I more or less gave up ski hills for a sled a few years back, so you'll have to excuse my bias here. Anyways.
If I were going with a bunch of beginners I might consider Nakiska. Close to the city, lots of beginner runs, and decent amenities. Long(ish) runs that beginners can learn on, and plenty of hill to explore while you learn how to stop and turn. Probably a good place to get to "intermediate" before tackling something more challenging.
Castle might be cheaper, but you get what you pay for. Amenities aren't all that great, no high speed quads, and beginner fall lines are pretty short. It's geared a lot more towards the advanced skiers/riders that don't mind slow, windy chairs and massive fall lines off the top double chair. Beginners get pretty bored on the short, easy terrain, and there's a pretty big jump from the blue runs off Haig to the big lines off the top red chair. Yeah, you can learn here, but it's not the best place for beginner/intermediates (IMO).
And don't kid yourself. Mid week it's the hill of choice for small crowds, but on the weekends every so called skier and rider "in the know" shows up to stand in their lift lines. Especially if they get any snow.
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