Season in Mont-Sainte-Anne with level 1 & 2 ski instructor course

Become a ski instructor with views of the St. Lawrence River

Become a Ski Instructor in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada

Begin your ski instructor journey in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada, one of Eastern Canada’s most iconic ski destinations. Located in Québec, less than an hour from Québec City, Mont-Sainte-Anne combines high-quality skiing with a strong local culture and spectacular views over the St. Lawrence River. With varied terrain spread across both sides of the mountain, reliable snow conditions, and a lively atmosphere, it’s an inspiring place to start your instructor career while experiencing a different side of Canadian mountain life.

We are proud to offer a Level 1 + Level 2 Ski Instructor Course in partnership with the Mont-Sainte-Anne Snow Sports School, a large and professional ski school with a strong focus on training and development. During the course, you’ll take part in structured on-snow training while working toward both your CSIA Level 1 and Level 2 certifications, preparing you to work as a ski instructor in Canada. Once certified, you’ll join an international and local team of instructors teaching a mix of families, school groups, and visiting guests and start working as a ski instructor. With its dynamic ski school, night skiing, and the opportunity to immerse yourself in French-Canadian culture, Mont-Sainte-Anne offers a rewarding and memorable introduction to life as a ski instructor in Canada.

The Ski Instructor Course and Season in Mont-Sainte-Anne

Your ski instructor course in Mont-Sainte-Anne begins in January, as the winter season is in full swing in Québec. After arriving in Canada, you’ll settle into life near the resort, meet your fellow Snowminders, take part in a Snowminds welcome orientation, receive your lift pass, and be introduced to the Mont-Sainte-Anne Snow Sports School team.

The season starts with an intensive Level 1 Ski Instructor Course, combining structured on-snow training with a strong focus on technique, teaching methodology, and professional development. You will work toward your CSIA Level 1 certification while training alongside experienced instructors in a large, dynamic ski school environment. With varied terrain spread across both sides of the mountain, night skiing, and challenging slopes, Mont-Sainte-Anne offers excellent learning conditions and a steep development curve.

Once you have completed your Level 1 certification, you will take part in ski school orientation and begin teaching lessons. Throughout the season, you will work with a wide range of guests, including local families, school groups, and visiting tourists, while continuing to receive ongoing training and support from the ski school. Mont-Sainte-Anne places strong emphasis on instructor development, giving you the opportunity to improve both your skiing and your teaching skills — and, if you choose, to develop your French language skills along the way. As the season progresses, the focus shifts toward further development and preparation for the CSIA Level 2 certification, allowing you to build on your experience and advance your skills as an instructor.

Running from mid-winter through spring, your season at Mont-Sainte-Anne combines professional training, an internationally recognised certification, and real teaching experience at one of Eastern Canada’s most iconic ski resorts. With sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River, a vibrant local atmosphere, and Québec City less than an hour away, your season in Mont-Sainte-Anne offers a unique blend of mountain life, cultural immersion, and career development.

Life as a Ski Instructor in Mont-Sainte-Anne

Life as a ski instructor in Mont-Sainte-Anne is about combining high-quality skiing with authentic Québec culture and a strong mountain community. Located in Eastern Canada, less than an hour from Québec City, Mont-Sainte-Anne offers a unique winter experience where professional development on the mountain goes hand in hand with cultural immersion and local life. With varied terrain, night skiing, and stunning views over the St. Lawrence River, the resort provides an inspiring setting to live and work throughout the season.

Mont-Sainte-Anne Snow Sports School will be your professional base for the winter. The ski school is large, well organised, and known for its welcoming atmosphere and strong focus on instructor development. As a new instructor, you will receive ongoing support and training from experienced supervisors while working alongside a mix of local and international instructors. Teaching typically includes local families, school groups, and visiting tourists, giving you broad and valuable experience in a busy ski school environment.

Off the mountain, life is shaped by the local Québec lifestyle. When you are not teaching or training, you can enjoy free skiing, night skiing sessions, staff training, and social time with fellow Snowminders. Being close to Québec City means access to cafés, restaurants, history, and cultural life, while still spending most of your days in the mountains. The mix of mountain living, French Canadian culture, and a lively ski community is what makes Mont-Sainte-Anne such a special place to spend a winter season.

By the end of the season, participants will have completed both Level 1 and Level 2 ski instructor training and earned their CSIA Level 1 and Level 2 certifications, while gaining valuable teaching experience in an authentic Canadian resort setting.

Travel Agenda

Our ski instructor course in Mont-Sainte-Anne is ideal if you are taking a gap year, career break, or looking for a winter that combines professional development with cultural immersion and mountain life. From arrival to certification and to the end of your season, the program is designed to guide you step by step into life as a ski instructor in Mont-Sainte-Anne Canada.

Below is an example of how the Mont-Sainte-Anne Ski Instructor Course typically unfolds:

  • Early January Arrival in Canada and settling into accommodation near Mont-Sainte-Anne
  • Early January Snowminds welcome orientation, lift pass collection, and introduction to Mont-Sainte-Anne Snow Sports School
    January On snow training focused on skiing technique, teaching fundamentals, and preparation for the CSIA Level 1 exam
  • Late January CSIA Level 1 certification exam and ski school orientation
  • Late January to February Teaching lessons, ongoing training, and professional development as the season builds
  • February to March Peak teaching period with school groups, weekends, and holiday periods
  • Late March to April Spring skiing, continued teaching, and end of season training opportunities

The agenda is indicative and may vary slightly from season to season. Final schedules are always adapted to snow conditions, resort operations, and ski school planning to ensure the best possible training and learning experience.

Pictures from the destination

Off-piste in Monte-Sainte-Anne
Instructos in Mont-Sainte-Anne
View of Monte-Sainte-Anne
Monte-Sainte-Anne
Snowpark in Monte-Sainte-Anne
Snowpark in Monte-Sainte-Anne

What Is Included in the Ski Instructor Course in Mont-Sainte-Anne?

In short, we have your winter in Mont-Sainte-Anne fully covered, from professional training and an internationally recognised certification to lift access and job placement at one of Eastern Canada’s most iconic ski resorts. The Mont-Sainte-Anne Level 1 + Level 2 Ski Instructor Course is designed to give you a smooth and well structured start to your season in Canada, allowing you to focus on developing as an instructor while fully experiencing mountain life and French Canadian culture.

Below is an overview of what is included in the Ski Instructor Course in Mont-Sainte-Anne:

 

What’s not included?

  • Costs related to visa, vaccines, insurances, living expenses (i.e, seasonal accommodation rent)
  • Travel costs at end of season (incl. transport from destination to airport at end of trip)
  • Equipment and any other costs not mentioned under “included”.

 

 

* Job placement + season lift pass is contingent on successfully passing the recruitment process at the ski school and the Level 1 exam. Should your employment be terminated, you will be asked to return your season pass without receiving a refund. 

**Return flights are included from the following major international airports: London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, or Copenhagen with 2 pieces of checked baggage included. We will happily arrange flights from other areas, such as Edinburgh or Sydney, upon request and likely extra charges. In all cases, please be aware that there may be additional costs depending on the departure airport, flight availability, and price increases! We will notify you before final flight bookings are made in such cases. You are also welcome to book your own flights, in which case we provide a 700 euro discount on your trip.

*** Accommodation is in shared accommodations of varying sizes and quality. Some units have bunk, twin, or sofabeds, and others have double beds, in which case the bed will be shared with another participant. Please be aware that accommodation can change from season to season. In most cases, rent for the full season and a security deposit are to be paid one month before departure.

****Please note that you must have a Canadian visa approval before departure, and the Canadian government requires you to have at least 2500 CAD in your account upon entry to Canada.

 

Application Requirements

At Snowminds, we carefully select motivated and committed candidates who are ready to grow into professional ski instructors. A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and genuine enthusiasm for teaching are just as important as your skiing ability. If you are adventurous, outgoing, and ready for a winter of learning, responsibility, and personal development, you are exactly who we are looking for.

To apply for the Mont-Sainte-Anne Level 1 & Level 2 Ski Instructor Course, you should:

  • Feel comfortable skiing parallel on red runs
  • Speak English at a conversational level
  • Have a genuine interest in teaching and working with people of all ages
  • Be positive, responsible, and professional in your approach
  • Enjoy teaching and be motivated to improve your skills
  • Be at least 18 years old at the start of the program
  • Be eligible and prepared to live and work in Canada from January through the end of the winter season

Mont-Sainte-Anne Snow Sports School works with a wide variety of guests, including local families, school groups, and visiting tourists. Previous experience working with children, in education, or in customer facing roles is therefore considered an advantage during the recruitment process, but it is not a requirement.

Once you have submitted your application, our team will contact you for an initial call, followed by an online interview. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the course, life in Québec, and what it takes to succeed as a ski instructor in Canada. After the interview, we will let you know whether we can offer you a place on the team.

Due to high demand, places on the Mont-Sainte-Anne ski instructor course are allocated on a first come, first served basis, with monthly application deadlines. Applying early significantly improves your chances of securing a spot and starting your winter at one of Eastern Canada’s most iconic ski destinations.

“You will quickly feel at home at our resort. It’s big enough to have fun, but small enough to get to know a lot of the staff really quickly. You will also feel like your contribution means something to the ski school and the resort, and your skiing/snowboarding will progress immensely thanks to the exceptional terrain and training opportunities.”

- Snowminds Instructor

Key Details About the Course

PAID JOB PLACEMENT

The Snowminds Job Placement and How It Works

The Snowminds job placement gives you peace of mind when travelling to Canada, as your position as a ski instructor is arranged with Mont-Sainte-Anne Snow Sports School before departure. You will know exactly where you will be spending your winter, allowing you to prepare for your season in Québec with clarity and confidence.

The job placement is conditional on successfully passing your CSIA Level 1 certification, which the majority of Snowminds participants complete during the course. If you do not pass the exam on your first attempt, Snowminds works closely with the Mont-Sainte-Anne Snow Sports School to support you and explore possible solutions. This may include additional training, alternative duties within the resort, or other development opportunities while you continue to build your skills and remain part of the season.

We are proud of our long standing partnership with Mont-Sainte-Anne and our structured approach, which has consistently helped Snowminds participants move smoothly from training into paid work within the ski school. Our focus is to ensure you arrive with a clear pathway into instructing and the support you need to make the most of your winter at one of Eastern Canada’s most iconic ski resorts, combining professional development with authentic mountain life and French Canadian culture.

Accommodation

Accommodation During the Ski Instructor Course in Mont-Sainte-Anne

The first three weeks of accommodation during your course are included in the Mont Sainte Anne program.  We work closely with local property owners to arrange suitable housing for you in a pre-paid private house in Mont Sainte Anne. This ensures you have a secure accommodation offer where your housing is arranged before your departure.


The house offers a unique and social living experience. You will share a room with other Snowminds instructors and/or seasonal staff, creating a great community feel. 

The full season’s rent, along with a security deposit,  is to be prepaid approximately one month before your arrival. This provides security and simplicity for your winter stay, so you don’t have to worry about rent payments during the season. Accommodation rates vary depending on availability each season, but typically will be a full-season agreement of approximately 800-900 EUR a month per person, paid in full prior to departure.

Past instructors in Mont Sainte Anne usually team up to buy/rent a used car for local transportation, groceries, and exploring Canada – including visiting Stoneham, which is about an hour’s drive away and Quebec which is a beautiful city to explore.

WORK EXPECTATIONS

Please keep in mind that while Snowminds helps secure your position, your official employer for the season is the ski school. This means that all work expectations, daily responsibilities, and schedules are defined entirely by the ski school management.

While we will gladly provide guidance based on past seasons and ski school expectations, please note that Snowminds cannot guarantee your specific work hours, schedule, or lesson types.

In general, it is very different from what instructors earn and spend during the season since habits/personal budgets and seasonal work hours can fluctuate so much from year to year. So in general we recommend bringing savings with you so you can make the most of the season experience.

In terms of financial expectations, let’s be clear: the job as an instructor will not make you rich money wise, but definitely rich with experiences. As a newly-educated instructor, you are typically on the “bottom of the food chain” regarding work. In other words, the more experienced instructors get first preference, but the more you show your passion and desire to work hard, the better. The amount you make as an instructor therefore often depends on both business levels in the resort, your own motivation, your working ethics and your previous working experience.

Wages are paid at an hourly rate and depend on your certification level. Since the instructor work is typically paid hourly, per lesson you teach, some instructors choose to pick up extra work in other departments on the mountain to supplement their income as an instructor. In Canada, there are typically opportunities to pick up extra shifts in rentals, lift operations and other departments in resorts.

 

Transport

Transport to Your Destination

If we are booking your flights for you, then we always try our best to book you on the same flight with other Snowminds instructors, or if this is not possible, arrange that you will arrive at a similar time.

When you arrive in Canada, there are a few practical things that we need to arrange so that you will be able to start employment at your ski school. This includes setting up a bank account and a Social Insurance Number.

This means will stay a night in the city before traveling to the resort to settle into your seasonal accommodation.Your Snowminds Team leader will help you with these practicalities and help you settle in.

Can I Visit Other Destinations?

There will certainly be an opportunity for this, especially during the quieter periods. Canada is a big country and the distances between some resorts can be long, which can make for some epic road trip opportunities. Some instructors decide to buy a used car together or rent a car.. In addition, there are possibilities for bus-routes between some destinations in Canada.

Return Travel

Your flight ticket is a return ticket, meaning the journey home is included in the course price. We book your return flight based on your preferred travel dates. Transport to the airport at the end of the season is not included, as many participants choose to travel onwards, leave on different dates, or continue exploring Canada after the season ends.

If you are looking for inspiration for travel after the season, we are always happy to help with ideas and planning. This is also something we discuss during the kick off event, giving you plenty of time to start planning your post season adventures.

If staying for summer sounds appealing, you can combine your winter with a summer season by taking our level 1 Mountain Bike instructor course in Whistler.

If you decide to change your return flight date while you are in Canada, a change fee and any potential fare difference may apply. We will of course help you explore the available options and find the best possible solution.

Language

All training and certification on our ski instructor courses in Canada are conducted in English. It is therefore a requirement that you speak English at a conversational level in order to participate in the course and work as a ski instructor during the season.

Snowminds partners with ski schools across both Western and Eastern Canada. Mont-Sainte-Anne is located in the French speaking province of Québec, offering a unique opportunity to experience and engage with French Canadian culture alongside your instructor course. While the ski instructor training and certification are in English, a willingness to be open to the French language will help you integrate into daily life, both on and off the mountain. French is not a requirement to join the Mont-Sainte-Anne program, but many instructors enjoy developing basic language skills during their season, making the experience even more rewarding.

Work permit 

Since there is a job placement included in this package, you will need to obtain a work permit before your departure. We will provide support and guidance to help you apply for the necessary visa, which gives you the right to work and travel in Canada for up to either 12 or 24 months (depending on which country you are from).

There is a limited amount of Working Holiday Visas allocated to each country and the process can take a long time. Therefore, we recommend that you reserve your spot on the course as early as possible so that we can help you with the process and get the best chances of getting your hands on a visa.

Price

Course Icon Season in Mont-Sainte-Anne with level 1 & 2 ski instructor course

Course Icon from €9.395

Course Icon

Course Icon Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada

Course Icon Early December to April

Course Icon Sign up deposit: €200

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Any Questions? Call us!