Copy
View this email in your browser

Winter is full steam ahead

Our field teams are up and running and we started publishing daily forecasts for western Canada on November 25. We’re using our new flexible forecast system with region boundaries that change in response to conditions. 

We have a lot to announce this month. We published our 2021-22 Annual Report and welcomed new Avalanche Ambassadors. The Braap It UP! fundraiser prize draw for a new Polaris snowmobile closes tomorrow at 3 pm PT. This is the last chance to purchase tickets and support public avalanche safety. Also, it’s not too late to register for tomorrow evening’s free webinar, Off the Line, to learn helpful tips for making terrain choices. Keep reading to learn more.

Pour la version française, cliquez ici.

In this issue:

MEC Grant Recipients 
Braap It UP Fundraiser 
ASA AST Reimbursement Program
Annual Report
2022-23 Avalanche Ambassadors

Upcoming Webinars
Avalanche Awareness Days
Podcasts Featuring AvCan
Partner Profile: BCA

MEC Avalanche Safety Grant Recipients 

Avalanche Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) Avalanche Safety Grant. The grant recipients are:

  • Indigenous Women Outdoors is a non-profit that helps First Nations women and non-binary folks reconnect to their traditional territories and Indigenous roots through backcountry sports in the Sea-to-Sky area.
  • Mountain Mentors is a non-profit in the Sea-to-Sky area with the goal of creating backcountry spaces where everyone belongs and can safely participate.
  • The Howl Experience provides alternative outdoor education programs in the Rocky Mountains for Indigenous, low-income, and marginalized youth.
  • Zero Ceiling, based in Whistler, aims to end youth homelessness in B.C. They provide opportunities for marginalized young adults to develop skills, confidence, and connections through mountain recreation.

Thanks to generous funding from MEC, each group is organizing an AST 1 with their provider of choice for up to eight of their members. Backcountry Access (BCA) also contributed to this initiative by providing two boxes of safety gear, each with eight sets of avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes.

The MEC Avalanche Safety Grant was established to provide greater access to outdoor opportunities to racialized Canadians. We are honoured to support this initiative that aims to make our programs and services welcoming to all of Canada’s diverse population. Learn more about the MEC Avalanche Safety Grant here.  

Members of Mountain Mentors attended the Whistler Blackcomb Patrol Day last winter where they learned about avalanche safety and first aid best practices from avalanche and snow patrol professionals. Photo: JoJo Das
 

Win a New Sled

This is the last chance to purchase tickets for the Avalanche Canada Foundation’s Braap It UP! fundraiser prize draw. The grand prize is a brand new 2023 Polaris 850 RMK Khaos Slash 163 valued at $18,999. Tickets are $20. This year, 10% of the proceeds will go to the Al Hodgson fund, which is dedicated to helping snowmobilers get avalanche training, and the remaining proceeds will support Avalanche Canada’s programs and services. Don’t miss out! The prize draw closes at 3 pm PT on Wednesday, December 14.

Alberta Snowmobile Club AST Reimbursement Program

The Alberta Snowmobile Association (ASA) recently announced this year’s AST Reimbursement Program. ASA will reimburse registration costs for the first 50 members who complete an AST 1 or AST 2 course this season. The ASA has long taken an interest in avalanche safety and awareness and will continue to identify opportunities to help members play safely and return home safely at the end of the day. Learn more about the ASA’s AST Reimbursement Program here

 

2021-22 Annual Report

Our 2021-22 Annual Report is available online. Check it out to learn more about what Avalanche Canada accomplished last year. 

Introducing our 2022-23 Avalanche Ambassadors

This season we have some exciting changes to our ambassador team to share. Some of our fantastic ambassadors will be rejoining us this winter and we are welcoming new faces. Find out more about our ambassadors here.

Upcoming Webinars

We've got one more webinar left this year, then we'll pick things up again in the New Year with two webinars focusing on terrain choice. Remember, if you miss a webinar, you can always watch the recording later
  • Wednesday, December 14: Off the Line. Sometimes avalanche incidents occur because people thought they were in the right place, terrain-wise, but instead they were just slightly off the line. Long-time forecaster Grant Helgeson will review a case history and share helpful tips for staying on the right side of the line this winter. 
  • Thursday, January 5: Choosing Terrain for Snowmobilers. Join our forecaster for this fun and engaging session looking at a variety of terrain and "choosing" where you would go under varying conditions. 
  • Thursday, January 19: Choosing Terrain for skiers. Join Avalanche Canada forecaster Colin Garritty as he leads you through a variety of images and exercises to help hone this skill. 

Avalanche Awareness Days

Avalanche Awareness Days (AAD) is coming up in January. This is an annual celebration of our winter heritage, an opportunity to learn more about our winter environment, and a way to build awareness of backcountry safety. Numerous organizations, resorts, and clubs will host avalanche awareness activities in their area. The "official" weekend for Avalanche Awareness Days is January 21-22, 2023, but AAD activities and events can happen all winter long.

Check the schedule to see if there is an event near you. If you are interested in hosting an event for Avalanche Awareness Days in your community, please contact our outreach coordinator.

Podcasts featuring Avalanche Canada

The Avalanche Hour podcast recently aired an episode featuring Avalanche Canada product manager Grant Helgeson (part 1) and forecaster Tyson Rettie (part 2). Check out the podcast to learn more about our flexible forecast system and Tyson’s non-profit organization, Braille Mountain Initiative. 

James Floyer, Avalanche Canada program director and senior forecaster joined the Nowhere podcast to speak about the Mountain Information Network (MIN) and how we use the observation system to assess risk. Listen here to learn more.

Partner Profile: BCA

Backcountry Access (BCA) is a Supporting Sponsor and has partnered with Avalanche Canada in many ways almost since our inception in 2004. This year, BCA donated two tool boxes containing a total of 16 transceivers, probes, and shovels for us to loan to organizations servicing BIPOC communities. Over the years BCA has helped in many ways, including collaborating on and cross-promoting outreach events, contributing to our educational videos, helping with our Fresh to the Backcountry campaign, and sponsoring Avy Savvy. BCA has helped us engage with the snowmobile community and have regularly supported us with funding and gear. They also create many great avalanche safety videos, such as this new one on group search techniques.

BCA is a model of a collaborative, supportive, and responsive sponsor. Thank you for your many years of support.

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Email
Copyright © 2021 Avalanche Canada, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in to receiving it.

Our mailing address is:
Avalanche Canada
Box 560
Revelstoke, British Columbia V0E 2S0
Canada

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.