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 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 held at some 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’s First Aid Manual content. A written exam review 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. IF you achieve a score of less than 80 per cent, you will be asked to re-write the same exam, and 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. You will be examined by two instructors, each with a different scenario. A single re-test is available.
We are all volunteers, we all have busy schedules, and time conflicts happen. Absences from the classroom sessions are evaluated on a case by case basis. You must obtain approval for missed classes, in advance, from the Calgary Zone’s 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 take the course through another certified provider (e.g., Canadian Red Cross) that fits your schedule; however, you are responsible for covering this cost. Please ensure that you take the CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) course that includes training on the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). This first aid course was called CPR for Health Care Providers (HCP) until 2024, so you may see it listed under this name. Ensure your certificate will be valid until the August following the upcoming ski season. You must provide a copy of your certificate to the VP Education (brock.gillis@skipatrol.ca).
If you already have a valid Basic Life Support (or HCP) CPR certificate that is valid until the end of the upcoming ski season or will be renewed during the year, you can provide a copy to the VP Education (education@cspcalgary.ca). The VP Education will then exempt you from the CPR Day of the New Patroller Course. We expect patrollers to recertify in CPR annually.
For your safety and your future patients’ safety, we must ensure you have advanced ski/snowboard skills. During the Alpine Ski/Board Evaluation, qualified instructors will demonstrate each skill and then test your skiing ability on a variety of terrain. If you successfully pass the Alpine Ski/Board Evaluation, you may move on in our registration process.
We only offer the Alpine Ski/Board Evaluation on one day in March each year.
If you are planning to do Nordic patrol only, you are not required to attend the Alpine Ski/Board Evaluation. Candidates choosing the Nordic patrol should be in good physical condition and be comfortable on skis over uphill, downhill, and flat terrain while carrying a 15 – 25 lb pack. You will be required to demonstrate competency of your Nordic skiing skills with one or more of the senior Nordic patrollers after completing the New Patroller Course.
YES, you must attend and successfully pass the CSP Calgary Zone’s Alpine Ski/Board Evaluation in March.
Driving a toboggan requires a special mixture of skill and art. The toboggan training weekend is a full weekend event in December, hosted by one of our resorts. During the weekend your toboggan training begins. When you successfully complete the toboggan training weekend, you may then begin your training at your assigned ski area.
All new patrollers to the CSP Calgary Zone, including CSP transfers, must successfully complete the toboggan training weekend. Nordic patrollers are exempt.
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.