Lake Louise Ski Resort, Canada

Integrated Communications with Four IDAS™ Simulcast Systems

World-Class Mountain Resort Operations

Located in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Lake Louise Ski Resort is one of North America’s premier mountain destinations. Operating across vast terrain with year-round visitor activities, the resort requires reliable communications to ensure safe and efficient operations.

Lake Louise currently operates an integrated communications system featuring three sites, four independent IDAS™ simulcast systems, links to other agencies, GPS mapping, a 2-position console, and voice recording capabilities. Originally deployed as a simple two-way radio system, it now supports daily operations, ski patrol emergency response, and coordination with Parks Canada, law enforcement, and emergency medical services.

From Basic Coverage to a Fully Integrated System

The Icom IDAS™ simulcast system is built around IC-FR5300 repeaters operating at three sites: Paradise (ski area location), Gondola Top, and the operations building. The system deploys IC-F3261/F3400 IDAS™ digital portable radios, with VE-PG4 RoIP Gateway and a Remotatec 2-position dispatch console serving as the core of integrated management.

Simulcast technology was chosen as it offers efficient use of the spectrum and the ability for radios to roam through the area of operation without the need to change channels. This enables staff to maintain seamless communications as they move throughout the resort.

Four Simulcast Systems Optimized for Every Operational Area

The four IDAS™ simulcast systems share a common architecture but are independently optimized for specific operational roles.

1. Operations – Paradise + operations building
   The primary dispatch system supporting day-to-day resort operations, providing seamless roaming across the entire ski area using two-site simulcast.
2. Ski Patrol – Paradise + operations building
   A dedicated safety-critical simulcast system supporting ski patrol search, rescue, and emergency response, where reliable communication is essential.
3. Snow Making – Gondola top + operations building
   A specialized simulcast system coordinating large-scale artificial snow production involving water-intensive and complex machinery operations.
4. Talk Groups – Gondola top + operations building
   A shared simulcast platform hosting multiple conventional talkgroups for routine and auxiliary operational teams.

Seamless Connectivity with External Agencies

In addition to internal operations, the system provides links to external agencies to support inter-agency coordination and emergency response.

1. Parks Canada
   Parks Canada is connected via an analog channel bridged through a VE-PG4, enabling coordination related to wildlife monitoring, land management, and shared operational activities, including large animal sightings.
2. Interop
   Interop is an analog channel bridged to a VE-PG4. This channel allows full interoperability with law enforcement to handle any security issues that may occur at Lake Louise Ski Resort.
3. Provincial EMS
   A dedicated channel for coordination with ambulance services, enabling direct communication for emergency medical response to injuries and other medical incidents at the resort.

Remotatec Console: Centralized Control and Interoperability

The Remotatec 2-position dispatch console serves as the central integration point, managing seven talkpaths across four simulcast systems and three external agency channels from a single interface.

Designed for Growth and Future Technologies

The system continues to evolve with planned additions including P25 radios for enhanced interoperability with public safety agencies, IP730D IDAS™ digital/LTE hybrid radios, and IC-SAT100/IC-SAT100M Satellite PTT radios for coverage beyond terrestrial communication range. Additionally, IP100H/IP110H Wi-Fi radios are being considered for chairlift operations. Where terrain is vast and conditions are unpredictable, Icom IDAS™ delivers the seamless, integrated communications that Lake Louise depends on every day.

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