International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Centre D'avalanche De La Haute GaspÉsie: 15 Years of Avalanche Safety in Quebec

• • Title: Centre D'avalanche De La Haute GaspÉsie: 15 Years of Avalanche Safety in Quebec

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada

    Authors:

    • Dominic Boucher  [ Centre Avalanche Haute GaspÉsie, Ste-Anne-des-Monts, QC, Canada ]
    • Julie LeBlanc  [ Centre Avalanche Haute GaspÉsie, Ste-Anne-des-Monts, QC, Canada ]
    • Laurent Janssen  [ Centre Avalanche Haute GaspÉsie, Ste-Anne-des-Monts, QC, Canada ]

    Date: 2014-09-29

    Abstract: Historically overlooked in Quebec, snow avalanches nonetheless resulted in 73 fatalities across the province between 1825 and the present day. Beginning 15 years ago, the development of winter tourism in the Chic-Chocs Mountains revealed the need for avalanche safety programs. Therefore, the Centre d'avalanche de la Haute-GaspÉsie was created in 1999 to promote backcountry safety among Quebec's skiers, who are known to travel far and wide in pursuit of their sport. The first service to emerge was a forecasting program that issued a snow bulletin once a week to inform backcountry users of condi-tions in the mountains. Today, a bilingual avalanche bulletin, issued every two days from December 1st to April 30th, highlights the danger rating and avalanche problems. In the early 2000s, the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) came to Quebec to help develop expertise by offering avalanche, weather and search and rescue professional training. To date, more than 150 students have taken CAA courses in the province. Public awareness activities have also successfully informed and educated youth and winter enthusiasts through public conferences, Avalanche Skills Training courses, workshops and Avalanche Awareness Days held for the last 10 years in the Chic-Chocs. All these programs have the common goal to improve avalanche safety, reduce risk of accidents and thus save lives. Unique in Eastern Canada, this not-for-profit organization is now working toward a provincial recognition and is in the process of changing its name to Quebec Avalanche Centre or Avalanche Quebec.

    Object ID: ISSW14_paper_P4.20.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s):

    Keywords: Chic-Chocs, avalanche awareness, education, forecasting

    Page Number(s): 2102-2106

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