Association Profile
The first courses were run in 1990 and the Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA) was incorporated on Feb. 8, 1996.
The CSGA now consists of a training institute which exists to train professional guides for the mechanized skiing industry (CSGI) and a separate non-profit organisation representing guide and operating members (CSGA).
Mission Statement
- We inform, advise, educate, encourage and motivate potential guides of all ages and abilities.
- The goals and objectives of the association are to develop and to maintain the highest possible professional ski guiding service standard for its membership and the ski industry.
- To provide an effective program for the education, training and certification of ski guides who have gained four to five years’ working experience in the industry.
- To provide the students an affordable operator-industry-driven training program.
- To provide full-time employment opportunities for Canadians.
- To provide safe travel in the High Alpine backcountry
- To provide a high degree of customer satisfaction
COURSES
Available CSGI Courses
Level 1
Designed as an introduction to the mechanized backcountry ski industry, this course focuses on skills necessary to travel safely through the mountain environment. This includes terrain assessment, navigation, hazard analysis and mountain sense, incorporating judgment and decision making.
Level 2
The Level 2 course is designed for individuals who have obtained work as an apprentice or trainee guide and have further developed their skills and experiences in back country terrain. The focus of the program is to prepare the candidates to lead groups under the direction of a Lead Guide.
Level 3
The Level 3 program is designed for people who have come up through the CSGA program and have been guiding in the mechanized ski industry for at least 2 years under the direction of a Lead Guide. The focus of this program is is to prepare candidates to lead groups without supervision.
Instructor Training
All prospective CSGA instructors are required to attend annual instructor training. These workshops will offer hands on exposure to the latest in mountain rescue techniques, provide new teaching methods and discuss risk management and loss prevention ideas
recurrent training
The 1 day CSGI recurrent training program provides members with the opportunity to maintain and upgrade their skills with the latest guiding and rescue techniques.
Summer Glacier Skills Course
This is a skills development course for students engaged in the CSGI program. The course will include glacier travel, use of crampons and ice axe while travelling on snow and ice, rope techniques, protection, rescue techniques, navigation, route selction, trip preparation and mountaineering ethics.
Ski Touring Module
The CSGI Ski Touring Guide modules is a program design to allow CSGA Guides to work as ski touring guides at the industry standard.
within the industry
Currently
are employed
are employed
are employed
The board of directors
Erin Tierney
Mike Hainault
Mathew Devlin
Kevin Marr
Dan Swearingin
CSGA Member since 2014, CSGI Instructor/Examiner, Lead Guide Eagle Pass Heli, Supervising Lead Guide Retallack Cat
Bob Sayer
Harrison Brickman
