Here are some frequently asked questions about our organization and what you can do to get involved!
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You must be an intermediate/advanced to expert skier (alpine, telemark, or Nordic) or snowboarder.
- You must attend and pass the advanced first aid course that runs in Calgary from September to November.
- You must be willing to learn and practice new skills.
- You must be able to provide your own skiing/snowboarding equipment (minus uniforms and patrol packs, which are provided).
- You must be able to complete a clear police information check for vulnerable sectors.
No, but it is strongly encouraged. Joining the Canadian Ski Patrol is a huge commitment and it is important that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. The Calgary Zone hosts three different types of recruitment events.
Information Night
Information Night is an online event held via Zoom in January. Our VP Recruitment provides a summary of what the ski patrol does and the steps involved in becoming a patroller. You’ll also have a chance to speak to the Patrol Leaders from each of the ski areas we serve. Information Night is a great opportunity to chat with current patrollers, hear about their experiences with the organization and patrol community, and ask questions.
Open House
Our Open House is an in-person event held in February. The format and information is the same as the Information Night, so you don’t have to attend both events. At the Open House, our VP Recruitment provides a summary of what the ski patrol does and the steps involved in becoming a patroller. You’ll also have a chance to speak to the Patrol Leaders from each of the ski areas we serve. Our Open House provides the opportunity to chat with current patrollers, hear about their experiences with the organization and patrol community, and ask questions.
Experience Patrol Days
Experience Patrol Days are typically held at all CSP resorts between February and April. These days are on snow, giving you get the best insight into a day in the life of a patroller. You’ll ski with a patroller, following the patroller around at their home resort.
Yes! We provide all the training for you to join us. Many of the people who join the CSP have little or no first aid experience. After taking the course – which gives you an advanced level of first aid training – and with practice, most people become very competent first aiders.
Snowboarders can currently only patrol at two resorts in the zone – Lake Louise and Nakiska. Due to a high retention rate at Lake Louise, a snowboarder needs approval from the Lake Louise Patrol Leader to join the team at Lake Louise. Nakiska currently does not have this limitation.
All new patrollers, regardless of previous training, must attend and successfully complete the New Patroller Course. This is to satisfy our insurance and liability requirements and to ensure consistency in treatment.
Depending on the status of your membership, you may be required to retake the New Patroller Course:
1. If you were a Regular Member with 2 or less years of service when your membership lapsed, you must register for and complete the New Patroller Course as a first-year candidate.
2. For a Regular Member with a minimum of 3 years’ consecutive service returning to Regular Membership after a 1-year leave of absence, you may complete the Zone’s registration requirements and then recertify as a returning Regular Member at the scheduled Zone recertification sessions. The Calgary Zone’s VP Education may require you to attend sessions related to major course changes as part of the re-entry requirements.
3. For a returning Regular Member with an absence of 2-4 years, you must register for and complete the full first-year New Patroller Course. You may request an exemption from this requirement if you can demonstrate, in writing, that you have continued to have extensive involvement in delivering advanced emergency response activities as part of your work or volunteer activities. If an exemption is approved by the Zone President or their delegate, the returning Regular Member will be allowed to register in a scheduled Calgary Zone recertification session after completing Calgary Zone’s full registration requirements.
4. For returning Regular Members with an absence of 5 years or more, you must register for and complete the full first-year New Patroller Course.
You are allowed to take a re-test of the exams; however, the passing mark is increased. The training can be overwhelming but if you put in the effort to learn the material and study, the instructors will assist you. All new patrollers must successfully pass their first aid exams (CPR/AED, Skills, Written, Diagnostic, and eLearning) before the on-snow training. We do not offer refunds for unsuccessful participants.
There are four components to the first aid exams. All of these exams must be successfully completed before proceeding to the on-snow training.
1. CPR/AED Exam: The pass mark is 80 per cent on a multiple choice exam.
2. Skills Exams: Five practical exams for you to demonstrate your assessment/bandage/splint/backboard/miscellaneous treatment skills.
3. Written Exam: A 100 question, multiple choice, exam on the Canadian Ski Patrol First Aid manual content. A written exam review sheet will be provided beforehand. The pass mark is 80 per cent after which you will be required to correct your exam to 100% using the manual. Should you achieve a score of less than 80 per cent, you will be asked to re-write the same exam, the pass mark will be increased to 85 per cent.
4. Diagnostic Exam: This is a real-time evaluation of your patient assessment skills, diagnosis of the problem and how you would treat the patient. A minimum of 80 per cent is required for the Diagnostic exam. A single re-test is available and are examined by two instructors with a different scenario
We understand that we are all volunteers, we have busy schedules and circumstances happen. Absence from the classroom sessions are evaluated on a case by case basis and require approval from the Calgary Zone VP Education, Brock Gillis, at brock.gillis@skipatrol.ca. Please send an email outlining the dates you will not be able to attend for approval.
You can register yourself through another certified provider (e.g. Red Cross) for a CPR course that fits your schedule; however you will be responsible to cover this cost. Please ensure that you take the HCP Level and that the certificate is valid until May of the upcoming ski season. You must also provide a copy of your certificate to the VP of education (brock.gillis@skipatrol.ca)
If you already have a valid Level HCP CPR certification that is valid until the end of the upcoming ski season, you can provide a copy to the VP of education (education@cspcalgary.ca) and not attend this session as part of the New Patroller Course. Note that it is an expectation that patrollers rectify their CPR annually (meaning if you have n CPR certificate that is valid for 3 years, CSP Calgary zone will expect that you re-certify this annually during our returning weekends).
We operate on the slopes and driving a toboggan is a special mixture of skill and art. The On-snow weekend is a full weekend event in December hosted by one of our resorts. During the weekend your skiing ability is evaluated, and your toboggan training begins. By the successful end of the weekend the New Patroller is a Patroller and my go and Test at other resorts. All New patrollers to the Zone including transfers must successfully complete the On-Snow in order to patrol in the Calgary zone.
The Ski Evaluation occurs prior to lunch on the first day. Qualified Instructors will Evaluate the candidates Skiing ability on various terrain. If the skiing ability is satisfactory Toboggan training is started that afternoon. If the skiing ability is not satisfactory the Candidate will be moved to a separate group to continue working on ski skills to reach a satisfactory level.
If you are planning to do Nordic patrol only, you are not required to attend the alpine low land on-snow evaluation/test. Patrollers choosing Nordic should be in good physical condition, and be comfortable on skis over uphill, downhill and flat terrain, and you will be required to demonstrate a heightened level of competency of your Nordic skiing skills with one or more of the senior Nordic patrollers. Your opportunity to join the Nordic Patrol will be partially dependent upon your Nordic skiing skill.
YES, you must attend and successfully pass the Calgary On-Snow prior to resort selection.
Successful candidates will be able to attend ski around days at the various resorts. All resorts in the Calgary zone require additional testing. This to ensure the safety of both the Patroller and Public when operating a toboggan. Once testing is complete the Candidate will choose their top three resorts and if they are accepted will begin orienteering at their chosen resort.
If after the On-Snow weekend the candidate is still unable to ski at a required level, they will be unable to attend the ski around days at the resorts. They will be strongly encouraged to attend the CSP weekly Ski Improvement nights. The weekly ski improvement courses in the evening at COP starting in December and/January and ending in March.
If you are unsuccessful with your On-Snow evaluation and training, you are still a certified first aider and can patrol at off-snow special events (i.e. marathons, races, etc.)
Please do your best to accommodate these sessions, as it can be difficult to reschedule (we are all volunteers as well). However, exceptions can be made. Please note that these dates are also weather dependent and have been changed in the past to accommodate more suitable weather and snow conditions. We need suitable snow conditions to be able to carry out these sessions. This training and evaluation can be held at COP, Nakiska, or Lake Louise – the location will be confirmed in the Fall when the New Patroller course begins.
Please try your best to complete your fundraising commitments. Our training is heavily subsidized due to our fundraising efforts, and volunteers are required for the overall execution of the ski sale. However, we understand that it is within a specific timeframe, and may not align with some people’s schedule. You can have someone complete your ski sale shifts for you (make sure they identify that when signing up) or you can volunteer at one of our casinos throughout the year. The annual fundraising commitment is 2 ski sale shifts (4 hours each) or 1 casino shift (8 hours).
Yes, After the On-Snow the various resorts in the Calgary zone will hold Ski Around days. These days comprise of a general tour of the hill along with another ski evaluation. The purpose of these days is to encourage the patroller to find the best fit.
Yes. We are a national organization, and you can transfer zones. Please note that if you sign up through the Calgary Zone, you must complete the Calgary Zone requirements. This includes your annual fundraising commitments, and annual recertification. Patrollers who patrol at a ski area outside of the Calgary Zone do not receive a patrol jacket and patrol pack as part of their fee.
Monthly commitments are generally 2-3 weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) per month. We understand that as volunteers we have busy schedules. New patrollers are strongly encouraged to do 3 days per month to complete their on-hill training. It takes time and experience to learn hill protocols, accident response, radio communication, and 3 days a month allows the information and training to be fresh and current. Please speak with the Patrol Leader if you cannot make your monthly commitments.
An online scheduling roster system is used. You sign up for the days you are available to patrol. Note that it is important to sign up early to ensure you meet your commitments as there is a maximum number of patrol shifts available for the day.
No, as a first-year patroller this not an option. After 3 years as a regular Member you may discuss with your Patrol Leader.
While Patrolling you do get to ski for free.
Yes. We have a special events patrol that provides first aid services for events throughout the summer (off-snow). All patrollers from the Calgary Zone regardless of where they patrol during the winter are invited to be part of the special events patrol.
A patrol jack, patrol pack, and basic first aid supplies are provided for new patrollers choosing to patrol at a ski area within the Calgary zone. New patrollers need to supply black snow pants and their own ski/snowboard equipment. Additional equipment may be required at ski areas (e.g. helmet, shovel, probe, avalanche beacon etc.)
After you have completed the On-Snow training and have successfully completed the ski test at the ski are you wish to patrol at, new patrollers will be provided a patrol jacket and pack (if you are patrolling at a ski area in the Calgary Zone). Details of how you will receive your uniform will be provided during the New Patroller Course and/or through your Patrol Leader.
Joining is a big commitment, and we want to ensure you have all the information you need to make the decision to become part of the CSP. We encourage you to come out to one of Experience Patrol Days throughout the season. This day will give you an idea about what we do, expectations, and how to join. We can also provide some feedback on skiing/snowboarding ability. You can also make contact with a ski area directly and set up a shadow day – this is similar to our Experience Patrol days, and you will be one on one with a patroller for the day. Information about these opportunities will be available on our website during the ski season.
Please check out our website for more info about joining. If you have additional questions about joining, please email joincalgary@skipatrol.ca