Three-year commitment will support public avalanche safety for Albertans
Avalanche Canada is pleased to announce the Government of Alberta has renewed its support for public avalanche safety with a three-year funding commitment.
The Government of Alberta will provide $250,000 annually from 2026–27 through 2028–29. The funding will support Avalanche Canada’s work to help keep Albertans safe while travelling and recreating in avalanche terrain.
"More Albertans than ever are heading out to ski, snowmobile, hike, and explore our backcountry each winter,” said Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks. “Albertas’ government is ensuring that Avalanche Canada is helping them do that safely. This funding builds on a partnership that has kept Albertans safe for 20 years, and it will carry that work forward."
“We’re extremely grateful to the Government of Alberta for its continued commitment to public avalanche safety,” said Gilles Valade, CEO of Avalanche Canada. “This three-year funding provides important stability for Avalanche Canada and allows us to continue delivering essential avalanche safety services that Albertans rely on. We deeply value our longstanding partnership with the Government of Alberta and its recognition that investing in avalanche prevention and education helps keep Albertans safe.”
The Government of Alberta has supported Avalanche Canada’s public avalanche safety programs since 2004 to provide a coordinated, prevention-focused public safety system.
Avalanche Canada provides daily avalanche forecasts and special public avalanche warnings, avalanche education and outreach, and public safety tools and resources used by winter recreationists across Alberta.
The organization also delivers avalanche education directly to Alberta youth through its School Program. During the 2025–26 season, Avalanche Canada reached 4,163 students at 31 Alberta schools.
The three-year commitment provides Avalanche Canada with greater certainty to plan ahead, retain specialized expertise, and maintain the systems and infrastructure required to deliver avalanche safety services throughout the winter.
Learn More:
● Avalanche forecasting will begin late November. For the latest avalanche forecasts, visit: http://www.avalanche.ca
● Avalanche Canada Training courses can be found at: https://avalanche.ca/training
● For tips about driving and travelling in an avalanche area, visit: https://www.transportation.alberta.ca/content/doctype34/production/winterdrivingtips.pdf
Media contacts
Ministry of Forestry and Parks
Riley Gough, Press Secretary
riley.gough@gov.ab.ca
780-699-6069
Avalanche Canada
Karilyn Kempton, Communications Manager
communications@avalanche.ca
250-814-8478