News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Big White Ski Resort VP Michael J. Ballingall Honoured with Bill Mackey Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Employee from Far West Ski Association
Congratulations to Big White Ski Resort Senior Vice President, Michael J. Ballingall, on earning the the Far West Ski Association’s Bill Mackey Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Employee. Ballingall is the third Big White employee to receive the award, making Big White one only two resorts in North America to have received this award three times.
Big White Ski Resort Senior Vice President, Michael J. Ballingall, is the latest recipient of the Far West Ski Association’s Bill Mackey Award for Outstanding Ski Industry Employee.
“What an honour it is to receive this prestigious award,” said Ballingall. “The fact that our very own Jim Loyd won it in 2002, then Katie Balkwell in 2016 made my receiving of this award a hat trick for Big White Ski Resort. It bodes well that our philosophy of strong partnerships and looking after the customer has resonated through our organization for 59 years.”
Big White Ski Resort and Aspen Snowmass are the only two resorts in North America to have received this award three times.
The Far West Ski Association, founded in 1930, held its 89th Annual Convention and Meeting June 9 to 12 in Portland, Oregon. FWSA represented 150 ski clubs throughout North America.
The Bill Mackey Award is given for outstanding service to the skiing public by a ski industry or ski area employee. The award may be received more than once but not in consecutive years. Recipients must be full-time employee in the ski industry or related industry and cannot be a FWSA board member, trustee, or appointed chairperson.