Employment

Backroads Whistler is the longest running canoe and kayak operator in Whistler, providing service since 1985. Family-owned and independent, we are the only company in town specializing solely in River of Golden Dreams trips and boat rentals. Our goal is to provide our guests with a world class experience while on the water.

Our office is Lakeside Park on Alta Lake where our concession hut and boats are stored. We strive for hard-working, versatile staff who love the water. We believe in training everyone everywhere so our staff are adaptable, and can jump in where help is required. One day you may be providing exemplary paddling instruction to brand new paddlers and the next, guiding the river at sunset while beavers build dams around your boat! We are one team and we all work together closely. We offer full-time staff a 4-day, 35-40 hour working week, leaving you with plenty of time to make the most of Whistler’s summer season.

We are a busy operation with lots going on. You won’t get bored here! We run a work hard, play hard operation, with legendary staff socials on offer throughout the summer. Highlights from last season included bungee jumping with sushi village after-party, ziplining, twilight paddle and camp trips, watching the fireworks from our canoes on the water at English Bay (and many more…!)

If all this appeals to you, have a read through of the roles we offer below. Please bear in mind that most of our seasonal staff will work a mixture of beach and concession shifts throughout the summer.

$27/hour + tips. Staff housing available to the right candidate. 4-day week available.

Pre-requisites: Valid work permit for duration of summer. BC Class 4 Driver’s License obtained by June 1^st (we can help you acquire this). Minimum 19 years of age. Minimum 16-hour first aid qualification.

This is our most versatile position at Backroads and not a typical driving job. You are responsible for meeting guests at the end of their river trip (at Meadow Park Sports Centre), loading their boats onto our trailer, and driving them back to Lakeside Park. Alongside pick-ups, you will work closely with our beach and concession operators to ensure a smooth operation. Being logistically-minded is a key component of this role. This is a physically demanding position with plenty of lifting. You will need a BC Class 4 Driver’s License to be employed in this position. Obtaining this license can be time consuming for foreign workers. Start the process early and learn more about obtaining this license here.

For Canadian applicants, you can study for your class 4 knowledge test using this link.

Backroads will provide training to prepare you for your Class 4 road test once you have obtained your Class 4 learner’s license.

Starting wage $18.50/hour + tips (on average $5/hour in high season). 4-day week.

Pre-requisites: Valid work permit for duration of summer. Minimum 16-hour first aid qualification.

Spending most of your time under the sun on the dock, you’ll rent boats, deliver safety briefings, teach paddle strokes, stage boats and gear. This is a physically demanding position. We carry/move lots of boats.

The majority of our beach staff are also trained to guide on top of their day-to-day duties. Please read our guiding section below for more information.

Starting wage $18.50/hour + tips (on average $5/hour in high season). 4-day week.

Pre-requisites: Valid work permit for duration of summer. Minimum 16-hour first aid qualification.

Spending most of your time in our beach hut, you’ll handle the administrative side of our rentals. You’ll help customers through the whole process, from presenting them with our waiver, to getting them ready to go down to the beach to get their boats. You’ll answer (lots!) of customer questions, answer phone calls, monitor our inbox, handle cash, sell retail novelties and ice cream. Impeccable customer service and attention to detail are key to this role.

Many of our concession staff are also trained to guide on top of their day-to-day duties. This gives you an opportunity to mix up your day and get outside! Please read our guiding section below for more information.

Starting wage from $18.50/hr and up dependent on experience level. Get in touch we love hiring experienced part time guides.

Pre-requisites: Valid work permit for duration of summer. Minimum 16-hour first aid qualification. Canoeing L2 flat-water paddler/equivalent. Kayaking Class 1 moving water 16-hour certification or equivalent (These courses are offered by Backroads as part of pre-season training, see Guides Course below). Basic knowledge of Whistler’s history, wildlife, flora and fauna (we will help you with this too!).

Your primary role is to safely guide guests along the River of Golden Dreams, providing them with a fantastic experience on the water. You’ll deliver safety briefings, teach paddling techniques, and provide information and anecdotes about Whistler, the river, and its flora, fauna and wildlife.

All guiding positions are offered on a part-time basis as most guests book self-guided river trips. You can receive full-time hours with us by working in other departments at Backroads. Most of our beach and concession operators are trained to guide on top of their day-to-day duties.

We’re always looking to recruit experienced guides, but we also train many new guides each season. If you are keen to guide but require training, please read about our guides course below.

We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in our guides course each season. Our canoe and kayak guides course includes 5 days of training in total: 3 days of canoe training and 2 of kayak training. The course includes extensive paddling technique development, rescue and capsize training and a day’s excursion to a different local river to develop skills on fast moving water. The course will take place in early-mid June 2025 (exact dates TBC). Backroads covers the cost of your course which gives you an internationally recognized qualification for life.

We are privileged to work and play in such a beautiful part of the world in Whistler and on Alta Lake. We want all our guests to experience its natural beauty by mindfully looking after our surroundings. Backroads and its staff are stewards of the local environment and take pride in keeping its natural beauty vibrant.

Use this quick application form to send us your resume/CV or send us an email to spencer@backroadswhistler.com

We look forward to seeing our name in our inbox and on our summer roster!