By Diana Lee, National Marketing & Communications Manager (diana.lee@skipatrol.ca) and Andrew Wytsma, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee Chair (andrew.wytsma@skipatrol.ca)
February is Black History Month. This year’s theme is Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.
To amplify and celebrate community groups that are actively supporting the Black community in snow sports, here are some groups across the country that support the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) community:
- BIPOC Gear Library – Based out of Guelph, Ontario, they offer gear rentals and host ski, snowboard, and cross-country events.
- Brown Girl Outdoor World (BGOW) – Based out of Toronto, Ontario, BGOW hosts different outdoor events all year round.
- Colour The Trails (CTT) – Based out of British Columbia, with active chapters in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, offering community events all year round, mentorship opportunities, and an annual Colour the Slopes Summit (this year being hosted at Whistler in March 2025).
- RoutesToRootz – Based out of Montreal, Quebec, encourages Black and People of Colour families to indulge in nature and access the healing properties of the outdoors.
- The Melanated Aces – Based out of the Halifax area, this group has a private Facebook community for Black, Indigenous, and other Women of Colour (BIWOC) to connect and chat about outdoor activities.
Growing BIPOC Demographics on Ski Slopes
Efforts to increase BIPOC representation in Canadian snow sports are ongoing.
According to the Canadian Ski Council, only about 11 percent of skiers and snowboarders in Canada are BIPOC, compared to 30 percent of the overall population.
Organizations are working to address this disparity through various means:
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- Offering free outdoor gear libraries.
- Organizing inclusive group activities.
- Providing mentorship programs.
- Hosting events specifically for BIPOC participants.
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These initiatives aim to overcome social and economic barriers that often prevent racialized communities from accessing and feeling comfortable in outdoor recreation spaces.
CSP and BIPOC community groups
At present, the CSP does not have any formal partnerships with any of the groups listed in this article. We encourage CSP members to engage with your local Black-owned and BIPOC-led community groups, especially with supporting their journeys into snow sports. Some ideas include:
- CSP meet and greet event – for the public to get to know patrollers at a resort and answer any questions.
- Safety on the slopes 101 – offer to share tips on snow safety during community group events.
- Community fundraiser – help local community groups with their fundraising efforts.
Questions?
If you have any questions about EDI efforts in the CSP, please reach out to Andrew Wytsma, the EDI committee chair (andrew.wytsma@skipatrol.ca).
This post is also available in: French