Interested in joining the Canadian Ski Patrol?
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What we’re all about
The Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) is a premier safety and first aid organization serving outdoor sports and recreation across Canada. We are a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization whose primary goal is to promote safety and injury prevention, and to provide the highest possible standards of education, certification and delivery of first aid services.
CSP Gatineau is the third largest Zone in Canada, with over 350 patrollers who serve our local sports Areas in the National Capital Region, the Outaouais, and the Ottawa Valley. Our dedicated team of volunteers is highly trained in advanced first aid procedures, which ensures that the public can enjoy winter sports safely and with confidence, knowing that our volunteers are there to help when the need arises. While we remain an organization that services winter sports at Areas in the region, we provide other first aid services. Our patrollers take pride in volunteering within local communities over the spring, summer, and fall months. We provide quality first aid services for a variety of events including concerts, festivals, charity events, marathons, and many different types of sporting events.
What we get out of it
Every Area we service is different, but all offer fair exchange for your services in the form of a free lift ticket or season’s pass. The yearly commitment is typically 12-15 shifts at an Area. Most patrollers are assigned to the Area of their choice. However, due to capacity concerns, we may assign patrollers to a neighbouring area. We do our best to accommodate special considerations, such as family members in ski lessons.
All patrollers from the CSP Gatineau, regardless of where they patrol during the winter are invited to be part of events that occur year round. This is a benefit to the Zone, our Areas, and provides important services to our community. Providing first aid services at various events is a way for the Zone and Areas to generate revenue, which enables us to purchase essential equipment and supplies. Special events are also a benefit to our patrollers: they give us an opportunity to practice and keep our skills fresh over the non-winter months.
There are several other benefits to being part of the CSP, including discounts on outdoor brands and from local ski shops. The leadership skills and sense of community you’ll gain as member of the Canadian Ski Patrol will be invaluable on and off duty.
Ways to join
Becoming a qualified patroller requires completing our Advanced First Aid (AFA) course and completing our on-hill practical training. The AFA course is offered twice per year (May-June and August-October) and lasts approximately eight weeks. Successfully completing either the spring or the fall course guarantees you a position at one of our Areas. The on-snow training shows you how to put that classroom training into action. There is also an on-hill competency training that is followed by toboggan handling training. Once both classroom and on-hill trainings are successfully completed, you become a qualified patroller.
You can also join us through the On-Snow Rescue First (OSRF) program where candidates can join us mid-winter before taking the AFA course. You go through an evaluation of your skills and training on snow. Candidates are then trained on empty toboggan handling and, finally, on Area familiarization. Once this is completed, you are invited to spend the rest of the winter with us supporting morning sweep (first tracks), evening sweep, and emergency call support. All without working directly with patients.
If you still have more questions, most Areas offer a tag-along with a patroller for a day. You will join us when the lifts open to the public, after morning sweep, and spend the day with us. You will meet the team, see our patrol rooms and clinic, and perhaps watch an actual emergency call. If you like what you see, you can come back for the OSRF training and join us for the rest of the season.
Cost
It costs $250 for your first year of patrolling. This includes the Advanced First Aid course, the manual for the course, your first aid kit (provided on the first day of the course), and supplies. After your first year, the annual fee is $200 and you receive a discount for every special event shift you complete. Some returning patrollers pay $0 in annual fees!