Due to the Covid-19 Virus continuing to excel through the province and the world abroad, we will be cancelling all scheduled Spring 2020 courses.
We will revisit setting new course dates when things return to “normal” for those of you who were affected. If you were accepted on one of the scheduled Spring programs, please check your email, everyone has been contacted individually.
Lets all do our best to contain this virus and do our part in planking the curve. May you all be safe and stay healthy.
Thank you for your interest and
commitment to the Canadian Ski Guide Institute and its upcoming Spring
programs.
We are living in interesting times, and it goes
without saying that COVID-19 is having profound effects throughout the world.
We’ve been in contact with all relevant training associations in Canada,
including the CSIA, the CAA and ACMG. All have stated they will follow the most
recent health Canada guidelines and postpone or amend their upcoming training
programs.
After speaking extensively with our host
locations, senior instructor pool, and administrative staff, we feel it is only
prudent to postpone our upcoming CSGI Level 1 programs at both Keefer Lake Lodge
and Meadow Creek. For those who have made full
payment, we will provide a 100% credit towards the L1 program next season.
We’ve already been in discussion with Keefer Lake and Meadow Creek locations,
we are hoping to re-schedule the courses sometime in December 2020, if
conditions permit.
We are however hoping to salvage the CSGI L2
and L3 program in Blue River. We will wait until March 31, 2020 before
making a final decision on the L2 & L3 training sessions. We are hoping
that given the timing of those courses, hopefully the situation will have improved
and we can move ahead.
We thank
you for
your understanding in this matter. We know you’ve all worked extremely hard to
prepare for you upcoming courses, and we look forward to hosting you in the
near future. Continue to train hard and stay sharp.
Wishing You Health & Happiness. Canadian Ski Guide Institute
In-light of the the COVID-19 VIRUS, the CSGA / CSGI is in the process of determining if upcoming courses will continue as planned.
When a decision has been made, we will notify each participant via email as well post here on the website.
We hope to have a decision soon, keeping in mind that the situation has been and will continue to change daily. In the meantime, please refrain from contacting the office. You will be notified as soon as a decision has been made.
Stay Healthy, Wash your hands, Don’t touch your face !
The abstract
submission page went live recently and will remain open until April 27, the
deadline for submitting abstracts. That means you’ve got some time to get your presentation
ideas together, but you should get going on it soon. The conference is
especially excited to hear from front-line workers, providing a great venue for
you to share your experience and ideas with avalanche professionals from around
the world.
If you have never, or rarely, presented in
public before, the ISSW is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons, with a
friendly audience very interested in what you have to say. This page explains the
process of submitting an abstract. And feel free to email us
if you’re looking for assistance or have questions.
When submitting an abstract, you’ll be asked
to select from the following list of themes that best represents your topic:
Avalanche
Dynamics
Avalanche
Education
Avalanche
Forecasting
Avalanche
Formation and Failure
Avalanche
Incidents and Case Studies
Avalanche
Rescue
Avalanche
Risk Communication
Climate
Change and Sustainability
Human
Behaviours and Decision Making
Instrumentation
and Remote Sensing
Planning and
Engineering Solutions
Snow and
Snowpack Properties
Terrain
Management
So get those thinking caps on and get working
on an abstract! It’s an experience that is well worth the effort. Here are the
key dates you won’t want to miss:
The
International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW) is a gathering for people who love
snow. This week-long conference is held every two years in a location that
alternates between the US, Canada, and Europe. The next ISSW will be held in
Fernie, BC, October 4 – 9, 2020, which means it’s a great opportunity for those
of us in western Canada who work—and play—in the snow to attend.
Participating in an ISSW is always a great experience, both intellectually and socially. Check out issw2020.com and keep an eye on that site over the winter as more events and opportunities are posted. If you’ve attended an ISSSW before, you’ll know what a great experience it is. And if you’ve never attended, Fernie 2020 is going to be a great place to start. Hope to see you there!
Trip
Cancellation/Interruption insurance for CSGI Courses
We
understand that occasionally events occur that prevent you from completing your
CSGI course. You can’t predict a road closure, flight schedule change,
sickness of a family member or your own injury.
To avoid
any financial hardship an unexpected cancellation or interruption could cause,
we strongly recommend purchasing Trip Cancellation/Interruption to protect your
CSGI Course investment.
Trip
Cancellation/Interruption costs about 5% or 6% of your fees and it’s worth the
peace of mind! An example of premium costs is outlined below.
Maria Delaney GBA LIFESTYLE INSURANCE & BENEFITS BROKERS 200A- 2928-29th Street Vernon BC V1T 5A6 Ph. 250-542-8577 Mobile 250-308-4688 www.lifestylefinancial.ca
The CSGA and the LKMB Committee is pleased to announce the first recipient of the Lisa Korthals Memorial Bursary.
The recipient for the 2018-2019 season is presented to Jessica Roy.
Jessica is a guide at Baldface Lodge in Nelson BC. She successfully completed her CSGI Level 2 certification in 2018 and is a current CSGA Member in good standing. More recently, she completed the ski touring module that was offered this Spring at Mt. Carlyle Lodge.
Jessica demonstrates a passion for the mountains which she happily shares with her group. In addition to her guiding skills, her hard skills were demonstrated at an above standard level, having the fastest transceiver and rope rescue times on the 2018 level 2 CSGI course.
In the Spirit of Lisa, the bursary committee looks forward to watching her grow as a guide in the mountains and mentor the women who come behind her.
We encourage all women involved in the CSGI stream of courses to apply for the bursary. More information can be found at www.canskiguide.com
Please
take 20 minutes to tell us about your work experience and opinions on work and
fatigue with the Wilderness Ski Guiding industry. By participating in the
survey, you have the option to be entered into a draw for one of two $50 Visa
gift cards.
This
survey has been designed by Optimal FiT Inc. in collaboration with Ian Tomm,
sector consultant, and the support of HeliCat Canada and numerous other sector
trade associations. It considers recognized best practices for managing
workplace fatigue and is open to all workers in the sector. Completed surveys
will be stored and analyzed by Optimal FiT Inc. and discrete data destroyed
after the project is completed.
This
survey is a first step in understanding fatigue in this unique and
internationally recognized sector. By taking this survey, you will help
this project identify the extent that fatigue may impact performance and
safety. Results will be used to focus further discussions and identify
actions and next steps to improve.
This
project is funded in part by WorkSafeBC’s Small Initiative Funding and is
supported by:
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
Backcountry Lodges of BC Association
Canadian Avalanche Association
Canadian Ski Guide Association
HeliCat Canada Association
Should
you have any questions or concerns about the purpose of this survey or how the
data will be used, please do not hesitate to contact:
Jason Kumagai
Principal Human Factors and Fatigue Specialist, Optimal FiT Inc. jason@optimalfit.ca
NEW STRUCTURE Beginning in winter 2020-21, the Avalanche Operations Level 2 program assumes a new configuration. Instead of the current three module system, we move toward two components: Avalanche Operations Level 2 and Avalanche Operations Level 2 Assessment. The first component, named Avalanche Operations Level 2, is a combination of the current modules 1 and 2. The second component, named Avalanche Operations Level 2 Assessment, is the same as the current module 3 where students’ skills and competency, in both technical knowledge and practical application of Level 2 concepts, are evaluated (see Fig. 1 below) Given the changes, there will be benefits, challenges and implications for current students.
WHY? The driver behind the Level 1 and Level 2 curriculum development and course delivery modification is the Competency Aligned Avalanche Risk Management Training (CAARAT) project. For the past three years, we have worked to align curriculum to the competency profiles. The project is also an opportunity to improve, revise, update, and revisit courses that normally only see small scale changes on an annual basis.
CHANGES The idea of combining Modules 1 and 2 was proposed by a Level 2 working group during a CAARAT project meeting in June 2018. This group is composed of CAARAT project members, representatives from the industry, CAA students, ADAPT project members, and Industry Training Program instructors. The proposed idea was then approved by the CAA’s education committee later that summer. As with any change, there are benefits and costs as well as implications for current students. Below are some of the benefits and costs that were identified by the Level 2 working group.
Benefits: • More fluid learning progression from concepts to application • Better continuity and opportunity for instructors to provide feedback • A mix of indoor and outdoor activities to break up classroom time • Integration of theory with practice • Reduced time spent reviewing prior learnings • Less expensive for students (fewer sessions, less travel) Challenges • Students must attend a 7 to 8-day course during the winter season • Shifts between field and classroom days (i.e. continuity of weather and snowpack tracking) • Enrollment per course limited to 18 students (vs. 30-36 on current Module 1) Ultimately, it is recognized that more time off during the winter months comes at a cost to both students and employers. However, it was deemed that the benefits outweigh these costs.
BLAST FROM THE PAST The Avalanche Operations Level 2 program began in the late 70’s and was originally delivered as an 8-day course which included several assessments. In 2002 the CAA implemented a significant change in the Level 2 program where it went from being an all-in-one course to three modules. The outcomes of the three-module course delivery were excellent: a more comprehensive curriculum, additional time for feedback and coaching in a non-evaluative environment, interactive student exercises, and an opportunity for career professional development. Over time, it became evident to Level 2 instructors that there is a disconnect between the Module 1 classroom concepts and actual application of that learning during the field-based Module 2 (for example linking Module 1 lessons on situational awareness to field work objectives on the Module 2). The time between Modules 1 and 2, at least 1 month and up to a year, made it difficult for students to retain key learnings. Changes to the Avalanche Operations Level 2 training are coming into effect to create an environment that better supports learning, application, and retention.
FIG 1: COMPARISON OF AVALANCHE OPERATIONS LEVEL 2 STRUCTURE
IMPLICATIONS FOR CURRENT STUDENTS At this point, we will be running Avalanche Operations Level 2 courses as per usual for winter 2019/20. However, there is a caveat. Newly approved applicants must complete both Modules 1 and 2 during the 2019-20 season. If these applicants are unable to complete both modules in the 2019- 20 season, they must defer registration until the following winter. Level 2 students who are in the program already (e.g. they’ve taken a Module 1 or 2 this winter 2018/19) must complete the remainder of their modules next season (2019/20). In brief: • Level 2 students who have taken a Module 1 or 2 this winter (2018/19) must complete the remainder of their modules next season (2019/20) • Newly approved applicants (2019/20) must complete both Modules 1 and 2 during the 2019-20 season. Those unable to complete both modules in the 2019-20 season must defer registration until the following winter
SUMMARY The Avalanche Operations Level 2 program has stood the test of time. This is the first large-scale change in 17 years and, although there are challenges associated with this change, we believe that these are outweighed by the benefits of increased course quality and educational experience. We’re excited to see the Level 2 outcomes of the CAARAT project come to fruition in winter 2020/21. In the meantime, project team members are working hard behind the scenes to revise, update, and improve upon existing curriculum. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Grady, Industry Training Program Manager. Each year the CAA’s Industry Training Program modifies its courses based on new research, student & instructor feedback, and current best practices. At times, these modifications are more substantial and involve external funding. For example, over the past two years an ongoing project is working to align the Avalanche Operations Level 1 course curriculum1 with the CAA’s competency profiles.
