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 or telemark) 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 online 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.
New snowboard patrollers are currently only accepted at Nakiska. Due to a high retention rate at Lake Louise, there are currently no openings for new snowboard patrollers at Lake Louise. The other resorts at which we patrol do not accommodate snowboard patrollers.
No, there are no substitutes for the New Patroller Course. 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. A regular member returning to regular membership after a 1-year leave of absence may requalify as a returning regular member by
attending the current year’s annual requalification sessions. You must complete the on-line learning to ensure you are up-to-date on changes from the previous year. On-snow requalification must be completed, if due, based on your three-year qualification period.
2. A returning regular member with an absence of 2 or more years 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, AFA, Diagnostic, and Alberta OHS) and complete their online eLearning before the on-snow training. We do not offer refunds for unsuccessful participants.
There are five 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: This is a 20-question multiple choice exam. The pass mark is 80 per cent (16/20).
2. Skills Exams: These are practical exams during which you demonstrate your assessment/bandage/splint/backboard/miscellaneous treatment skills.
3. Written Exam: This is an 80-question, multiple-choice online exam on the Canadian Ski Patrol’s First Aid Manual content. You must complete all of the the online eLearning modules before you are granted access to the online exam. The exam pass mark is 80 per cent (64/80). IF you achieve a score of less than 80 per cent, you will be asked to re-write the 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.
5. Alberta OHS: This is a 5-question multiple-choice online exam. You must complete the online Alberta OHS eLearning modules first.
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, Robert Taylor, at robert.taylor@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). 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 (robert.taylor@skipatrol.ca).
If you already have a valid CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) 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 (robert.taylor@skipatrol.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/Snowboard 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/Snowboard Evaluation, you may move on in our registration process.
We only offer the Alpine Ski/Snowboard 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/Snowboard 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. Note that there are no openings for Nordic patrollers for the 2026-2027 season.
YES, you must attend and successfully pass the CSP Calgary Zone’s Alpine Ski/Snowboard 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 and membership fees are heavily subsidized due to our fundraising efforts. However, we understand that the timing of the ski sale may not align with your schedule. You can have someone complete your ski sale shifts for you (add them to your ski sale profile and make sure they identify you and the CSP when signing up) or you can volunteer at our casino. The annual fundraising commitment is 8 hours, either at the ski sale or the casino.
Members who do not complete their fundraising commitment pay a higher annual membership fee.
If you pass the Alpine Ski/Board Evaluation, you can participate in Ski Around Days. Ski Around Days are your chance to examine the resorts where you want to patrol and the resorts’ opportunity to evaluate your ski ability. Lake Louise and Sunshine Village have an additional ski ability evaluation on these days. You must attend the Ski Around Day at the resort where you most want to patrol, but we recommend that you attend two Ski Around Days because you may not be assigned to your first-choice resort. Resort selection is done by a matching process whereby each candidate and resort selects their top choices and then the candidate is matched to a resort. The purpose of this process is to help you and the resorts find the best fit for you.
Monthly patrol 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.
Each resort has its own online scheduling roster system. 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 this 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 jacket, 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 advanced first aid course and toboggan training, new patrollers will be provided with a patrol jacket and pack. 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 attend one of the 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. Information about Experience Patrol Days 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.