Numerology: Weighing the cost of spring break

$913

That’s how much the average British Columbian in a 2017 Ipsos poll said they expected to lay out for their family over March break—the highest spend in the country, more than 50 percent above the national average. But the big driver of that splurge—a longer break for most school districts, brought in over the past decade to save money—is a double-edged sword, according to Christopher Nicolson, president and CEO of the Canada West Ski Areas Association. “When a lot of the districts went from one to two weeks, we thought that would be a benefit, but the impact wasn’t what we anticipated,” Nicolson says. “In a seven-day window, people make the choice to stay within the province. With 14 days, we learned that people go further afield.” The upside for destination hills like Whistler Blackcomb: spring break also brings in families from the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, Interior ski resorts are waiting to see the effects of Kamloops’ decision to return to a one-week break this year.