of every employee to build and maintain this high standard by supporting and actively participating in the process, which is formalized in our core policies, including the following:

• Code of Conduct 
• Code of Ethics 
• Violence and Harassment Policy 
• Open Door Policy 
• Whistleblower Protection 
• Personal Information Protection Policy 
• Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Protection
• Drug and Alcohol Policy

Safety has been, and always will be, our highest priority. Our reputation as a leader in the heli-ski industry has been built on this commitment. We are rigorous about identifying and understanding the risks involved in all aspects of our operation, and where necessary, ensuring robust controls to minimize exposure. Safety in the mountains, and within the resort, is captured in the following points of our Mission Statement:

• To implement standards of care, which will offer services that excel beyond the expectation of our guests. 
• To constantly strive for corporate financial security. 
• To continuously research and improve our accident loss prevention and safety program. 

And above all, we continue to heed Mike’s mandate to always stay humble, and never stop listening and learning the ways of the mountains.

Learn more about our safety programs here