Kaslo’s Stellar Heliskiing has been acquired by global adventure company Heli, a move the company said followed a difficult year.
The transaction includes the Kaslo Hotel and comes after the death of Stellar founder and lead guide Jason Remple in March 2025.
Stellar communications lead Marcus Gurske said the loss had a profound impact on both the company and its ownership group.
“After much deliberation with our owners and our partners, given the traumatic event we had earlier in 2025, losing Jason Remple, it was just very difficult, given the family dynamics and the business environment, to continue on in the ownership role that we had.”
He said Stellar was not actively looking to sell and initially planned to continue operating under its existing ownership structure.
However, internal conversations about the company’s future led to discussions with Heli.
“When we started having the discussions about the future without Jason at the helm of Stellar Heliskiing, we were not looking to sell,” Gurske said.
“We did not advertise the sale, we had several people approach us and we rebuffed any offers. But as we kept going through the process of having conversations about what the future looks like, Heli kept engaging with us.”
Gurske said the decision ultimately came down to finding a partner capable of preserving the values Remple had built the company on, including its strong ties to Kaslo.
“This past year has been very challenging given the loss of Jason. It’s not easy to replace that energy he brought to the table and the work ethic that every day was displayed in the leadership.
And given the strain on the family and partners, we felt that now was the best time to move forward and we feel that Heli is best suited to carry forward the vision of Jason and his wife Kerry and the partners into the future.”
Gurske said Heli’s previous acquisitions, including Great Canadian Heli-Skiing and Mustang Powder Cat Skiing, also played a role in the decision.
“Having a look at how those transactions have gone and having engaged with those previous ownership groups of those two operations, we felt that their commitment to those communities where those two operations operate was very much aligned with who we were in Kaslo,” Gurske said.
Stellar’s reputation has long been built on small-group boutique heliskiing experiences in the Selkirk and Purcell mountains.
Gurske said that approach will remain unchanged.
“Everything is business as usual. No significant changes will be made in the foreseeable future. There will be no layoffs or reduction in workforce. If anything, we’re hoping this will be an opportunity to energize the business going forward and grow it even more.”
This year will run as a joint operating year, with the Heli team working alongside Stellar to build a productive working relationship.
The Kaslo Hotel, which Stellar acquired in 2022, is also included in the sale. The hotel was originally built in 1896 and underwent a full renovation in 2009.
Gurske said the company believes the transition will bring benefits to the region as a whole.
“We feel it’s very important to be part of the community where we operate and support our community,” Gurske said.
“We feel very strongly that Heli will continue the tradition that we have laid as far as supporting our community, our community engagement and our community efforts for the betterment of the entire region.”
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