Government officials in B.C. have launched a new three year program aimed at reducing the rate of avalanche deaths within the snowmobiling community.
BC MLA Bill Bennett, Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks and Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano announced the program in Fernie, B.C., on Friday.
"The Mountain Snowmobile Education Project will help prepare snowmobilers with knowledge that could save their lives," said East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett. "British Columbia's world-class winter tourism includes snowmobiling as a major attraction. The safety of our residents and visitors is a priority for our province and a commitment we take seriously."
The Mountain Snowmobile Education Project will build on programs that already exist through the Canadian Avalanche Centre and is funded by a grant from the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS), a department of National Defence.
Fernie is a hotspot for mountain snowmobilers and Mayor Giuliano says her community is proud to support the project.
"The CAC's avalanche forecast for this region is a highly valued product for many of our residents as well as our visitors," said Giuliano. "Public avalanche safety affects all of us who live in BC."
CAC Executive Director Ian Tomm said that there was a big jump in training among mountain sledders, along with a tremendous shift in attitude towards avalanche safety last year.
"We look forward to continuing to work closely with clubs and organizations to increase the avalanche knowledge base and skill level within this community," said Tomm.
The project has two components. "One is looking back and doing detailed analysis of past avalanche accidents. Fatal accidents as well as close calls and then survivor stories and interviews by the researchers too. Again this really comes down to understanding the decision making that led up to the accidents," said Tomm.
For more information, visit the Canadian Avalanche Centre website.
