B.C.'s Big White ski resort closing 1 week early on Easter Monday

The Big White ski resort is closing for the season on Easter Monday, a week earlier than scheduled, amid a surge in cases of COVID-19 and their variants across B.C., in particular an increase in the P1 variant first detected in Brazil, according to a news release from the resort's operator.

In its statement, Big White also pointed to increased traffic on its website and inquiries from people in the Lower Mainland around accommodation and the purchasing of online lift tickets for the last week of operation.

The announcement comes on the same day the owner of Charley Victoria's All Day Aprs, a restaurant located in the skiing community,apologizedfor hosting a rowdy party Monday night,hours after B.C. health officials curtailed indoor dining at B.C.'s restaurants and pubs

"With most B.C. resorts closing as of Monday,April 5, and with the disregard for COVID-19 protocols exhibited at Charley Victoria's All-Day Aprs on Monday evening, Big White Ski Resort Ltd recognized closing early as a necessary action to keep its guests, residents and team members safe from COVID-19," said Big White in itsstatement.

Earlier Wednesday, the owner of Charley Victoria's issued an apology for his "ignorant decision" to host a party at the restaurant on Monday. Video from the party showed crowds of young people dancing and partying on tables, floutingprovincewide restrictions on indoor gatherings.

Health travel advisories ignored

Michael J. Ballingall, the resort's senior vice-president, saidBig White is working with Interior Health to see whether the party atCharley Victoria's could turn out to be a COVID-19 exposure event.

He saidit was a tough decision to shut down the ski resort.

"We promised our season pass holders that we would be open until April 11, but that promise was made back in June when the COVID-19 was a completely different story back then," Ballingall said. "We just didn't want Big White to be themagnet for everybody to come to, and obviously, there are people that aren't listening to the travel advisories."

Ballingall said Big White decided not to close on Good Friday because most of its guests staying in the resort this weekend are from within the Okanagan region.

"Ninety percent of the people in the resort will be from the local area, and we owe it to them to stay open so they can enjoy Easter," Ballingall said.

• Click here for more stories from CBC Kelowna

The Big White community was hit by a large cluster of COVID-19 cases late last year. More than 230 people were infected, with many of the cases linked to social gatherings and staff sharing living spaces.

Revelstoke Mountain closed Tuesday six days earlier than scheduled because of astaff shortage related to COVID-19. In a statement, the mountain said access to the resort is prohibited while the mountain is not in operation.

Peter Nielsen, the company's vice president of operations, said the ski resort is ready for the summer season that is scheduled to begin on May 21.

"We're really excited about this," Nielsen said to Chris Walker, the host of CBC's Daybreak South.

Tap the link below to hear Michael J. Ballingall's interview on Daybreak South:

Tap the link below to hear Peter Nielsen's interview on Daybreak South: