Avalanche Canada is thrilled to announce the return of the MEC Avalanche Safety Grant for the third consecutive year. This grant is aimed at increasing accessibility to the winter backcountry for non-profit organizations serving marginalized communities. With the generous support of MEC, this grant will fund four AST 1 courses this winter for non-profit organizations serving IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, people of colour) communities.

“Avalanche Canada recognizes that marginalized communities face disproportionate barriers in accessing winter backcountry pursuits in Canada,” explains Gilles Valade, Executive Director of Avalanche Canada. “We are grateful to partner with MEC to reduce some of these barriers and enable even more Canadians to pursue outdoor adventures safely.”

Last season, four groups took advantage of the grant to further their knowledge about backcountry safety. A participant with the Howl Experience shared their experience stating, “After attending the Avalanche Skills Training course with Howl this February, I feel much more confident navigating the backcountry safely. Before the course, I had minimal knowledge of the risks and what to be aware of in avalanche terrain. Our instructors were very knowledgeable, engaging, and happy to answer questions from our group.” 

Backcountry Access also generously contributed to this initiative by providing two boxes of safety gear, each with eight sets of avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes for use on these courses.

The MEC Avalanche Safety Grant is integral to our ongoing commitment to ensure that our programs and services are welcoming to all of Canada’s diverse population.

If you would like to apply or are aware of any organizations that would benefit from this program, click here for an application form. The application deadline is November 6, 2023. 

Avalanche Canada is partnering with MEC to make AST courses more accessible to all Canadians.

MEC Avalanche Safety Grant Provides AST Courses for IBPOC Organizations for the 2023-24 Season

Pascal Haegli (centre) receives the 2023 Gordon Ritchie Service Award presented by Avalanche Canada executive director Gilles Valade (left) and Gordon Ritchie (right). 

Each year, Avalanche Canada bestows the Gordon Ritchie Service Award upon an individual or organization demonstrating exceptional commitment to public avalanche safety. This year, we proudly presented the award to Pascal Haegeli in acknowledgment of his invaluable contributions to public avalanche safety. 

In 2004, when Avalanche Canada was established, one of our first major projects aimed to create a practical, science-based decision-making tool for recreational backcountry users. Pascal spearheaded this project, which resulted in the Avaluator. The Avaluator remains a cornerstone of our training program today. 

Over the years, Pascal has led some of the most significant and impactful avalanche research in the professional community. His study on airbag effectiveness has influenced workplace safety, while his fresh analysis of fatality data has provided a new perspective on avalanche survival times in Canada. He helped develop InfoEx 3.0 and the conceptual model of avalanche hazard. His ongoing research into how guides incorporate hazard ratings continues to stimulate thoughtful discussions. 

His work is equally vital for the recreational community. His research, and that of the program he leads, focuses on the science of human behavior. This is key to helping us understand how recreationists make decisions and how we can best encourage a thoughtful and structured approach to avalanche safety. This improved understanding of user responses to risky environments has enabled us to develop a range of tools, resources, and curricula. We now possess a deeper understanding of who uses the avalanche bulletins, what they understand, how external factors influence them, and what information they may be missing. Pascal's essential research remains a driving force, consistently inspiring and guiding our efforts. 

Pascal holds a tenured associate professorship at Simon Fraser University, where he currently serves as the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Avalanche Risk Management. He is also an integral part of our Avalanche Canada family.

Pascal Haegeli, a renowned expert in avalanche safety research, honoured with Gordon Ritchie Service Award

Pascal Haegeli honoured with Gordon Ritchie Service Award

Avalanche Canada, in partnership with Parks Canada, Kananaskis Country, and the province of British Columbia, is issuing a Special Public Avalanche Warning (SPAW) for recreational backcountry users across the mountainous regions of western Canada. A dramatic increase in temperatures is expected to destabilize the snowpack, resulting in dangerous, destructive avalanches. This special warning is in effect immediately and will apply through the end of Monday, May 1. 

For a map of the SPAW region, click here. 

 The sudden transition from cool, wintry conditions in the alpine to warm temperatures will create dangerous avalanche conditions. The effect of the warm temperatures on the existing snowpack structure means that these avalanches will likely be very large and may run to valley bottoms. 

 “Dangerous avalanche conditions exist for all mountainous regions in western Canada and the hazard increases with each day of warm air,” explains Mike Conlan, a senior avalanche forecaster with Avalanche Canada. “Regions with persistent or deep persistent slab avalanche problems will be especially problematic, with avalanches potentially involving the full depth of the snowpack.”

 “Warming can also initiate large and destructive cornice falls. Cornices can be destructive by themselves but also act as a trigger for destructive deep persistent avalanches,” adds Conlan. 

 All backcountry users, including hikers and scramblers, and anyone recreating in avalanche terrain are advised to leave a wide margin for error during this warming period, stick to simple, low angle terrain, and avoid all overhead avalanche hazards. 

“We cannot stress the importance of this avalanche warning enough,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “I urge everyone considering heading into the backcountry to take seriously the advice of Avalanche Canada. Sadly, fourteen people have lost their lives to avalanches in B.C. this year—many of whom were extremely experienced. Everyone needs to exercise extreme caution and make good decisions during this Special Public Avalanche Warning to keep themselves and our incredible search and rescue volunteers safe.”

Backcountry users should always check the avalanche forecast at www.avalanche.ca. Everyone in a backcountry party needs the essential rescue gear—transceiver, probe, and shovel—and the training to use it. 

This special warning is in effect immediately and will apply through the end of Monday, May 1.

Special Public Avalanche Warning for Western Canada

The new Avalanche Canada mobile app is available. Head to https://app.avalanche.ca/ to download it. 

Apple users will need to download the app in Safari and Android users will need to download using Chrome. (This is for the initial download only.)

Easy access to the daily avalanche forecasts, avalanche advisories, observations from other users, and remote weather station data

Get the daily avalanche forecast for your region, direct to your mobile device

Get hourly weather data from over 80 remote weather stations

Access to all submissions posted on our Mountain Information Network

Submit your own avalanche, weather, and snowpack observations quickly and easily to the Mountain Information Network

New Avalanche Canada Mobile App

Avalanche Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) Avalanche Safety Grant, which provides Avalanche Canada Training courses to four organizations serving IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour) communities.

 “Avalanche Canada recognizes that some groups face disproportionate barriers in accessing winter backcountry pursuits in Canada,” explains Gilles Valade, Executive Director of Avalanche Canada. “We are very impressed with the work being done by these four organizations and are grateful to partner with MEC to provide them with avalanche safety education.”

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. 

“We recognize that backcountry activities are not accessible nor representative of the diversity that exists in our communities,” says Rosie Langford, President of Mountain Mentors. “We are excited to be able to offer safe, empowering, and fun avalanche safety education to our community members."

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. Image by JoJo Das. 

Thanks to generous funding from MEC, each group is organizing an Avalanche Skills Training course with the provider of their choice for up to eight of their members.

 “MEC wants to celebrate and encourage inclusivity in the outdoors through community support. We've put a larger focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work we do with our national partners, which includes co-developing grants available to IBPOC-led organizations and supporting DEI training and development at partner organizations,” says Caitlin Brown, community manager for MEC. “The MEC Avalanche Safety Grant is an example of how, together with Avalanche Canada, we’re striving to make the outdoors more inclusive.”

 The MEC Avalanche Safety Grant was established to provide greater access to outdoor opportunities for racialized Canadians. 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.

 Avalanche Canada is supported by MEC’s Outdoor Impact Program.

Indigenous Women Outdoors, Mountain Mentors, The Howl Experience, and Zero Ceiling receive grants for AST course

Four Organizations Serving IBPOC Communities Receive MEC Avalanche Safety Grant

After the roaring success of last year’s event, the Braap It Up! fundraiser returns this year. Braap It Up! runs until Monday, November 14, with early bird tickets available until Friday, November 4. Entries are $20 and there are only 5,000 available—which makes for some good odds at winning a brand new snow pony!

The grand prize for this year’s prize draw is a fantastic 2023 Polaris 850 RMK Khaos Slash 163 valued at $18,999. There’s also an early bird draw on Nov. 4, where we’re giving away an AST 1 or 2 course for one lucky winner and their friends. 

Every penny raised from this event directly supports Avalanche Canada’s snowmobile safety and outreach programs. And this year, 10% of the money raised will go directly the Al Hodgeson Memorial fund, which supports snowmobilers in taking recreational or professional level avalanche safety training. 

The event also has an online silent auction with great gear provided by our sponsors. There are lots of goodies up for auction, including airbags, superclamps, avalanche training, and trail passes. Get your bids in today.

These fundraisers are essential to AvCan and would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. We’re very grateful for their donations and commitment to avalanche safety. 

The Avalanche Canada Foundation Braap It Up! virtual fundraiser is back

MEC is helping Avalanche Canada make AST courses more accessible to all Canadians.                 

Avalanche Canada is proud to announce the return of the MEC Avalanche Safety Grant. This grant is aimed at non-profit organizations that serve racialized communities, and will allow more Canadians to safely learn about and access the winter backcountry.

Thanks to the generous support of MEC, this grant will fund up to four AST 1 courses this winter, for up to eight students per course. We are reaching out to organizations that meet the criteria to let them know of this opportunity. 

“Avalanche Canada recognizes that racialized communities face disproportionate barriers in accessing winter backcountry pursuits in Canada,” explains Gilles Valade, Executive Director of Avalanche Canada. “We are grateful to partner with MEC to reduce some of these barriers and enable even more Canadians to pursue outdoor adventures safely.”

Last year's program was a success and three groups took advantage of the grant to further their knowledge about backcountry safety. 

"We are honoured and grateful for our partnership with Avalanche Canada—especially for the successful and well-delivered AST 1 course in addition to the programs and services they provide. We became more confident as an organization when accessing the outdoors safely," said Leonard Maglalang, President of the K8 Mountaineering Club, who received the grant last year. 

Backcountry Access contributed to this initiative by providing two boxes of safety gear, each with eight sets of avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes for use on these courses.

The MEC Avalanche Safety Grant is one part of our initiatives to ensure our programs and services are welcoming to all of Canada’s diverse population.

If you would like to apply or are aware of any organizations that would benefit from this program, click here for an application form.

MEC Avalanche Safety Grant Provides AST Courses for BIPOC Organizations returns for 2022-23

2022 Gordon Ritchie Service Award recipients Karl Klassen (left) and Mary Clayton (right) with Avalanche Canada executive director Gilles Valade. 

Each year, Avalanche Canada presents the Gordon Ritchie Service Award to an individual or organization that has demonstrated exceptional dedication to public avalanche safety. This year, the award was presented to Karl Klassen and Mary Clayton in recognition of their invaluable contributions to public avalanche safety throughout their careers.  

Mary and Karl have been with Avalanche Canada since its inception in 2004 as the Canadian Avalanche Centre. They both played key roles in helping Avalanche Canada become a world-class public avalanche safety organization. 

Karl, a certified Mountain Guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, began his avalanche safety career as a forecaster and in 2009 became Manager of the Public Avalanche Warning Service. He took a small, dispersed group of forecasters and built the world’s largest forecasting program. Most recently, he led the development of the ground-breaking AvID forecasting software.

Mary, with a background in journalism and avalanche control, was the first person in Canada to undertake a communications role dedicated to public avalanche safety. She shaped the way we communicate with the public, as well as professional and government organizations. 

Avalanche Canada has grown exponentially under Mary and Karl and now provides programs and services nationwide. Since 2004, the 10-year running average of Canadian avalanche fatalities has declined by 30%, despite unprecedented growth in winter backcountry recreation. Mary and Karl’s contributions played a substantial role in this accomplishment.

Although Mary and Karl both retired from Avalanche Canada in July, they are both staying on in advisory roles. 

Karl Klassen and Mary Clayton have made invaluable contributions to public avalanche safety throughout their careers. 

Karl Klassen and Mary Clayton awarded the Gordon Ritchie Service Award 2022

Avalanche Canada’s final forecasts of the 2021-22 season go out today, Monday, April 25. This marks the end of a record-setting season for us. Our team issued 2,307 avalanche forecasts—the most ever!

This was another year of growth as we expanded our forecast program to two new regions (Vancouver Island and Newfoundland) and added two new field teams (Vancouver Island and Northwest BC). We are the world's largest public avalanche forecaster by area and now issue bulletins for 16 regions from coast-to-coast and up to the Yukon.

The final forecasts will feature danger ratings for April 26–28. At noon on Thursday, April 28, all of our regions will switch over to spring messaging. Click here to learn more about the spring conditions icon and the conditions you may encounter. 

Thank you for reading our forecasts this season and using them to plan your trips into the backcountry safely. As we transition into the off-season, we are already looking towards next winter and ways to further improve our programs and services to Canadians.

Avalanche Canada issues record 2,307 avalanche forecasts this winter—the most ever

Record-Setting Forecast Season Comes to an End

A large avalanche observed by the Newfoundland field team in March 2021.

February 14, 2022, Revelstoke, BC: Avalanche Canada will publish the first-ever avalanche forecasts for Newfoundland and Labrador starting this weekend.

This pilot project will provide weekend forecasts for the Long Range Mountains, including Gros Morne National Park, for six weeks, from Feb. 18 to Mar. 26. 

“Avalanche Canada is proud to expand its reach by providing avalanche forecasts in Canada’s easternmost province,” says Avalanche Canada’s Executive Director Gilles Valade. “These forecasts will give residents and tourists a valuable tool to plan safe trips into the province’s dramatic winter backcountry.”

The Newfoundland avalanche forecast region.

An avalanche forecast provides valuable information about avalanche danger for a given mountainous area over a certain time. They feature danger ratings, avalanche problems, and details on snowpack, avalanche observations, and weather. Throughout the pilot project, forecasts will be published on Fridays and Saturdays at around 5 pm NT, on avalanche.ca and the Avalanche Canada app.

As with other mountainous regions of Canada, winter backcountry recreation is growing in Newfoundland. Snowmobiling has long been popular in the province, with more riders pushing into steeper ground. Backcountry skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing is also growing quickly in popularity, and many people enjoy the mountains on snowshoes. This means many more people are recreating in avalanche terrain.

“Visitor safety is a top priority for Parks Canada and the information supplied by Avalanche Canada through these forecasts will be an excellent resource for visitors planning winter activities in Gros Morne National Park,” says Tambrae Knapp, Acting Field Unit Superintendent for Parks Canada in Western Newfoundland and Labrador. “The Park offers a variety of winter recreation opportunities. Having access to this tool and the educational resources available on the Avalanche Canada website will help visitors in their decision making as they plan their winter adventures.”

Our Newfoundland field team consists of Andy Nichols (right) and Peter Thurlow (left). Both are based in Rocky Harbour and each has a strong history of backcountry experience and professional-level avalanche training.

“Having grown up in Deer Lake, it gives me great pleasure to help produce avalanche forecasts in my home province,” says Andy Nichols, Avalanche Canada’s NL Field Team leader. “More and more people are recreating in our mountains each year, and I want to make sure they do so safely.”

Avalanche Canada is hosting a webinar on the forecast program this Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. NT. Register on our events page. 

See the backgrounder below for more information on Avalanche Canada’s programs.

Avalanche terrain maps are now located at many popular trailheads in the Long Range Mountains of western Newfoundland.

An avalanche forecast informs the public about the avalanche danger for a given mountainous area over a certain time. Avalanche Canada forecasts include danger ratings, avalanche problems, and details on snowpack, avalanche observations, and weather. Recreationists in Newfoundland can see the forecast at avalanche.ca/nl.

Avalanche danger is rated on a five-point scale of Low, Moderate, Considerable, High, and Extreme. Each level is defined by the likelihood of avalanches and their expected size and distribution.

Avalanche problems show what kind of avalanches are expected, where they are most likely to be triggered, how likely they are to be triggered, and the expected size. There are eight avalanche problem types that are used in forecasts. 

The details tab provides additional information on recent avalanche observations, snowpack conditions, and the weather forecast.

Learn more about using the avalanche forecast in Avy Savvy, our online tutorial.

In 2019, Avalanche Canada published specialized maps with terrain ratings for some of the more popular riding areas in the Long Range Mountains. These maps use the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES), which uses a three-point system to rate popular backcountry areas based on the potential for avalanches. The maps are posted at popular trailheads and are included in the online trip planner. 

Simple terrain contains little or no avalanche terrain and there are many options to reduce exposure. 

Challenging terrain contains well defined avalanche paths and exposure can be reduced with careful route finding.

Complex terrain is exposed to multiple avalanche paths and minimal options to reduce exposure.

The combination of ATES ratings and the avalanche forecast provides the best trip-planning information available. With this forecast pilot project, backcountry users in NL will be able to use the online trip planner to plan their weekend adventures. They will also be able to use the Avaluator trip planner, a tool supplied with the Avalanche Skills Training 1 course.

Avalanche forecasts will be provided for Newfoundland for first time ever.

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