Yes, except that they had not yet checked into a hotel in Kicking Horse. See upthread: Apparently they drove to Kicking Horse from Alberta, parked their car, went directly to the hill and bought a lift ticket, went skiing, went out of bounds, and got lost. Until the family filed a missing person report (several days later) the resort had no licence plate number to look for, and no other way of even knowing who might be missing, let alone connecting the car to the SOS.

I've not been to Kicking Horse, but if it is anything like other big ski resorts that I have been to then on a good day in February there are many thousands of people at the resort, both skiers and non skiers. There are a similar number of cars, in mulitple parking areas. Many hotels, condos, hostels, etc. Dozens of bars, on and off the slopes. People chip in and share rooms, so even the hotels and condos don't always know everyone who is staying there, but only the one who rented the room. There will even be some ski bums camping (illegally) in their cars in the parking lot. People drink too much and leave cars in the lot. Cars have dead batteries and people leave them until they can get a jump. After a big snow dump the resorts often have a tough time just plowing the lots before the next morning because of cars left parked there overnight.