Renewed funding confirms Canada’s position as a world leader in avalanche education, awareness and safety
Calgary, Alberta, November 9, 2011— Today, on behalf of the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Michelle Rempel, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre-North and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, announced the implementation of a new standardized format for public avalanche bulletins. The Parks Canada-led project will help backcountry users make informed decisions when entering avalanche terrain.
“We share the objective of minimizing the number of avalanche fatalities and to improve the experience of those who use the backcountry,” said Michelle Rempel. “Through our joint efforts and cooperative initiatives, Canada is solidifying its position as a world leader in avalanche education, awareness and safety.”
The project to implement improvements to public avalanche bulletins takes advantage of the latest developments in technology, avalanche forecasting, and risk communication theory. The new avalanche bulletin structure will significantly reduce the amount of text, incorporate graphics and improvements resulting from the recently revised North American Avalanche Danger Scale (a Parks Canada-led initiative announced in 2010). The new format will be accessible for mobile and Smartphone applications.. Parks Canada and the Canadian Avalanche Centre will begin using the new format in November 2011.
MP Michelle Rempel also announced that the Government of Canada is renewing its commitment to the Canadian Avalanche Centre with $400,000 in funding from Parks Canada over the next four years and $225,000 from Meteorological Service Canada over the next three years to continue to develop and deliver public avalanche safety programs and services.
“While we will never completely eliminate the risk, our Government – along with our partners – seeks to provide backcountry users with information that could ultimately save their lives,” added Minister Kent.
For more information on Parks Canada’s backcountry safety initiatives, please visit parkscanada.gc.ca.
-30-
Information:
Media Relations
Parks Canada
819-953-8371
www.twitter.com/parkscanada
Backgrounders associated with this News Release.
Improving public avalanche bulletins
Parks Canada Avalanche Awareness Initiatives
