Don害羞草研究所檛 wear a mask? They害羞草研究所檒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 there害羞草研究所檚 a second occurrence, their passes are being pulled for a month, and so on.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just like when you break the alpine responsibility code, you ski out of bounds害羞草研究所� everyone is trying to keep everybody else safe, and this is as serious as skiing out of bounds, if not more so,害羞草研究所� said Michael Ballingall, senior vice president of Big White Ski Resort.

However Ballingall said he害羞草研究所檚 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 didn害羞草研究所檛 have them.

害羞草研究所�(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. It害羞草研究所檚 pretty simple, if they don害羞草研究所檛 wear their mask, we pull their pass,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淥nce we told them they lose their skiing privileges, the argument stopped pretty quick.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 happy that people are showing their frustration on Facebook and Instagram, and not in the lineup,害羞草研究所� he said.

And many were around to hear him, as well. The senior vice president couldn害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淭he parking lots were as full as they are at Christmas time,害羞草研究所� 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; it害羞草研究所檚 going to the washroom, and other things that require indoor facilities that害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭his is brand new for everybody, nobody害羞草研究所檚 been through this,害羞草研究所� Ballingall explained.

Going forward, he害羞草研究所檚 feeling positive.

害羞草研究所淭he good people, the 99.9 per cent of people complying, are frustrated with the ones that aren害羞草研究所檛, because they could ruin it for everybody,害羞草研究所� said Ballingall. 害羞草研究所淥ur pass holders are doing a great job of policing each other.害羞草研究所�

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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