Christine Andison

Whether it's in Rossland or at her position at Red Mountain Resort, Christine Andison believes in staying involved and positive

by Kristen Mitchell — December 16, 2013

Christine Andison stands next to family in a winter environment, she wears a black jacket and pink and red scarf.

Christine Andison has found a home along with her family in Rossland, B.C. — photo courtesy Christine Andison

If it wasn’t for the college professor who introduced Christine Andison to urban planning, she’d probably be teaching in a classroom somewhere. Instead, she’s the director of planning and development at Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, B.C., and loving it.

“I went from wanting to be a teacher to deciding that, actually, land-use planning was something that I wanted to pursue,” said Andison. “Now I would say I’ve spent all my adult life feeling more like the perpetual student. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a lot of really accomplished planners and architects and engineers and developers that I’ve just been really fortunate to learn a lot of things from.”

In addition to her position with Red Mountain Resort, Andison serves as president with the Red Mountain Racers. For the 2013/2014 season, the group will organize three races, a benefit to both the local economy and to the tradition of ski racing in the area. Each event requires an impressive number of volunteers, so the continued success of ski racing is something that the community can be proud of.

Andison finds her own personal inspiration in the enthusiastic people who call Rossland home, as well as in her family. She actively enjoys the beauty of the area, as she meets with a friend at 6 a.m. for a daily hike or snowshoe up the mountain behind her home. It’s all part of being an involved member of her community and workplace. Andison has helped work towards building the new Golden Bear Child Care Centre in downtown Rossland and was involved with the group that started Tourism Rossland. She’s also proud of the Slalom Creek condominium project and the renovation of Red Resort’s historic lodge.

Red Mountain has opened an exciting expansion this season with a chair up Grey Mountain, and the ski industry is emerging strong after weathering an economic downturn. It seems planning and development is the right place for Andison after all.

“There are a number of things I am very proud of, but very much as part of a team, certainly not individual accomplishments,” said Andison. “I’ve been very fortunate to work with Don Thompson and Howard Katkov over the last 11 years and I just feel like, with them, we have done a lot of things at Red that I am very, very proud of.”

Snapshot

In the industry since:: Planning and development since 1991 and the ski industry since 2003.
Hometown:: Burns Lake, B.C.
Educated at:: College of New Caledonia and University of Victoria.
Corporate hero:: I would say Don Thompson, whom I work with, the vice-president of our organization. He is one of the most community-minded and brightest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working closely with . . . I admire him very greatly both from a working perspective and just from making a difference in our region.
Personal mission statement:: I really like to try and focus on the positive. Even in a situation that may not be positive, I feel that you always have to take something positive away from that situation and look for the opportunity that exists.
Currently reading:: Right now I’m reading a book called the Flying Troutmans (by Miriam Toews). It’s actually about the struggle of a Canadian family who are overcoming some mental health issues, but with a heavy dose of humour included.