Donsa国际传媒檛 wear a mask? Theysa国际传媒檒l take away your pass; Big White Ski Resort officials have been taking new health orders seriously.

Just Saturday morning (Nov. 21), they revoked three ski passes from individuals who refused to wear masks at the resort.

Days before, opening day Thursday (Nov. 19) coincided with the day the province announced new province-wide health guidelines requiring the use of masks.

READ MORE: Masks now mandatory in all public indoor and retail spaces in B.C.

Those who refuse to wear them are having their resort passes suspended for at least a week to start. If theresa国际传媒檚 a second occurrence, their passes are being pulled for a month, and so on.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 just like when you break the alpine responsibility code, you ski out of boundssa国际传媒� everyone is trying to keep everybody else safe, and this is as serious as skiing out of bounds, if not more so,sa国际传媒� said Michael Ballingall, senior vice president of Big White Ski Resort.

However Ballingall said hesa国际传媒檚 encouraged by the large majority of people who are following the rules. By mid-day Saturday, the resort had given out just seven masks to those who didnsa国际传媒檛 have them.

sa国际传媒�(We had a) good response, I would say about 95 per cent of people complied with wearing your mask in line. We had a few anti-maskers. Itsa国际传媒檚 pretty simple, if they donsa国际传媒檛 wear their mask, we pull their pass,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淥nce we told them they lose their skiing privileges, the argument stopped pretty quick.sa国际传媒�

READ MORE: New vintage-style restaurant coming to Big White Ski Resort

For several hours each morning since opening, Ballingall has visited every ski lift and, using a megaphone, reminded people of the rules; keep your mask on and stay six feet apart.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 happy that people are showing their frustration on Facebook and Instagram, and not in the lineup,sa国际传媒� he said.

And many were around to hear him, as well. The senior vice president couldnsa国际传媒檛 recall a busier opening day. Parking lots filled up quickly, some in less than 20 minutes. This energy, he said, continued into the weekend as well.

sa国际传媒淭he parking lots were as full as they are at Christmas time,sa国际传媒� said Ballingall.

New regulations put in place across the province have affected many things, including how places like Big White Ski Resort operate. Ballingall explained he and his staff are focused on keeping everyone safe.

New rules include stricter indoor capacities, and outdoor lineups only, to pick up passes. He said keeping your distance and wearing your mask while skiing or snowboarding is the easy part; itsa国际传媒檚 going to the washroom, and other things that require indoor facilities thatsa国际传媒檚 requiring the most work.

As a result, Big White is erecting two more outdoor washroom facilities, to add to their one already in place. They have also been encouraging patrons to use their vehicle as their locker, and their tailgates as their lunch stations.

sa国际传媒淭his is brand new for everybody, nobodysa国际传媒檚 been through this,sa国际传媒� Ballingall explained.

Going forward, hesa国际传媒檚 feeling positive.

sa国际传媒淭he good people, the 99.9 per cent of people complying, are frustrated with the ones that arensa国际传媒檛, because they could ruin it for everybody,sa国际传媒� said Ballingall. sa国际传媒淥ur pass holders are doing a great job of policing each other.sa国际传媒�

Conditions at the resort are good. By Saturday afternoon temperatures had dropped to -7C, with scattered clouds, and a 116 cm alpine snow base.

READ MORE: West Kelowna winery temporarily closes after guest tests positive for COVID-19

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com

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