- Date
- Monday, October 27, 2025
- Tagged under
AST Access Grant helps make AST courses more accessible to all Canadians
Avalanche Canada is pleased to announce the return of the Avalanche Canada AST Access Grant for the 2025–26 season. This grant supports non-profit organizations serving marginalized communities by funding Avalanche Skills Training (AST) 1 courses.
We recognize that many individuals from marginalized groups face systemic barriers to accessing avalanche safety training and winter backcountry recreation in Canada. This grant aims to reduce those barriers by supporting organizations that offer AST 1 courses to Indigenous, Black, and other People of Colour, LGBTQIAS2+ individuals, neuro-diverse and gender-diverse participants, and others facing marginalization.
The grant provides up to four AST 1 courses per organization, with a maximum of eight students per course. All courses must take place in British Columbia or Alberta between Nov. 28, 2025, and April 15, 2026.
To apply or to recommend an eligible organization, download the application form. The application deadline is Nov. 15, 2025.
Recap: 2024–25 MEC Avalanche Safety Grant
In the 2024–25 season, Avalanche Canada partnered with MEC for the fourth consecutive year to deliver the MEC Avalanche Safety Grant. This program expanded its focus from IBPOC-serving organizations to include any group serving marginalized communities, such as LGBTQIAS2+ individuals, neurodiverse and gender-diverse participants, and those facing socio-economic barriers.
The grant enabled each participating organization to train up to eight students in an AST 1 course. In total, 30 students completed training during the 2024–25 season.
Last season's grant winners were:
- Open Mountains (BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ backcountry users)
- L’ilwat Nation Xet̓ólacw Community School (Lil’wat Nation youth)
- Kootenay Wild Mentors (women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binary and gender non-conforming people)
- Indigenous Backcountry Training (Indigenous skiers and snowboarders)
“I’m incredibly grateful to Kootenay Wild Mentors for creating an accessible backcountry experience for women. Learning in an all-female group—where patience, understanding, safety, and laughter were at the forefront—made all the difference. I felt completely safe and supported, and now I'm excited to tackle the backcountry and shred with other incredible women.”
Backcountry Access also supported the program by donating two boxes of safety gear, each containing eight avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes for use in the AST 1 courses. We thank Backcountry Access for its generous contribution.
The Avalanche Canada AST Access Grant is a key part of our commitment to making avalanche safety training accessible and inclusive for all Canadians.
Students at the Indigenous Backcountry Training AST 1 course. Credit: Alexi Mostert.