Winter backcountry users in the Columbia Basin can expect greater things over the next two years following the Columbia Basin Trust’s $325,000 donation to Avalanche Canada.
Avalanche Canada is a national public avalanche safety organization. They made a stop in Fernie earlier this year to deliver updated news on their progress including a new user-friendly website that allowed locals to submit their own snow pack observations to the Mountain Information Network.
“We are honoured by this support from Columbia Basin Trust,” said Gilles Valade, Executive Director of Avalanche Canada in a press release. “Today’s announcement is vital to the maintenance of our service level for the backcountry community, and it will also allow us to continue to innovate avalanche risk management tools.”
“The services of Avalanche Canada are essential when it comes to winter safety, both here and elsewhere in the country,” said Neil Muth, Columbia Basin Trust President and CEO. “We know that both residents and visitors to the Basin benefit greatly from the daily bulletins and avalanche warnings.”
The money was granted to Avalanche Canada through a one-time grant of $125,000 and an additional $100,000 per year for the next two years. The funds will be put toward Avalanche Canada’s ongoing activities such as the Public Avalanche Warning Service, training courses, youth-specific initiatives and further development of Avalanche Canada’s website and the Mountain Information Network.
