- Reservations Manager
- Ski Enthousiast
- Dog Whisperer
Laurie was born in a small town in northern Alberta enjoying her childhood years outside exploring the dense forests and rolling foothills of Alberta. She skied, skated, hiked (well, I followed wildlife paths lol), picked berries, fished, built forts and fires, and drove skidoos. That’s where her passion for the outdoors began.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Alberta in 1991(with big dreams of getting a PHD in Sports Psychology), Laurie set out to ski the major resorts in North America, starting with Lake Louise and Banff. Between swooshing down the slopes and tracking cross country ski trails, winter turned to summer, hiking boots and mountain bikes replaced skis and snow and she still hasn't left.
When Laurie first moved to Banff she was working with Sandy Wing at Brewster Transportation & Tours. It was the year of Brewster’s 100th Anniversary and it was a flurry of celebrating Banff’s history, and merry-making in the Mountains. Sandy was an amazing mentor and she learned a lot, but skiing and hiking were her passions, and knowing this, Sandy kindly introduced Lauire to connections within the ski industry which led her along a strong path within Banff & Lake Louise tourism, where she eventually became Reservations Manager at Ski Banff/Lake Louise and later at CMH, meeting both Andre and Claude along the way.
In 2007, Laurie met her best friend and husband Scott Smylie and his son Jeffrey(4yrs old at the time) and her life changed forever after that. Laurie and Scott started a dog walking business together in 2012 called Mountain Mutts that continues to be a fun and successful business today with Scott at the helm. He takes dogs hiking in the mountains, making sure everyone has a fun and safe experience, much like how the guided skiing and hiking groups are lead at Assiniboine Lodge.
Fast forwarding to today, Laurie is happy to be back to working with Sandy and Assiniboine Lodge as Reservations Manager.
"I love getting to know all our guests and hearing how excited they get dreaming about the gorgeous skiing and hiking options of the Park. I’m also very grateful to have the opportunity to experience all that the area and the lodge has to offer first hand. It’s truly fun and gratifying to organize a trip of a lifetime, and help make our guests’ Mountain dreams come true!" - Laurie
