Avalanche Canada 2023 Annual Report by Avalanche Canada

2022-23 Annual Report

04 Message from the President 05 Message from the Executive Director 06 Communications Flexible Forecast System Promoting Safety Through Effective Communication Media Coverage Social Media Behind the Scenes Avalanche Ambassadors

16 Our Community Avalanche Québec Grants Grassroots Support Gordon Ritchie Service Award

23 Public Avalanche Warning Service Field Teams Transceiver Interference Guidance AvID Mountain Information Network Mountain Weather Forecast Research

32 Education and Outreach Avalanche Canada Training Youth Programs Avy Savvy Ice Climbing Atlas Snowmobile Outreach

42 Avalanche Fatalities 44 Financial Summary 46 Funding Partners 49 Looking Ahead 50 Our People 52 Avalanche Canada Foundation Message from the President Message from Executive Director Fundraising Grants and Awards Financial Summary Supporters and Sponsors

Cover Image: Karl Klassen enjoying a powder day. Image: Colleen Gentemann

Vision To inspire, engage, and empower recreationists to enjoy Canada's winter backcountry and be safe from avalanches.

Mission To encourage and educate people to recreate safely in the winter backcountry by developing, coordinating, promoting, and delivering world-class public avalanche safety programs and services.

Values • We are committed to awareness, training and safety for the general public and for all who travel in avalanche terrain. • We are an inclusive and diverse organization that provides services to all winter recreation activity participants. • We strive to ensure that all programs, services and materials are based on accurate research and evidence. • We engage in strategic relationships and alliances to further the reach of our programs and messages. • We investigate to understand all factors that contribute to human incidents in avalanche terrain and support that investigation by encouraging research. • We inspire people to safely enjoy recreation and travel in the winter backcountry environment. • We value our staff and community’s collective strength, energy and leadership. • We create a fun, healthy, professional and sustainable workplace, and provide our staff with opportunities to grow and thrive. Field technicians Drew Nylen and James Minifie discussing route options along 'the Big Y' drainage near White Pass. Image: Mike Conlin

• We anticipate and respond to challenges and changes with creativity, collaboration, courage and bold enthusiasm.

A Message from the President This has been another landmark year for Avalanche Canada. After more than a decade of commitment and progress towards our vision of establishing a national public avalanche safety program in Canada, our reach has never been broader. Avalanche Canada’s programs and services are reaching more Canadians than ever before. This substantial growth in our public safety program can be directly attributed to the availability of predictable and sustainable multi-year funding, which is made possible by our federal and provincial endowment fund, managed by the Avalanche Canada Foundation. Our goal is to make the most of this funding, with the aim of maintaining its availability through the end of this decade. In addition to the expansion of our programs and services, we put a significant focus on information technology and software development during the 2022-23 season. Many years ago, we recognized that avalanche safety information is at the core of our mission. We have invested in software design, engineering, cloud computing, research on data processing and predictive modelling, user experience optimization, cybersecurity management, and system development. Users of our public avalanche bulletin have already experienced the benefits of these investments, particularly through the new flexible forecast system. With this new system, forecast region boundaries change in response to conditions. This is only the beginning, as we envision trip planning tools and forecasts that are more customizable for each user. We recently appointed a Research Officer to guide the strategy and direction of research in collaboration with staff and partners, including Simon Fraser University (SFU). To further strengthen public avalanche safety in Canada, we have not only renewed but also increased our research grant to SFU. With the support of the Avalanche Canada Foundation, we have a renewed focus on fundraising, and have made the commitment that all donations received from events will support youth avalanche education and outreach. As Avalanche Canada continues to evolve, so does our Board of Directors and we have initiated several important new policy directions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as environmental sustainability and governance. We believe the outdoors is for ALL Canadians and visitors to Canada. We are dedicated to ensuring our programs and services are inclusive and open to all, regardless of background. We will continue to work diligently towards this vision. I extend my gratitude to all of you for your support, and I hope you will continue to stand beside us in achieving these crucial goals. Wishing you a safe and snowy 2023-24 winter season.

Kevin Seel, President

A Message from the Executive Director The summer of 2023 was a challenging one. Western Canada experienced severe drought levels and multiple wildfires impacted thousands of people across the country. We mourned the loss of a young firefighter who was a resident of Revelstoke. Our deepest sympathies and thoughts go out to the family and friends. We have profound respect and admiration for the crew members who put their lives at risk to protect our communities. The 2022-23 winter season was also impacted by severe drought levels that led to an unusually complex snowpack in many regions. Although we saw too many avalanche fatalities, there were some encouraging aspects worth highlighting. Notably, the number of recreational fatalities in Canada remained under ten, and snowmobile fatalities continued to be historically low, with two fatalities. This can be attributed to increased levels of avalanche training and awareness in the recreational community. It was an exceptionally busy season on the communications front. We received an unprecedented amount of media coverage, which played a crucial role in reaching new backcountry users and those without any avalanche training. Our Special Public Avalanche Warnings (SPAWs) proved to be highly effective in conveying crucial information about tricky conditions. Managing the more than 250 media interviews required an all-hands-on-deck approach and our social media channels were busier than ever. We recognize the value of consistent engagement with social media as well as traditional media, but it comes with challenges. On social media, there was some confusion as to our role and mandate around commercial accidents and several erroneous stories ran in traditional media, indicating that AvCan’s role includes making the decision to prevent public access to the backcountry. We worked hard to clarify both misunderstandings. In the fall, we launched our new flexible forecast system, marking the most significant change to our public-facing homepage in almost two decades. This change necessitated a lot of background work and preparation, but the results were well worth it. We conducted a user survey at the end of the season to gather valuable feedback that will guide future improvements. The flexible forecast system also prompted us to revamp our mobile app, which was due for an upgrade. This season, we issued forecasts for Haines Pass for the first time. This recreation area is becoming increasingly popular, particularly during the spring months. However, the continuation of this project depends upon securing funding from the Yukon government. Lastly, we received a grant from the Search and Rescue New Initiative Fund to build a more user-friendly fatal incident database with enhanced search functionality. This is a three-year project that will bring the same level of information that is currently in book form to this interactive database. It was a busy and demanding year and I am incredibly proud of our dedicated and committed employees who rose to the occasion. Avalanche Canada’s success is attributed to their hard work. Two skiers skin along a cornice on Terminal Peak in Rogers Pass, BC. Image: Jordy Shepherd

As we look ahead to the upcoming season, I wish everyone an enjoyable and safe winter.

Gilles Valade, Executive Director 5

Communications

Avalanche Canada’s New Innovative Forecast System Avalanche Canada is a world leader in public avalanche safety programs and avalanche accident prevention. This season, Avalanche Canada introduced a new flexible forecast system that makes it easier for users to get the information they need to plan safe trips into the backcountry. With this new system, forecast regions are dynamic, with boundaries that change in response to conditions. This allows forecasters to communicate variability more effectively. We made this change to tackle one of the biggest problems with our previous system: the significant variability in conditions across large regions. As part of this update, we also revamped the look and feel of the Avalanche Canada homepage. We added search functionality so users can quickly and easily determine their forecast region. Also, the regions are now colour-coded to reflect their highest danger rating. This provides users with a quick overview of the danger level in their recreation area. Map layers and other pertinent information can be added or removed from the forecast map, and we implemented a colour-blind safe version to improve accessibility. These design changes reflect best practices in risk communication and are consistent with the approach used by most public forecasting agencies worldwide. This innovative forecasting system is possible because of the AvID forecasting software that we have been developing for the past six years. We are currently partnering with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and Parks Canada on the development of AvID. The forecasters at Kananaskis Country have been using AvID since we launched our live version in 2019. This season, Parks Canada, Kananaskis Country, Avalanche Quebec, and the CAIC all used this forecasting system. New this season, Parks Canada and Kananaskis Country forecasts are now displayed on the Avalanche Canada website.

The new flexible forecast system has 92 subregions to help communicate variability more effectively.

With the new flexible forecast system, it is possible for different regions to have the same danger rating yet have different forecast details, such as avalanche problems.

Communications

Promoting Safety Through Effective Communication The winter season in western Canada was characterized by a challenging snowpack, marked by a deep persistent weak layer that caused exceptional challenges and unpredictability. In response, we focused our communications strategy on educating a broad audience about the difficult conditions, aiming to reduce the number of lives lost to avalanches. We firmly believe that our proactive communication strategies played a pivotal role in improving public safety, preventing more potentially serious incidents during this winter season. Effective communication became more critical than ever. It proved to be an exceptionally busy season on the communications front. We received an unprecedented level of media coverage, which played a vital role in reaching new backcountry users and those without any avalanche training. Harnessing the power of the media to reach a broader audience is central to our communications strategy and this winter saw us utilize that on a scale we hadn’t previously. A key element of our multi-pronged strategy was leveraging our partnerships with other stakeholders to amplify our collective voices, thereby expanding our reach. We have worked hard to cultivate these relationships and heir importance became even more pronounced this winter. We collaborated with Emergency Management BC and Interior Health on three news releases urging recreationists to exercise extreme caution in the backcountry. Our Special Public Avalanche Warnings (SPAWs) also proved highly effective in conveying critical information about unusually tricky conditions. Our SPAWs are aimed at all recreationists, but we find them particularly effective for individuals with limited training or experience who tend to venture into the mountains with minimal planning or risk management. This season, we issued two SPAWs in collaboration with Parks Canada, Kananaskis Country, and the Province of BC. Avalanche Canada is the lead agency in these coordinated warnings, enabling our combined agencies to communicate clearly and with one unified voice to backcountry users. We take pride in the timeliness and coherency of our messaging and the resulting media coverage. The two SPAWs generated more than 2,000 media reports, significantly broadening the reach of our warnings. Communications is at the core of everything we do, and we work diligently to ensure that our messages are integrated effectively with all our partners and stakeholders. We are fully committed to coordinating our communication efforts and firmly believe that these collaborative endeavors will continue to result in improved public avalanche safety. Avalanche field technician Colin Garritty speaks to reporter Dean Stoltz with CHEK News about conditions on Vancouver Island during a storm. Image: Colin Garritty

Media Coverage Traditional media remains a key part of our communications strategy, where we deliver conditions reports, discuss avalanche safety, and promote our outreach events and training programs. Our forecasters and field staff are all trained to share their expertise with the media and delivered nearly 250 interviews this season. As a result, we were featured in more than 13,000 print, online, and broadcast stories (a 136% increase over the previous season). This media impact has a marketing or advertising equivalent of $30 million. Leveraging the media enables us to reach a wider audience, including backcountry users who may be unaware that our services exist.

# of reports November 28 November 29 December 3 December 10 December 28 December 29 December 30

250 Nov. 28: AvCan launches new flexible forecasting system.

500

750

1,000

Dec. 28: SPAW issued for the BC Interior including the Columbia Mountains, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks, and the Northern Rockies.

Dec. 30: SPAW updated to include Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, and Jasper National Parks. Jan. 9: Fatal avalanche near Kaslo, BC and heighted avalanche conditions across the Interior due to a persistent weak layer.

January 2 January 9 January 10 January 11 January 22

Jan. 23: Heliski avalanche fatality near Revelstoke, BC.

January 23 January 24

Feb. 16: Fatal avalanche near Golden, BC.

January 25 January 31 February 14 February 16 March 1: Heliski avalanche fatality near Invermere, BC.

February 17 March 1 March 2 March 3 March 4 March 13 April 8 April 17 April 23 April 27 April 28 April 29

April 15: Fatal avalanche in the Thunderwater Lake riding area.

April 22: Fatal avalanche in a closed area within Lake Louise Ski Resort.

April 27: SPAW issued for the mountainous regions of western Canada

Communications

Social Media Social media plays a crucial role at Avalanche Canada as it enables us to reach a wide audience. It serves not only as a platform for broadcasting avalanche safety information and education but also as a means to introduce our products and services, promote events, and foster relationships with the backcountry community. We leverage social media to share a range of content, including video, images, Special Public Avalanche Warnings, and the ever-popular forecaster blog. This season, social media played an indispensable role in reinforcing the avalanche safety messaging during a prolonged period of dangerous backcountry travel. It is fair to say that the 2022-23 season was a mixed bag for our social media channels. We had some high points, such as a highly effective collaboration with Destination BC, the provincial tourist organization, to produce an educational post aimed at beginners for recognizing avalanche terrain. Our social channels were also a key component in the launch of our new flexible forecasting system, allowing us to share information and tutorials while facilitating a smooth transition through active engagement with users. Nonetheless, the challenging nature of the 2022-23 winter and the need to repeat messaging with little change required us to adopt a creative approach to our posts. We worked hard to reinforce the basics of avalanche safety that might help keep users safe in an incredibly challenging season. This included posts on interpreting how different avalanche danger levels might shape backcountry travel, information on the snowpack setup, and warnings about increased avalanche danger when necessary. The past winter also presented challenges for Avalanche Canada, as we faced criticism regarding commercial fatalities. Managing comments and complaints in the aftermath of fatal incidents became a substantial part of our communications team’s workload during busy periods. The lessons from the backlash helped us shape our approach to social interactions as the season progressed.

Behind the Scenes Avalanche Canada has embraced cutting-edge technology to deliver our world-class public safety services. Our talented Development Team is central to this endeavor. Throughout the fiscal year (July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023), Avalanche Canada’s IT initiatives have undergone transformative changes, leading to improvements in operational efficiency, software development practices, and user-centric services—all while strengthening security measures. Notable highlights from the 2022-23 season include: • Team Dynamics: We underwent a complete team reorganization, clearly defining roles for every team member, with a dedicated full-time product manager at the helm of all projects. • Software Development Life Cycle Policy (SDLC): A landmark implementation ensures we follow best practices in software development, integrating necessary tests, and security checks. • Mobile App Improvements: Our newly developed Progressive Web App (PWA) seamlessly synchronizes with the avalanche.ca website, offering offline support for accessing forecasts without an internet connection. • AvID Fx 2.0: Our AvID forecasting app now has dynamic forecast regions. It stands as a testament to international collaboration, garnering positive feedback from agencies like Parks Canada. • Website Upgrades: Avalanche.ca has undergone multiple enhancements, including updated maps, location search and pin features, and a timestepped forecast archive. • Infrastructure Evolution: The transition to "Infrastructure as Code" using Terraform has improved disaster resilience, with AWS accounts segregated for added security and efficiency. • Team Synergy: We introduced cross-training initiatives and an on-call schedule, ensuring IT operations run smoothly even during staff vacations. • Weather Station Database Modernization: The database infrastructure has been modified, using Go and Docker to efficiently fetch station data. • Forecast Archive: The new archive showcases the flexibility of our forecast products, allowing users to review past forecasts.

The Tantalus range in the Coast Mountains is a popular recreation destination for ski touring and winter mountaineering. Image: Abby Cooper

This season saw an array of innovations, from app developments to web upgrades, each reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement and usercentric design.

Communications

Avalanche.ca by the Numbers

7.6 million 29,200 website page views

unique users of our new app

48,500

32,100

130,023

10,992

followers on Instagram

Vimeo plays

885,528 unique users of our website

followers on Facebook

9,400

followers on Twitter

views on YouTube

Avalanche Canada Field Teams North Rockies 1,871 followers 1,218 followers

South Rockies 4,586 followers 6,827 followers

Newfoundland 913 followers 2,391 followers

Vancouver Island 935 followers 154 followers

Northwest BC 793 followers 192 followers

Yukon 1,670 followers 1,266 followers

Social Initiatives A Yukon field technician enjoys some turns on the way to make observations in 'the Big Y' zone near White Pass. Image: Jennifer Coulter

MIN To Win Contest Our weekly MIN to Win contest remains highly popular and we’ve seen increased engagement with these posts throughout the season. To motivate backcountry users to share their observations, the forecast team selects one MIN post winner each week, and the lucky user receives a small prize. We are thrilled to witness the growing trend of posting MINs becoming a regular part of many recreationists' backcountry routines. Thank you to our sponsors for supplying prizes for the MIN of the Win contest. Quiz Time and Q&A We continued with our Q&A sessions on Instagram, which proved as popular as ever. New this season, we also created Instagram quizzes featuring information about common themes found in avalanche forecasts. The feedback we received indicates that these quizzes were particularly valuable to newer backcountry users, and we are delighted to provide them with helpful and informative content. Targeted Ads Once again, we used our Google Ad Grant to run ads on Google, Facebook, and Instagram that drove traffic to our website. The ads directed users to our forecasts, Start Here page, and Avy Savvy. These ads are funded by a non-profit grant from Google and are displayed to people searching for related terms, such as ‘snowshoeing’ or ‘mountain safety’. Field Team Social Our field teams’ social media channels continue to attract more followers and foster community relationships. Notably, video content on these channels garnered exceptional engagement during the winter season. Paid Campaigns We also continued to run paid campaigns on social media to effectively reach users with specific messaging about conditions and relevant safety messaging. Paid campaigns were especially helpful this season in promoting important forecaster blogs and ensuring that the Special Public Avalanche Warning gained good reach.

Avalanche Canada issues The Aspect monthly during the winter season. This e-newsletter provides ongoing updates about our programs, products, and services, as well as insight into new projects, our challenges, and our successes. The Aspect has over 8,700 subscribers and is delivered in both official languages. This season the open rate ranged from 52% to 61%, which is roughly double the average of other nonprofits, according to Mailchimp. This demonstrates how much our users value our work. 13

Communications

2022-23 Avalanche Ambassador Team The Avalanche Canada Ambassador program works with elite athletes to promote avalanche safety in their area of winter recreation. Our ambassadors are highly accomplished, and we are excited to have them on our team, promoting Avalanche Canada training programs, our Mountain Information Network, and our forecasts. With their help and influence, our messages of awareness and safety reach a wider audience. Sarah Hueniken Sarah has been alpine/ice guiding in the Canadian Rockies for 16 years as an ACMG Alpine Guide and Instructor and Examiner for the Training and Assessment Program. Running her own company, she specializes in women-specific camps that focus on building independence and skills toward self-reliance and leading in the mountains. After losing her dearest friend to an avalanche while ice climbing, Sarah has gained a profound appreciation for the inherent dangers of the mountains. Her newfound focus is to raise awareness about the risks of avalanches for ice climbers and to support the healing process. To achieve this, she founded the Mountain Muskox Peer Mentorship Program. She is sponsored by Arc'teryx, Scarpa, Sterling Ropes, and Onward Up. Chris Rubens Chris has been a globally recognized professional skier for over two decades. Truly dedicated and extremely passionate about skiing in the mountains, Chris spends as much time as possible in the backcountry every winter, specializing in putting beautiful lines down mountains for both film and photo projects. He spends his winters collaborating with the Blank Collective, Salomon TV, and Matchstick Productions. He is passionate about sharing his experience and knowledge to help educate people about backcountry skiing. Between ski trips, Chris resides in the town of Revelstoke, BC, and spends his offseason working hard, growing organic vegetables at First Light Farm. Nadine Overwater Nadine started out on a snowmobile at age seven and has never looked back. She got into serious mountain sledding in 2007 and has been guiding in the Revelstoke area since 2010. She spends well over 100 days a season on her machine, riding with all different skill levels and pursuing professional-level avalanche training. In 2012, Nadine started La Nina Sled Camp, a venue for women riders to build confidence in a positive environment, away from the stress of having to keep up with their partners. Nadine hopes to continue influencing and educating other women to “get out and shred” as often as they like. Sandy Ward Sandy is a member of the Lil’wat Nation and a founding member of Indigenous Women Outdoors. She has spent most of her life on snow as a competitive halfpipe rider, First Nations Snowboard Team coach, and now leader of the Indigenous Women Outdoors Backcountry Mentorship Program. Through her work with IWO and Indigenous Life Sport Academy, Sandy has continually shown her devotion to ensuring Indigenous peoples can get involved in the outdoors. Sandy spends every day of the winter in the mountains and has started gaining professional-level avalanche training as she works toward becoming a guide.

Abby Cooper Abby is a photographer and writer specializing in backcountry photoshoots and culture. She also regularly speaks at snow safety clinics and has created her own series of social events known as "Split Social,” aimed at educating and building a strong community for splitboarders, while instilling good communication between all backcountry users. Abby volunteers with Mountain Mentors and SheJumps and works with Wheelie Creative to help increase female participation in the outdoors. Abby is supported both in front and behind the camera by Arc’teryx, Karakoram, Intuition Liners, and G3 Gear. Khan Yong Gee Growing up on the sunny beaches of Australia, snowmobiling wasn't a focus for Khan until he moved to Whistler in the early 2000s. After purchasing a sled for access to backcountry snowboarding, Khan's passion for the sport only grew. He spent 15 years on the coast of BC, chasing deep powder and riding endless big mountain terrain, and has now made the move to Mabel Lake, BC, where the terrain is world-class and the snow is deep, light, and consistent. Khan's passion for sledding runs deeper than just riding, it's the community and the relationships within the sport that really keep his love for the sport alive.

Youth Ambassadors This was year seven of our Youth Avalanche Ambassador Program, and we have four outstanding riders from across the country who demonstrate a strong commitment to backcountry safety. Our youth ambassadors promote forecasts, training programs, Special Public Avalanche Warnings, events, and the Mountain Information Network, while also sharing their personal stoke and passion for the outdoors. Mason Kenyon Stony Plain, AB @mason.kenyon

Alana Norie Kamloops, BC @alananorie

Lucy Ring Banff, AB @lucyringwho

Jonathan Walsh Norris Point, NL @jonathann_walsh

Our Community

Avalanche Québec Avalanche Québec and Avalanche Canada have a long-standing relationship and have collaborated on many initiatives over the years. Avalanche Québec is a non-profit organization with a mission to protect the public, prevent accidents, and improve avalanche safety by providing a range of activities and services to raise awareness, inform, and educate the population, mainly in Québec. Founded in 2000 and based in the Chic-Choc Mountains of the Gaspé Peninsula, it is the only centre of expertise in avalanche safety east of the Rockies. Avalanche Québec has administered Avalanche Canada Training programs in Québec since 2016. This includes support and supervision to instructors, advertising of courses, and the exclusive sale of course material. This season, 1,012 students took an avalanche course in Québec. Although this is down slightly (-12%) from the 2021-22 season it still reflects a general upward trend. The relationship and increased collaboration between Avalanche Canada and Avalanche Québec contributes to the national strategy objective. Together, we aim to provide essential avalanche safety services wherever they are needed across the country and support Avalanche Canada’s goal to become a truly national public avalanche safety organization.

Translation Projects As Canada’s national public avalanche safety organization, Avalanche Canada is continually working towards providing all our products and services in both official languages. We are offering more bilingual services and translate most of our products into French. This work raises our profile and makes avalanche awareness more accessible nationwide. We thank our colleagues at Avalanche Québec for their invaluable help in this area. We published all our daily forecasts in French again this winter. The danger ratings, avalanche problems, and terrain and travel advice were all translated. We are currently working on ways to automatically translate the free text portions of the forecast, such as the avalanche and snowpack summaries, which would make the entire forecast completely bilingual. Our education products and services, including Avy Savvy (known as Ava Avisé in French), and the Avalanche Skills Training Handbooks are also available in French. Lastly, all of our public communication products are translated, including our Special Public Avalanche Warnings, media releases, newsletter, and this annual report.

Avalanche Quebec field technicians and their intern assess the conditions at the Mur des Patrouilleurs in Mont Albert after a storm in February. Image: Avalanche Quebec

A DJ plays music and attendees dance at Avalanche Quebec's Avalanche Awareness Day event on March 4, 2023 at Mont Lyall. Image: Nicolas Charron

Grants

Columbia Basin Trust The Columbia Basin is fortunate to have a strong culture of avalanche awareness across the diverse groups of backcountry users, including backcountry skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, snowshoers, ice climbers, winter hikers, and Nordic skiers. Thanks to funding from the Columbia Basin Trust, we were able to deliver an avalanche and backcountry safety curriculum to 2,804 K–12 students residing in Columbia Basin communities during the 2022-23 season. This outreach effort included 2,033 in-class theory sessions and 771 outdoor rescue sessions. The funding we received through the CBT grant has played an integral role in the success of our program. Since 2016, we have provided our core school program to over 21,000 students in Basin communities. We have also subsidized certified Avalanche Skills Training (AST) courses for over 400 students. This achievement is widely regarded as a tremendous success because it instills a culture of safety in the mountains at a young age.

Youth learn how to stay safe in avalanche terrain during a subsidized AST 1 course taught by Stay Wild Backcountry in Golden, BC. Image: Brittney Dickson

MEC Avalanche Safety Grant The MEC Avalanche Safety Grant is aimed at increasing accessibility to the winter backcountry for non-profit organizations serving marginalized communities. With the support of MEC, this grant enabled Avalanche Canada to offer AST 1 courses to four nonprofit organizations serving IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, people of colour) communities. Avalanche Canada recognizes that marginalized groups can face disproportionate barriers in accessing winter backcountry pursuits in Canada. The MEC Avalanche Safety Grant is a part of our ongoing commitment to ensure our programs and services are welcoming to all of Canada's diverse population. Grant recipients for 2022-23: • Indigenous Women Outdoors: A non-profit dedicated to assisting First Nations women and non-binary individuals reconnect with their traditional territories and Indigenous heritage through backcountry sports in the Sea-to-Sky area. • Mountain Mentors: A non-profit organization operating in the Sea-to-Sky region, with the mission of establishing inclusive backcountry spaces where everyone can participate safely and feel a sense of belonging. • The Howl Experience: An organization that provides holistic learning experiences in the Rocky Mountains for Indigenous, low-income, and marginalized youth. • Zero Ceiling: Based in Whistler, Zero Ceiling aims to end youth homelessness in British Columbia by providing marginalized young adults with opportunities to develop skills, confidence, and connections through mountain recreation. Thanks to MEC's generous support, each group was given funds to organize an AST 1 course for up to eight members with the provider of their choice. Backcountry Access (BCA) also contributed to this initiative by providing two boxes of required avalanche safety gear (eight sets of BCA transceivers, shovels, and probes) which were shipped out for the AST courses. We are genuinely impressed with the work being done by these four organizations and are grateful to partner with MEC to provide them with avalanche safety education, promoting inclusivity in outdoor activities.

“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 knowledgeable, engaging, and happy to answer questions from our group. Learning to use transceivers and how to test the snowpack on our field day in Kananaskis was the highlight of the program.” Howl Experience student

BOLD Backcountry Grant This season, we introduced the BOLD Backcountry grant, created by our youth ambassador Alana Norie. The grant is designed to facilitate backcountry access for individuals who identify as part of the 2sLGBTQIA+ community. The grant supplied two recipients with essential avalanche safety gear, a backpack, and an AST 1 training course, and one further recipient with an AST 1 training course. The primary objective of this grant is to promote inclusivity and reduce barriers to accessing the backcountry. We extend our sincere gratitude to Mammut, BCA, Recreation Outfitters Inc. (ROI), and Extremely Canadian for sponsoring this grant by providing essential avalanche gear, backpacks, and courses.

Our Community

Grassroots Support As a non-profit, non-government organization, we work hard to secure grants, seek stakeholder support, work with sponsors, and make every cent count. Ensuring continued access to vital public safety information and programs is a huge job that we can’t do alone; we appreciate all the help we get. Tremendous thanks to the individuals and groups who put time, energy, and resources towards making their backcountry community safer. Outdoor Research Outdoor Research (OR) has been a steadfast sponsor for over a decade. In 2021, we were the first Canadian non-profit organization invited to participate in their Community Partners program.When customers shop with OR, they’re given the option to choose a community partner non-profit to receive a donation. Every season, OR generously donates the proceeds to aid our programs and field teams. This season, OR contributed more than $20,000 to public avalanche safety. We are very grateful to OR for including us as one of the recipients, and to the many people who opted to donate to us.

Snowmobile Club Donations The CrowSnow Riders, based in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, donated $2,000 from their annual Poker Run to Avalanche Canada. The event attracted more than 300 riders from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. The donation came from the proceeds of their raffle and supports our South Rockies field team. Thank you to CrowSnow Riders for your ongoing support; we greatly appreciate it.

Party for the Bulletin The “Party for the Bulletin” event on Vancouver Island generously donated proceeds from their raffle to Avalanche Canada, providing support for our local Vancouver Island field team.

Banded Peak Brewery In November 2022, Banded Peak Brewery hosted a fundraiser in support of Avalanche Canada and launched their Javalanche Breakfast Stout. Avalanche forecaster and field technician Lisa Larson attended the event to share backcountry planning best practices. Proceeds from ticket sales went towards supporting public avalanche safety.

Ole Originals This is the third consecutive year that Ole Originals, a Vancouver-based clothing company, has designed shirts and hoodies for us, donating 25% of the proceeds to support our public avalanche safety programs. Ole Originals designs and prints retro-style and geographic-inspired graphics on high-quality garments. Designs are inspired by the outdoors, travel, wildlife, and the places we love across Canada. Ole graphic artists created an Avalanche Canada design for their t-shirts and hoodies, which are available online.

Avalanche forecaster Simon Horton proudly sports his Ole Originals apparel while doing field work near Kimberley, BC. Image: Les Crawley

Avalanche Awareness Days Avalanche Awareness Days (AAD) began as an awareness and fundraising event for Avalanche Canada more than 20 years ago. Today, more than 25 communities host avalanche awareness events for the public. Many venues continue the tradition of hosting a fundraiser as part of their AAD schedule. This year, Apex Ski Patrol and Fernie Alpine Resort held fundraisers and donated the proceeds to Avalanche Canada’s public safety programs.

To the Hills and Back Screening This season, AvCan hosted a screening of the Sherpas Cinema film, “To the Hills and Back” in Revelstoke, with entrance by donation. We successfully raised nearly $1,700 and filled the theatre to capacity. Following the screening, we held a panel discussion featuring avalanche forecasters, ambassadors, and a longtime local ski guide. The community greatly appreciated the opportunity to watch this impactful film and engage in a thoughtful discussion.

Kootenay Splitfest The inaugural Kootenay Splitfest, hosted in Nelson, BC, was a huge success. We extend our gratitude to Kootenay Splitfest for donating proceeds from their raffle to Avalanche Canada in support of public avalanche safety.

Our Community

Gordon Ritchie Service Award 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. Pascal has been at the leading edge of research that has shaped both public avalanche safety and the way professionals think about avalanche hazard. His research focuses on applying a practical, science-based approach to human factors in backcountry decision-making. 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 with Executive Director Gilles Valade (left) and Gordon Rtchie (right) being recognized for his dedication to public avalanche safety. Image: Alex Cooper

Public Avalanche Warning Service

Field Teams Avalanche Canada has six field teams, based in the South Rockies, North Rockies, Northwest BC, Yukon, Vancouver Island, and Newfoundland. These field teams collect critical data including snow, weather, and avalanche observations. This information enables our forecasters in Revelstoke to produce forecasts for data-sparse areas. Field teams also do important outreach, connecting with local users at trailheads and on mountain tops, at local events, and on their respective social media channels. Video and annotated images are shared regularly on social media accounts to help communicate current conditions and terrain choices with local users. Field teams also play a big role in encouraging the use of our Mountain Information Network (MIN).

Newfoundland & Labrador Based out of Rocky Harbour, this two-person team engaged in important work that increases avalanche awareness and promotes a culture of avalanche safety among the Newfoundland backcountry community. The team actively participated in community events, including the local Avalanche Awareness Night, where they shared backcountry travel tips. They also collaborated with BRP on a snowmobile outreach event in Cornerbrook. This year, thanks to the good work done by our local field team, we were able to provide a weekend forecast for the Long Range Mountains from February 3 until April 8.

North Rockies The North Rockies team works across a large and varied region that stretches from Valemount in the south to Chetwynd in the north. Based out of Prince George, team members made essential data-gathering field trips throughout the region. In addition to their field work, the team conducted outreach events, including the McBride Big Country Snowmobile Association’s (MBSCA) Family Day BBQ at the Lucille Mountain cabin where they answered questions about avalanche safety and built relationships with the community. The North Rockies team plays a pivotal role in promoting avalanche safety and fostering connections with the communities they serve.

Northwest BC This was the second season for our Northwest BC field team. Based out of Smithers, the team worked to collect data to augment our regional forecasts in the Northwest Inland area of BC. The team also conducted valuable outreach work, connecting with users at trailheads, in the field, and through social media platforms. Their engaging social media posts, especially the Instagram reels, garnered a dedicated following. The team’s active involvement in community events was instrumental in promoting avalanche safety awareness. They participated in the Smithers Snowmobile Association’s Avalanche Awareness Day where they conducted avalanche rescue games, answered questions about avalanche safety best practices, and built relationships with local 23

Public Avalanche Warning Service

backcountry users. The team also hosted a webinar on choosing terrain for snowmobilers, which received positive feedback from attendees.

The team attended the North Island Snowmobile Association’s Snowarama event, where they received a warm welcome from participants. During the event, the team ran a transceiver rescue station and answered avalanche safety questions. They also participated in the Mt. Cain two-day Backcountry Fest where they presented about their work on Vancouver Island, answered questions about backcountry travel, and coordinated transceiver rescue practice scenarios. As well as in person outreach, the team participated in many media interviews to educate about conditions and avalanche safety. Participation in these events enabled the team to deliver important safety messages to the Vancouver Island community. Additionally, the team hosted three webinars. All three webinars were successful in attracting a high number of attendees and generating thoughtful questions.

South Rockies The South Rockies field team is our longest-running field team and serves as the model for which all other teams are based. Established in 2011, it has built up a loyal following on social media and helped develop a culture of backcountry safety in its region. The Avalanche Canada South Rockies field team works on both sides of the Great Divide, serving users in southern Alberta and southeastern BC. The South Rockies team attended the Fernie Snowmobile Association’s Avalanche Awareness Day and the Crow Snow Riders annual poker run again this season, helping operate the transceiver and rescue stations. The team also participated in Fernie's winter festival Griz Days in early March. The team joined the parade, met with community members, and answered questions about avalanche safety. The South Rockies team has developed a highly successful model for promoting a culture of avalanche safety through outreach and social media.

Vancouver Island The Vancouver Island team is based out of Campbell River and supports forecasts and outreach efforts for Island recreationists.

Yukon The three-person Yukon field team provides localized avalanche risk communication and outreach to communities in northern BC and Yukon, with a focus on the White Pass area. This season, the team expanded their field trips to regularly include Haines Pass, a popular backcountry recreation area just 3.5 hours west of Whitehorse. This was instrumental in issuing our first-ever forecasts for the Haines Pass area. This season, the team put significant effort into creating informative and engaging social media posts, tailored to the diverse user group in the Yukon. The team grew its Instagram following by 19%, which is an impressive gain. They also participated in several local media interviews, effectively sharing important avalanche safety information. The team hosted a webinar on spring conditions, which had an engaged audience and lots of positive feedback. The Yukon Government provides funding for this program, in collaboration with the Yukon Avalanche Association.

Transceiver Interference Guidance Avalanche transceivers are susceptible to interference by electronic devices, metal objects, and magnets if they are too close. Avalanche Canada, in collaboration with the US National Avalanche Center, Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Utah Avalanche Center, Northwest Avalanche Center, and avalanche transceiver manufacturers developed practical, easy-to-read guidance on how to avoid problems with interference. The guidance provides clear information for using an avalanche transceiver in send and search modes, using communication devices, and features helpful tips on measurements.

TRANSCEIVER INTERFERENCE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! Electronic devices, metal objects, and magnets of any kind will interfere with your transceiver’s signal if they are too close.

TRANSMITTING Always wear your transceiver at least 20 cm away from anything electronic, metallic, or magnetic.

NO: • • • •

20 cm

Heated jackets Foil-lined jackets Magnetic jacket closures Chest-mounted cameras

SEARCHING Increase the distance when searching.

50 cm

Always hold your transceiver at least 50 cm away from all electronics, metals, and magnets.

CAUTION • •

Heated gloves and electronic watches must be taken off and stored away before a transceiver search Heated socks can interfere with your ﬁne search when you’re holding your transceiver close to the snow surface

Always read and follow the instructions provided by your transceiver manufacturer.

SEARCHING NEAR SNOWMOBILES

10 m 15

Stay at least 10 m away from a running snowmobile. Stay at least 50 cm away from a snowmobile that is switched off.

CALLING FOR HELP

10 m 15

Stay at least 10 m away from a searching transceiver when using any communication device.

HELPFUL MEASUREMENTS 20 cm

50 cm 10 m

Public Avalanche Warning Service

AvID AvID (Avalanche Information Distribution) is our long-running, innovative project to develop custom forecasting software and data visualization tools. It began in 2017, funded by a three-year grant from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat’s New Initiatives Fund. AvID is now a self-funded project with expanded goals, aimed at improving the software our forecasters use to manage and interpret the massive amount of data they receive daily. During the 2022-23 season, our AvID forecasting software project progressed rapidly, with new products introduced and more in development underway. In November 2022 we launched a new flexible forecast system that makes it easier for users to get the relevant information necessary to plan safe trips into the backcountry. With the new system, forecast regions are dynamic with boundaries that change in response to conditions. This allows our forecasters to communicate variability more effectively. We also successfully migrated the entire codebase for AvID to the React programming language, which is widely popular among developers. This pivotal transition not only streamlines future development but also facilitates the recruitment of developers proficient in this language. Additionally, AvID now supports both of Canada’s official languages and complies with WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, ensuring it is accessible to all.

New Avalanche Canada Mobile App In January 2023, we launched a new Avalanche Canada mobile app to improve usability. The progressive web app can be used offline and does not require any manual updates. The app allows backcountry users to easily access daily avalanche forecasts, avalanche advisories, the MIN, and remote weather station data. Nearly 30,000 users have installed the app. The app is an essential component of our MIN platform as it allows real-time data to be shared with our forecasting team and other users. It also enables users to access the forecast virtually anywhere they have service. While we take pride in our new app and remain committed to ongoing improvements and updates, it is important to continue to communicate to users that it’s not a replacement for our website. Rather, the mobile app complements our website, providing backcountry users with easy access to relevant safety information.

We also updated the Avalanche Canada homepage, providing users with a more intuitive experience. Regions are now colour-coded to indicate their highest avalanche danger rating, making this information immediately apparent. We also designed and released a new progressive web (PWA) mobile app, ensuring users can access critical information quickly on their mobile devices. We are collaborating with forecasters at Parks Canada and Alberta Parks–Kananaskis Country. The forecasters at Kananaskis Country have been using AvID since we launched our live version in 2019. This season, Parks Canada’s forecasters, who forecast for the mountain national parks in BC and Alberta, adopted our AvID software.

Image: Abby Cooper

Updates to the Public Avalanche Danger Scale In the summer of 2022, a working group agreed to make some minor, but important, updates to the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale that were implemented in the 2022-23 winter season. In Canada, the public avalanche safety agencies were represented by Avalanche Canada and Parks Canada. In the U.S., they were represented by the Forest Service and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The updates improve accessibility and increase clarity. The most significant changes are in the extreme category, which now has a unique icon, distinct from the red icon used for the high danger level. The Travel Advice in the extreme category now includes the statement, “Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions,” providing consistency with the other categories. The additional design improvements increase legibility and accessibility. Enhanced colour contrast, larger font size, and improved spacing and shading in the table create a cleaner and more user-friendly reading experience. Overall, the updated danger scale is more intuitive and easier to interpret.

North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale Avalanche danger is determined by the likelihood, size, and distribution of avalanches. Safe backcountry travel requires training and experience. You control your risk by choosing when, where, and how you travel.

Danger Level

Travel Advice

5 - Extreme

Extraordinarily dangerous avalanche conditions. Avoid all avalanche terrain.

4 - High

Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended.

3 - Considerable

Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding, and conservative decision-making essential.

2 - Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern.

1 - Low

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Image: Abby Cooper

Mountain Information Network The Mountain Information Network (MIN) is an information-sharing platform that allows users to share observations in real-time. This provides an important resource for decision-making. This year, there were a total of 3,809 MIN reports posted. Although this is slightly less (-0.60%) than the number of reports posted in the 2021-22 season, it reflects an overall increasing trend. Our users and forecasters consumed the MIN reports in vast numbers—they were read over one million times! The MIN is an essential tool for backcountry recreationists and professionals alike. The information-sharing platform allows users to submit their observations from the field, in real-time, providing an important resource for decision-making. Observations shared with the MIN are also an integral part of our forecasters’ workflow, supplying information to fill in data gaps, especially in data-sparse regions. Through social media contests, we used prizes as incentives to encourage adoption of the platform. In addition, our field teams created their own MIN posts on a weekly basis for their respective regions. They shared them across their regionspecific social media, highlighting concerns in the snowpack while encouraging other local users to view the data and submit their own observations. 27

Public Avalanche Warning Service

Research Supporting avalanche research is essential to our goal of reducing avalanche accidents. We have been contributing to the funding for Dr. Pascal Haegeli’s position as Research Chair in Avalanche Risk Management at Simon Fraser University’s Avalanche Research Program (SARP) since 2015. We work closely with Pascal and his students on projects that have the potential to improve avalanche safety. Dr. James Floyer, our program director, is an adjunct professor with the program. This partnership provides great benefits to our programs and helps us deliver better products to our users. To further our commitment to evidence-based programs and services, we plan to introduce a Research Officer next season. This role will work closely with research teams and stakeholders to identify and prioritize research opportunities and promote their implementation. By adding this position, our objective is to expedite the integration of research outcomes into our programs, enabling us to deliver more effective products and services.

Automated Snowpack Models Our forecasters are using automated snowpack models as part of their daily workflow. These models use weather forecasts to simulate snow profiles at remote locations and provide our forecasters with advanced tools to create forecasts in our large, data-sparse regions. Dr. Simon Horton, one of our senior forecasters who completed a postdoc with SARP, is integrating new methods to assist with establishing flexible forecast region boundaries and evaluating snowpack modelling’s accuracy using available snowpack observations. In the future, we hope to use this for automatic avalanche problems and hazard ratings.

Understanding Backcountry Users IWe support several risk communication projects aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of backcountry users and their behaviors. By exploring their diverse contexts, motivations, and decisionmaking processes, we work towards developing communication strategies that resonate better with the needs and practices of different user groups. One project is segmenting backcountry users into groups based on their needs, goals, challenges, preferences, and behaviors, to create profiles that can inform product development. Another project focuses on the avalanche awareness and safety practices of snowshoers and winter hikers, a group we currently do not know a lot about. There is also a project that interviewed backcountry users to understand the complexities and nuances of their decision-making processes in the field and what data they use to shape their approaches to backcountry choices.

This image shows route ranking tasks in a study from Simon Fraser University. Image: SFU

Several other projects are in development, including a study looking at how existing forecast products could be enhanced for specific user groups, how to best communicate uncertainty, and creating an overarching framework for enabling avalanche safety programs to be adapted and evaluated in a comprehensive, evidence-based way.

Data Visualizations As part of our AvID project, we have supported Ph.D. research at SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology to create visualizations for the vast amounts of snowpack, weather, and avalanche data our forecasters consume to create our forecasts. These visualizations are being carefully designed to emphasize critical information and communicate uncertainty. Prototypes are already being used in our daily forecasting process and we plan to evolve their capabilities.

Mountain Precipitation Estimations Funding from a SARNIF grant will support research aimed at improving Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Canadian Precipitation Analysis (CaPA). CaPA estimates recent precipitation amounts by combining model and observation data. This project aims to improve its performance in mountainous terrain by adjusting its algorithms and adding additional weather stations. This project is led by Université de Sherbrooke with participation from ECCC, Avalanche Canada, Parks Canada, Simon Fraser University, the Canadian avalanche community, and provincial governments. This research will enable us to improve the accuracy of our snowpack models and ultimately our avalanche forecasts, particularly for data-sparse areas.

Automated ATES Modelling The Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) is a terrain classification system aimed at communicating the complexities and risks of travelling in avalancheprone terrain. Avalanche Canada has been rating terrain using the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale for over a decade; however, the current ATES development process is labour intensive and only a portion of backcountry recreation areas have been rated. In partnership with SFU and Parks Canada, we are working to develop a computer-generated method to map avalanche terrain using the ATES. We are currently in the validation stage of the project, where results produced by the algorithm are compared with those of human mappers. Ultimately, we hope that this research will enable large-scale ATES mapping in an efficient and standardized way. This will greatly enhance our Online Trip Planner, which combines the daily danger rating with a local ATES rating to give users real-time and relevant riskmanagement guidance. This image shows computer generated auto-ATES mapping. Image: Simon Horton

Public Avalanche Warning Service

Forecasts for Haines Pass In March 2023, we began issuing forecasts for Haines Pass, a popular backcountry area just 3.5 hours west of Whitehorse. Known for its prime backcountry riding terrain, it attracts backcountry users from Whitehorse and other communities in the Yukon. Producing forecasts for Haines Pass involves collaborative efforts between the Yukon field team, our forecasters based in Revelstoke, and the Haines Avalanche Information Center. This initiative is currently in its pilot phase, and its future continuation depends on funding. Mountain Weather Forecast The Mountain Weather Forecast has been produced daily by the Meteorological Service of Canada since January 2015. It has grown into one of the most popular resources on our website, with more than 150,000 visits this winter. The forecast is generated daily throughout the entire year. While its value to backcountry users is obvious, it is also used by summer recreationists as well as forest fire management. Professionals and recreationists alike are fans.

Since 2004, when Avalanche Canada was established, our forecasters have relied on the professional avalanche information exchange known as InfoEx as our primary source of data. InfoEx is a subscription service for professional avalanche operations in Canada that allows a daily online exchange of snow, weather, and avalanche observations. As a subscriber, Avalanche Canada accesses this reliable stream of highquality data, which then informs our understanding of the ever-changing snowpack across the vast and remote mountainous regions of western Canada. InfoEx has been administered by the Canadian Avalanche Association every winter since 1991. The InfoEx system, and its subscribers who provide their data daily, play an integral role in Canada’s public avalanche safety.

South Rockies field team member Lisa Larson setting up an extended column test to help gather data for the region. Image: Jennifer Coulter

Education and Outreach

Avalanche Canada Training Programs Avalanche Canada is a world leader in recreational avalanche safety training. Our curriculum is internationally recognized and our standardized approach gives backcountry users a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. Since 2003-04, Avalanche Canada’s recreational training program has been known as “Avalanche Skills Training” (AST), with the two core courses being AST 1 and AST 2. In the years following, Avalanche Canada introduced three additional courses: Companion Rescue Skills (CRS), Managing Avalanche Terrain (MAT), and the AST 1 Refresher. With these additions to our course offerings, we are rebranding the “AST” program as the “Avalanche Canada Training (ACT)” program. The high-quality curriculum delivered by these courses remains unchanged. You may see us use “ACT” and “AST” interchangeably, so please be on the lookout for this new branding moving forward. A total of 12,046 students took a course through our Avalanche Canada Training program this season. This demonstrates that the public is hungry for avalanche education and is actively seeking it out. While there was a slight decrease (-3%) compared to the previous year, it reflects the general upward trend observed in recent years. Most students are skiers and snowboarders, with snowshoers making up 8% of course participants. We continue to see a growth in the number of snowshoers taking courses. This is a testament to the accessibility and rising popularity of snowshoeing, and we expect this trend to persist. Unfortunately, snowmobiling course numbers remained relatively low. Historically, our sled AST 2 numbers have been low, especially compared to skiers. While approximately 13% of skiers go on to take an AST 2 course, only 5% of sledders pursue AST 2. To address this issue, in the fall of 2022, we introduced an AST 2 motorized curriculum to encourage more sledders to continue their avalanche training. Of the licensed AST providers, only 9% focus on instructing snowmobilers. We are actively working to increase the number of snowmobile AST providers and feel confident that this will help increase sled student numbers. Avalanche Canada Training courses are taught by independent, third-party providers. Avalanche Canada administers the program, develops the curriculum, licenses the providers, and develops resources for instructors and students. There were 163 active, licensed AST providers during the 2022-23 season. We are hugely appreciative of the efforts and initiatives our instructors showed this season.

AST 1 TEACHES THE FUNDAMENTALS OF AVALANCHE FORMATION, TRAVELLING IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN AND COMPANION RESCUE.

AST 2 INCREASES AND DEVELOPS KNOWLEDGE OF TERRAIN CHOICES, ROUTE FINDING AND DECISION MAKING IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN.

COMPANION RESCUE SKILLS A ONE-DAY COURSE OFFERING AN INTRODUCTION OR REFRESHER ON THE LATEST TECHNIQUES IN AVALANCHE INCIDENT RESPONSE.

MANAGING AVALANCHE TERRAIN A ONE-DAY COURSE FOR AST 1 GRADUATES, AIMED AT DEVELOPING MORE ADVANCED WINTER BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL SKILLS.

AST 1 Course Participants

AST 2 Course Participants

CRS Course Participants

MAT Course Participants

12,000

2,000

400

200

9,000

1,500

300

150

6,000

1,000

200

100

3,000

500

100

18-19

19-20

20-21

21-22

22-23

Presented by

18-19

19-20

20-21

21-22

22-23

18-19

19-20

20-21

21-22

22-23

18-19

19-20

20-21

21-22

22-23

AST 1 Refresher Course Participants in a sled AST 2 course in the Elk Valley discuss the pros and cons of possible route choices. Image: Nicole Matei

This season we introduced a one-day AST 1 Refresher course aimed at individuals who have completed an AST 1 and want to refresh their skills and knowledge. The fieldbased course received positive feedback from participants. The primary goal of the refresher course is to encourage individuals who have completed AST 1 to continue their journey of avalanche education. Although we saw relatively low enrollment numbers for this course, we anticipate increased interest and participation moving forward.

ACT Instructor Training During the 2022-23 season, Avalanche Canada developed a mandatory training for ACT instructors. The training familiarizes instructors with the AST 1 curriculum and resources (e.g., Avaluator, AST Handbook, Trip planner, Dangerator), and provides guidance on how to create engaging lesson plans, assess student learning, and hone instructional skills to become a better teacher in the classroom and in the field. The primary objective was to foster the sharing of engaging teaching methods. Training sessions were conducted in Revelstoke, Nelson, and Quebec, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the attendees. Moving forward, this training will be offered annually. The combination of expertise and knowledge exchange between experienced instructors and newcomers generated a positive synergy that greatly enriched the training.

Education and Outreach

Youth Programs The Avalanche Canada School Program is celebrating 16 years of successfully delivering in-class sessions on winter safety and avalanche awareness to students from kindergarten to grade 12. This program is provided to school districts in Alberta, BC, Yukon, and Newfoundland. Our comprehensive programming takes place at schools and includes interactive in-class theory as well as outdoor, hands-on rescue training. We also offer virtual programming through platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Kahoot. During the 2022-23 season, the Avalanche Canada School Program succeeded in reaching 8,450 students, a 9% increase from the 2021-22 season. We delivered our programming to schools on Vancouver Island and in Newfoundland for the first time. We also updated the K-8 in-class theory-based curriculum to ensure students receive the most relevant and current avalanche awareness education. Additionally, we presented the new “Know Before You Go” video to students in grades 8-12. This video serves as an engaging introduction for students, educating them about avalanche hazards and readily identifiable signs of danger. We also employed our largest youth educator team to date, with 13 staff and two program coordinators. This expanded team allowed us to reach an even greater number of students, fostering a culture of avalanche awareness and safety. The Avalanche Canada Youth Program continues to thrive and grow due to our government and program partners, sponsors, and contributing organizations—especially the Columbia Basin Trust and Parks Canada. The operational success and positive reception can be attributed to our dedicated team of youth educators, teachers, enthusiastic students, and school districts who welcome this program into their communities with open arms.

Regional Breakdown Columbia Basin: 2,804 students Avi-Smart (Calgary, Bow Valley, and Columbia Valley): 3,401 students South Coast, North Coast, Yukon, Okanagan, and Newfoundland: 2,335 students AST 1: 32 students Total: 8,540 student

Support for Schools Avalanche Canada supports external youth programs with resources, materials, and curriculum to assist teachers and parents who are interested in teaching basic avalanche education. Our website has a youth section where anyone can access resources, handouts, presentations, and more to aid in their lesson plans.

Youth AST Courses We again provided subsidized AST 1 courses for secondary school students. This widely recognized course includes classroom and field time, with an emphasis on recognizing avalanche terrain, understanding the avalanche forecast, trip planning, and rescue skills training. Despite working with a limited budget this season, we were able to subsidize AST 1 courses for 32 secondary school students. Subsidized courses were run in Valemount, Golden, Lake Louise, and on Vancouver Island.

Toolbox Program Our toolbox program has been experiencing a growing surge in popularity and is now in high demand. AvCan has five different boxes, each equipped with 15–20 sets of avalanche rescue gear, including transceivers, probes, shovels, safety kits, and snow saws. These boxes are circulated among schools across western Canada, providing educators with the gear and resources they need to teach basic avalanche rescue training to their students. During the 2022-23 season, over 500 students in 20 different schools benefited from the Toolbox Program, participating in hands-on practical avalanche awareness lessons. Thank you to MEC, Mammut, BCA, and the Revelstoke Credit Union for supporting this important program.

“I would like to write to express my appreciation for the four facilitated avalanche awareness sessions Avalanche Canada provided to Takhini Elementary in Whitehorse. They were delivered in an informative, engaging, practical, and generous manner. The entire school was impressed with the high level of student engagement during these sessions. Furthermore, our school has a significant focus on land-based/ experiential education, and avalanche awareness is a natural fit. We appreciate your support” Kevin Embacher Takhini Elementary School, Whitehorse, Yukon

“Thank you so much for your presentations today! The teachers shared how engaged the students were with all the different activities you had! We look forward to having you come out again next year if you are in our region.” Monica Doyle Winlaw Elementary, British Columbia Students at Arrow Heights Elementary School in Revelstoke, BC learn about avalanche safety. Image: Bruno Long 35

Education and Outreach

Outreach Avalanche Canada’s outreach program is a key component in raising avalanche awareness. Throughout this season, our outreach events enabled us to engage with thousands of individuals. We presented and spoke to a diverse group of backcountry users, including skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, snowshoers, and ice climbers. After a pause in our in-person programming due to the pandemic, we successfully reinstated many of our regular outreach events this season. Our field teams played an active role in contributing to events within their respective regions. We resumed Staying Alive Night, an outreach event aimed at newcomers in ski resort communities. We work with partner agencies, such as local SAR, local retailers, and local ski resorts for this event. This year events were hosted in Revelstoke in partnership with Revelstoke Mountain Resort and in Golden in partnership with Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. More than 550 attended these two events. We also continued our free, online webinar program, which we introduced in 2020. This season we hosted 11 webinars viewed by 1,760 attendees and an additional 3,670 watched webinar recordings. These one-hour webinars enable us to reach far more people than we could with in-person events and are designed to attract a wide variety of user groups, and many of the sessions are expressly targeted to specific groups such as snowmobilers, new backcountry users, splitboarders, and ice climbers. The whole family is engaged in transceiver practice during an outreach event in Fernie. Image: Nicole Matei

Movie Night at the Roxy Theatre Avalanche Canada hosted a local showing of the Sherpas film “To the Hills and Back” at the Roxy Theatre in Revelstoke. Following the showing, we held a panel discussion featuring Avalanche Canada ambassadors Chris Rubens and Nadine Overwater, along with seasoned ski guide Troy Leahy. The panel conversation focused on the challenging conditions persisting in the backcountry and emphasized the importance of conservative decision making. The community conveyed their appreciation for the chance to view this impactful film and participate in the panel discussion.

Avy Savvy Avy Savvy is our online avalanche tutorial that features photos, videos, quizzes, and exercises to help users start their avalanche safety journey. This site continues to be very popular with users across Canada and internationally. Avy Savvy modernizes our tutorial and aligns the curriculum with our Avalanche Skills Training Handbook, with chapters on avalanche formation, avalanche terrain, the avalanche forecast, trip planning, and companion rescue. It features hundreds of interactive photos, videos, quizzes, and exercises designed to help people start their avalanche journey. It's also a great tool for anyone looking to refresh knowledge. In keeping with our goal of providing products in both official languages, Avy Savvy was translated to French, where it is called Ava Avisé. Thank you to MEC, BCA, K2, the Government of Canada’s Emergency Support Fund, and the Community Foundations of Canada for supporting Avy Savvy.

Education and Outreach

Ice Climbing Atlas The Ice Climbing Atlas is an online project that defines avalanche terrain and lists historical avalanche observations for popular climbs in the Canadian Rockies. Each entry in the atlas analyzes and maps a popular ice climb using the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES). Knowing a climb’s avalanche history provides climbers with a better understanding of the potential hazard. The project was spearheaded by our Avalanche Ambassador, Sarah Hueniken.

Avalanche Ambassador Sarah Hueniken on Hyrophobia in the Ghost River Wilderness Area in the Canadian Rockies. Sarah linked three epic routes known as the Phobias (Cryophobia, Nophobia, and Hydrophobia) in one day. Image: John Price

Sarah has conducted surveys and compiled the information on historical avalanche observations for each climb. Grant Statham, a visitor safety specialist in Banff National Park, has provided imagery and expert feedback. This season, we added information on five popular climbing areas to the atlas; it will continue to be updated as more climbs are mapped and analyzed. Our hope is that sharing this information will encourage even greater avalanche awareness among this group. The response to the Ice Climbing Atlas has been overwhelmingly positive and we are excited to see the atlas grow in years to come.

Vancouver Island field team member Colin Garritty taking about transceivers with a participant at the Mount Washignton Avalanche Awareness Days event. Image: Vancouver Island field team

Avalanche Awareness Days Avalanche Awareness Days is a celebration of our winter heritage, an opportunity to learn more about our winter environment, and a way to build awareness of backcountry safety. This season, 22 events were held in BC, Alberta, and Quebec. Avalanche Awareness Days is a grassroots event, where local organizations such as ski resorts, snowmobile clubs, BC Parks, Parks Canada, search and rescue groups, and others host avalanche awareness activities in their area. We strongly appreciate the volunteer efforts that go into hosting these events. Through their efforts, we can share our messaging with thousands of people across the country. Many thanks to the dedicated volunteers and organizations who promote avalanche safety by coordinating and hosting these annual events.

Education and Outreach

Snowmobile Outreach Avalanche Canada has had a dedicated snowmobile outreach program since 2011, and effective engagement with the snowmobile community remains a top priority. We invest significant efforts in establishing and fostering connections across Canada, with a specific emphasis on reaching riders in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have strong connections with numerous snowmobile clubs throughout western Canada, as well as their member associations—the BC Snowmobile Federation (BCSF) and the Alberta Snowmobile Association (ASA). These relationships are vital to our public safety efforts, and we take pride in the many projects we’ve undertaken together over the years. Our snowmobile coordinator attended and presented at the Alberta Snowmobile Association (ASA) show and Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association (SSA) show, communicating directly with nearly 350 sledders. These venues provide crucial platforms for us to convey our messages to the Alberta snowmobile community. Additionally, some of our snowmobile initiatives are regionally targeted, and the contributions of our field teams greatly contributed to the success of our outreach efforts. All six of our field teams actively participated in snowmobile-specific events this season. These community-driven grassroots events play an integral role in conveying our avalanche safety messages, and we are deeply appreciative of the support from these communities and the opportunity to be actively involved. We also hosted two webinars aimed at the snowmobile community during the 2022-23 season.

Executive Director Gilles Valade picking up a Ski-Doo loaner snowmobile from Tim Potvin at Banner Recreation in Golden. Image: Banner Recreation

Sled Sponsors Avalanche Canada has the largest forecasting program in the world in terms of geographic area covered. Our field teams rely on snowmobiles to access vast amounts of terrain in a day, which is critical to producing forecasts. Field teams also require snowmobiles to conduct many of our outreach initiatives, such as engaging directly with backcountry users at cabins, staging areas, trailheads, and popular backcountry destinations. This direct connection enables our field teams to discuss and demonstrate snowpack conditions and promote avalanche safety practices in the field, where people actively recreate. For more than a decade, we have had an agreement with the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA), which has arranged loaner mountain snowmobiles for our field team, forecasters, and outreach staff to use throughout the season. This program has been invaluable to us as we gradually build our own fleet. This past winter, BRP Ski-Doo generously supported us by loaning two 2023 BRP 850 Summit Edge 175 snowmobiles from Banner Recreation & Marine in Golden, BC. Additionally, Banner Recreation & Marine offered valuable guidance regarding our BRP Ski-Doo fleet, helping us to establish market values for insurance purposes. Polaris has been a steadfast supporter, loaning us a snowmobile each winter since 2012. During the 2022-23 season, with Polaris’ assistance, Mountain Motor Sports in Golden, BC supported us by offering two Polaris 850 RMK Khaos Slash 163 snowmobiles at a discounted rate. One of these snowmobiles was featured as the grand prize in the Avalanche Canada Foundation’s Braap It Up fundraiser. The unwavering support of these organizations has been instrumental in enabling our fieldwork, which is essential to our forecast and outreach efforts.

Sled Com Our snowmobile committee (SledCom) was established in 2009 with the purpose of better understanding and meeting the avalanche safety needs of the snowmobiling community. Over the years, Sled Com has been an effective voice for the community, providing Avalanche Canada with valuable feedback, networking, and programming suggestions. Sled Com members are representatives from the greater snowmobile community. Many thanks to the following who are contributing time and energy to this important initiative. Brent Strand (chair) Marty Anderson Lisa Block Gen Byl

Trish Drinkle Brittney Dickson Curtis Pawliuk

Avalanche Canada works with the following provincial snowmobile organizations:

2017-18 Avalanche Fatality Statistics

Fatal Incident Summary During the 2022-23 season, 15 people died in avalanches in Canada in nine separate incidents. Every fatal accident is one too many, but despite the total number of avalanche fatalities exceeding the 10-year running average, it is worth noting that the number of recreational fatalities remained slightly below the average range (nine fatalities). Notably, snowmobile avalanche fatalities continue to remain at historic lows. This is particularly significant considering the challenging conditions that persisted for much of the winter season. We are confident that increased awareness, education, and the suite of coordinated safety services Avalanche Canada provides throughout the winter season played a crucial role in this outcome. The rise in avalanche fatalities this season has elevated the 10-year running average from 10 to 11. Prior to this season, the 10-year running average had been on a steady downward trend since its peak at 15 in 2004. Of all the fatal avalanche incidents this season, the majority (93%) occurred in British Columbia. The nine recreational avalanche fatalities included six (67%) backcountry skiers/snowboarders, two (22%) snowmobilers, and one lift skier who ventured out of bounds at Lake Louise with no avalanche safety gear. One fatal incident occurred in a remote location without a public avalanche forecast.

Annual Avalanche Fatalities in Canada Showing 10 Year Moving Average 25 20 15 10

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Avalanche Fatalities 2014 – 2023 By Location British Columbia

Alberta

Québec

Yukon

Nunavut

Newfoundland & Labrador

Total

110

Avalanche Fatalities 2014 – 2023 By Activity Snowmobiling

Backcountry Skiing

Out-of-Bounds Skiing

Snowshoeing and Hiking

Mountaineering

Guided Skiing

Other

Total

110

Putting it into Perspective Thoughts on Avalanche Fatality Statistics

Not everything that counts can be counted How do we measure the effectiveness of our public avalanche safety programs? While fatality numbers may seem like an obvious metric, they don’t convey the full story. We have no way of knowing the total number of backcountry users and without that number, we cannot accurately determine the true accident rate. Although we feel confident in attributing this success to increased education and the coordinated avalanche safety services Avalanche Canada provides, it’s important to recognize that fatalities alone do not represent the sole measure of achievement. Other metrics demonstrate the success of our programs this year: high enrollment in Avalanche Canada Training courses, the success of our webinar series, contributions to the Mountain Information Network, the rapid increase of our social media following and website views, and more. Observing a decline in avalanche fatalities is encouraging and confirms that our work is making a difference. Through awareness and education, we continue to encourage the respectful and responsible use of Canada’s magnificent winter mountain terrain.

Financial Summary Total Revenues

Total Expenses

$4,463,494

Avalanche Canada Foundation

64%

Public Avalanche Warning Products and Services 50%

Government

13%

Outreach, Education, Communications, and IT

Sponsorship

Administration, Amortization, Facilities, and Other 17%

Self-Generated and Other

17%

Qualified Donee

Image: Jonas Hoke

28%

Testimonials The Province of B.C. is incredibly grateful to Avalanche Canada for its ongoing assistance to backcountry users through public avalanche forecasts and outreach, trip planning tools, terrain models, and potentially life-saving avalanche safety programs. I’m proud that the Province has been able to support Avalanche Canada in expanding its regional risk forecasts to more regions of B.C., increasing delivery of avalanche safety training for youth, and providing more programs for winter recreationists of all types. Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness

The Crow Snow Riders are proud to be ongoing partners with Avalanche Canada in ensuring avalanche safety in the Southern Alberta Rockies. Avalanche Canada’s involvement in our most popular annual event, the Poker Run, ensures the awareness and safety of hundreds of riders and visitors to the area. We are grateful for the frequent and ongoing communication of avalanche conditions specific to our region. The social media presence and the personal connections the Avalanche Canada team makes with our members ensures our goal of promoting fun and safe backcountry experiences in the Crowsnest Pass area. Crow Snow Riders Association

As the provincial destination management organization responsible for marketing British Columbia to the world, Destination BC shares incredible places and remarkable experiences for visitors to enjoy throughout the province. Breathtaking mountains and backcountry recreation have become a quintessential part of the BC brand, and as visitors continue to seek out different ways to experience the beauty of BC’s backcountry, we all have a role to play in ensuring they know how to do so safely and responsibly. Destination BC’s partnership with Avalanche Canada – including sharing resources and cocreating educational social media content – is fundamental to our work in visitor education, and we look forward to our continued partnership with the experts at Avalanche Canada to keep visitors exploring safely. Destination BC

Funding Partners

Government Stakeholders Avalanche Canada is grateful for the support of the following government ministries and departments:

Government of British Columbia

Government of Canada

Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure Emergency Management BC

Environment Canada Meteorological Service of Canada Parks Canada

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General BC Coroners Service Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture Gaming Grants Ministry of Forest, Lands, Natural Resources Operations & Rural Development Recreation Sites and Trails GeoBC Ministry of Environment BC Parks Snow Survey Program Ministry of Labour, Citizens' Services, and Open Government DataBC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Interior Health

Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness National Search and Rescue Secretariat

Government of Alberta Ministry of Environment and Parks

Government of Yukon Department of Community Services

Sponsors Our sponsors are essential to public avalanche safety in Canada. We rely on sponsor funding for our Public Avalanche Warning Service, public outreach, and many of our education programs.

Program Partners

Premier Sponsors

Funding Partners

Supporters

AT IO

SNO

Contributors

IL E A S S O

Looking Forward

AvID We are actively working to develop a visual snowpack tool to simplify layer tracking and enhance data sharing. The MIN 2.0 project, in collaboration with Parks Canada, Simon Fraser University, and the ice climbing community, is making progress in its design phase and we’re making ongoing refinements to meet the specific needs of our users. We’re excited to launch MIN 2.0 in the winter of 2024-25. We're also working on a Weather Information Dashboard to provide crucial weather data for avalanche forecasting. The conceptual design is ready, and this tool will empower forecasters to detect vital weather changes. Future enhancements will further optimize its forecasting capabilities.

AST 1 Curriculum Update We are working on an AST 1 curriculum update, which is slated for release in time for the 2023-24 season. This update will better align the curriculum with the AST Handbook. The primary objective of this update is to make the curriculum more user-friendly for ACT instructors and ensure better cohesion with the content in the AST Handbook, including the foundational concept of the Daily Process. We’re excited to bring this updated curriculum to AST instructors this season and believe it will enhance the learning of students as well.

Avalanche Fatality Database With funding from a Search and Rescue New Initiative Fund (SARNIF), we are initiating a three-year project to revamp, update, and digitize the fatal avalanche accident database. This will improve the quality and accessibility of historical avalanche information.

Avalanche Canada Podcast

Image: Jordy Shepherd

Next season we plan to introduce the Avalanche Canada Podcast. This weekly podcast will consist of 15-minute episodes dedicated to avalanche safety. Listeners can expect to learn about a variety of topics from tips and tricks to breakdowns of tricky conditions. 49

Our People

Avalanche Canada Staff 2022-23 Executive Director Gilles Valade Program Director James Floyer Product Manager Grant Helgeson Digital Content Coordinator Sarah Taylor Communications Coordinator Lisa Perazzoli Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Geismar

Avalanche Forecasters Mark Bender, Brad Christie, Mike Conlan, Lisa Dreier, Arienne Hanna, Simon Horton, Wendy Lewis, Tyson Rettie, Zoe Ryan, Diana Saly, Josh Smith, Ilya Storm, Shannon Werner, Jesse Percival, Ross Goddard, Ian Snowsell, Lynnea Baker South Rockies Field Team Leslie Crawley, Lisa Larson, Duncan Maisels North Rockies Field Team Ben Hawkins, Paul Kehler, Kat Halik Yukon Field Team James Minifie, Jeni Rudisill, Drew Nylen

Snowmobile Outreach Coordinator Brent Strand

Vancouver Island Field Team Colin Garritt, Karina Bakker, Gavan Jones, Jarek Barwise

Youth Education Coordinator Shannon Werner

Northwest Field Team Lucas Holtzman, Emily Jones, Cody Erickson

Software Developers Bryce Schroers, Russell McWhae, Cameron Dunning

Newfoundland & Labrador Field Team Andy Nichols, Peter Thurlow

Forecast Program Supervisor Ryan Buhler

Youth Educators Drew Nylen, Colin Adamson, Abby Cooper, Mel Saarinen, Brittney Dickson, Heather Allen, Clarie Clarkson, Michelle Brazier, Oscar White, Ed Garlinge, Tyler Knowles, Madeline Martin, Jake Mentz

Field Program Supervisor Jennifer Coulter Financial Controller Breeana Hartley Procurements and Grants Coordinator Jennifer George HR Coordinator and Finance Assistant Amy Erving

Image: Silas Patterson

Administrative Assistant Veronique Maillard Property and Building Upgrade Manager Vincent Jauvin

Board Engagement The board is run by a dedicated volunteer board of directors who are all committed to and passionate about supporting Avalanche Canada’s work. Throughout the year, the board remained actively engaged, meeting in person twice, conducting four online meetings, and participating in the Canadian Avalanche Association’s annual general meeting. Additionally, the board’s executive committee continued to meet weekly during the operating season. The board of directors is composed of individuals with a complementary skill set. It is tasked with the overall governance of Avalanche Canada. Directors are involved in the strategic planning process and review and approve budgets. Their priority remains the long-term sustainability of the organization. Board of Directors President Kevin Seel holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in physical geography and a doctorate in environmental modeling from the University of Calgary. He has worked on projects across Canada and the U.S. in a variety of industries and is currently a senior environmental consultant at Golder Associates. Vice-President Kevin Williams has been involved in avalanche science, rescue, and education since the early 1980s. He was involved in avalanche work at Lake Louise, Fernie and Whistler and was instrumental in the early development of the Avalanche Canada Training program. He holds a B.Eng and M.Sc (Geophysics) from McGill University and was a PhD candidate in avalanche research at UBC. Treasurer Mike McMynn is a chartered professional accountant who has worked in both an accounting firm focusing on small businesses, including not-for-profit organizations, and in the oil and gas industry. His experience over the last 10 years includes tax, financial reporting, organizational structures, governance, and team management. Mike is currently the controller of an oil and gas services company based in Calgary, Alberta. Secretary William Jackson has an undergraduate degree in Electronic Systems Engineering and an MBA. He has worked in a variety of roles focused on the use of information and technology to create business value over the last 15 years and is currently a Director of Research and Innovation in the broader BC Public Sector. Directors Catherine Angus Christie Campbell Kelly Gingles

Chris Pawliuk Jeremy Shier

Avalanche Canada Foundation

A Message from the President As I write this message, I find myself reflecting on my own terrain choices during the 2022-23 season given the exceptionally challenging snowpack. I consider myself fortunate, having acquired not only the skills to evaluate the snowpack from an early age but also the curiosity to continually expand my knowledge of avalanche safety. Although the snowpack remained complicated for the majority of the winter, the season still felt like a success. We saw an increasing number of successful rescues, serving as a reminder of the importance of our commitment to raising awareness and advancing public avalanche safety – it can save lives. Throughout the 2022-23 season, we focused our fundraising efforts on supporting Avalanche Canada’s mission to promote safe backcountry travel, educate our community, and provide avalanche forecasts. We ran the Braap It Up! online fundraiser again this year. The campaign is geared towards the snowmobiling community and raised $58,000. We held a new spring prize draw, Step Into Spring, which raised $8,600. These accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without your strong support and the generosity of our sponsors, who contributed products and experiences as prizes. We sincerely appreciate your ongoing dedication. To further amplify our fundraising and outreach initiatives, we welcomed Jeff Storck as our new Executive Director. He brings extensive operational and fundraising experience from his prior roles at high-profile not-for-profit organizations. Jeff is fully engaged in planning our 2023-24 live events: Calgary in November, Whistler in March, and an exciting new event in January; stay tuned for more details. For the upcoming season, our fundraising efforts are dedicated to supporting youth education and outreach through Avalanche Canada’s Youth Tool Box Program. We firmly believe that instilling a safety-conscious mindset for backcountry travel at an early age is crucial in ensuring the next generation of recreationists can enjoy our winter backcountry safely. We’ve observed an increase in outdoor recreational activities, attracting adventurers from diverse backgrounds. To further support our community in avalanche education and professional development, we will continue offering various grants. These grants are aimed at promoting inclusion and accessibility within the avalanche industry. Although we’ve made significant progress on our journey, there is still much work ahead. While a substantial portion of Avalanche Canada’s operational costs are currently covered by government grants, those funds are not sufficient to cover the entire budget. These grants also come with conditions, such as the requirement to continue fundraising to complement government funding or limitations on how and where the money can be utilized. Together, we have the power to make a lasting impact on public avalanche safety. I invite you to join us, whether as volunteers, donors, or advocates, to build a future where everyone who ventures into the mountains does so with the knowledge and confidence to navigate avalanche terrain safely. Please renew your support with a donation and make plans to attend one of our upcoming fundraising events. Finally, I want to express my gratitude to the Avalanche Canada staff for all their efforts in providing avalanche forecasts and outreach initiatives to support safe travel in the backcountry. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our board of directors, advisors, contractors, and volunteers for their invaluable contributions. I wish each of you and your families a safe, snowy, and peaceful winter season. Image: Jennifer Coulter Fabian Karg, President

A Message from the Foundation Executive Director I am excited to come on board with the Avalanche Canada Foundation and am eager to take this opportunity to introduce myself. With over 20 years of experience in the charity and outdoor industry, I feel honoured to be leading the day-to-day operations of the Avalanche Canada Foundation, working closely with our dedicated team at Avalanche Canada, and focusing on community engagement and fundraising initiatives. My name is Jeff Storck, and I am a certified ACMG guide and avid backcountry athlete. Whether skiing, rock climbing, biking, or trail running, I live and breathe our single and simple passion: to inspire, empower, and educate our community to safely enjoy Canada's winter backcountry. My personal connection to the outdoors drives my commitment to our cause. In collaboration with the ACF Board, my primary goal is to drive our mission of supporting Avalanche Canada and facilitating public avalanche safety through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events. By partnering with our generous community, our aim is to make a tangible difference in the lives of outdoor enthusiasts across the country. Furthermore, we have exciting plans underway for live events in Calgary and Whistler, designed to strengthen our connections and promote a culture of safety and awareness. I believe that passion and commitment are the driving forces behind any successful endeavour. Joining the Avalanche Canada Foundation excites me because our visions and missions align perfectly. Together, we aim to save lives and enhance the safety of all those who venture into the backcountry. With my experience, combined with the unwavering dedication of our team, I am confident we will achieve great accomplishments. As we embark on this journey, we invite you to share in our excitement. Your support, whether through donations, sponsorships, or participating in our events, is instrumental to our success. We sincerely hope that you share our enthusiasm for what the future holds for the Avalanche Canada Foundation. Together, we can make a lasting impact. Thank you for joining us on this incredible adventure. We look forward to working closely with you to achieve our shared goals.

Jeff Storck Executive Director

Avalanche Canada Foundation

Fundraising This season, we organized two successful online fundraisers—Braap it UP in October and Step into Spring in March. These online fundraising events have proven to generate significant participation from backcountry users and stakeholders across the country. They play a crucial role in generating the funds necessary to support Avalanche Canada’s mission. BRAAP IT UP! The Avalanche Canada Foundation’s second annual Braap It Up fundraiser raised more than $58,500 for public avalanche safety. This successful fundraiser featured an online auction and a prize draw for a brand-new Polaris snowmobile. Notably, 10% of the proceeds were allocated directly to the Al Hodgson Memorial Fund, which provides scholarships for snowmobilers pursuing recreational or professional-level avalanche safety training. Thank you to all the businesses and organizations that donated prizes, and everyone who bought tickets for the prize draw or participated in the silent auction. The money raised supports our public avalanche safety programs.

Step Into Spring Online Prize Draw The Avalanche Canada Foundation’s new Step into Spring fundraiser raised more than $8,600 for public avalanche safety. The fundraiser featured a prize draw for the chance to win a new Black Diamond ski touring setup. Every dollar raised through Step into Spring directly supported Avalanche Canada’s programs and services. Thank you to Henry Sports Group in Calgary and Black Diamond for donating the fantastic prizes for this fundraiser.

Thanks to Our Major Donors • Al & Wendy Mikalishen • Alix Nicoll • Andrea Hopps • Andrew L. Evans • Anne Manning • Brad A Silverberg • Bruce Jamieson • Cenovus Energy Inc. • Chris A Wright • Craig Tilley • Daniel & Nikki Hincks • Daniel & Nikki Hincks • Daniel John Russell • Dylan Ross • Edward Hincks • Erin F Pashley • Hannah Sysak • Holly Walker • Ingrid Geppert

• James Thomson • Lawrence B. Hildebrand • Matthew Stead • Mica Heliskiing • Michael Turcot • Nicholas Thomas • Palma Hussey • Patricia Sloan • Phil Tomlinson • Rebecca Meritz • Robert John Engbloom • Roy Gutteridge • Scott Duffus • The Calgary Foundation • Thomas Zuk • Tom Friedland • Whitney & Darcy Dueck • Willa Harasym • William Rosenfeld

P IT U BRAA

3 SH 16 S SLA KHAO ER 14 RMK MB 0 PRO AW NOVE 85 R RIS IZE D POLA 2023 RAND PR G

Image: Abby Cooper

Grants and Awards The following awards were granted by the Avalanche Canada Foundation during the 2022-23 season. Al Hodgson Memorial Fund • Two awards totalling $2,000. Craig Kelly Memorial Fund • One award totalling $1,000.

Financial Summary The backcountry community once again rallied in support of the Avalanche Canada Foundation. While the Foundation made the difficult decision not to host in-person events again this year, we’ve welcomed an Executive Director with the expertise to coordinate future events effectively. Our virtual fundraising events have continued to garner great responses, thanks to the incredible support we’ve received. The grant received by the Foundation from the Province of British Columbia in late 2021, combined with the federal endowment from 2019 (both to be held in trust for Avalanche Canada), has allowed the Foundation to further its long-term support of avalanche-related programs and services delivered by Avalanche Canada. We are grateful for this provincial and federal funding, but the Foundation continues to require support from the backcountry community. Given the sustained increase in winter backcountry use and escalating costs, the long-term needs of the backcountry community continue to exceed the financial resources available. Our fundraising activities will continue to be a critical pillar in supporting Avalanche Canada.

Revenues 2022-23 Fundraising

57,840

Individual Donations

71,623

Corporate Donations

634

Deferred Contributions

18,872

Interest and Other

14,179

Total

$163,148

Expenditures 2022-23

Program & Grant Funding

122,699

Fundraising

20,179

Office, Insurance, and Overhead 81,139 Total

Image: Wren McElroy

$224,017

Avalanche Canada Foundation Board of Directors President Fabian Karg Vice-President Keenan Cannady Executive Director Jeff Storck Treasurer /Secretary Matt Harmsworth Secretary Serin Remedios Directors Jon Germain, Ted Hincks, Quinn Ingham, Sean Jensen, Julia LoVecchio, Darrell Peterson, Gilles Valade, Kevin Williams

Image: Steve Parsons

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Supporters Backcountry Access Black Diamond CFR FATMAP Fernie Snowmobile Association Garmin Henry Sports Group

Klim Kyber Mammut Martin Motor Sports Golden MEC Polaris Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Scott Sled Blue River Sled Sicamous Swan City Snowmobile Club The North Face VARDA

Field technician Gavan Jones practicing companion rescue skills during Vancouver Island field team training. Image: Colin Garritty i