October 17, 2020

The winter season is almost upon us with fresh snow in the hills! At Canada West we have been very busy behind the scenes preparing our Virtual Classroom in anticipation of a busy winter. We are very excited and looking forward to the November launch of the  Canada West Mountain Online School to support our robust offerings of practical, field-based courses during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Every Canada West Mountain School program and course offering starting in November 2020 will have the core skills, learning and logistics all conducted through our virtual classroom – whether you are enrolled in one of our popular AST programs, preparing your gear for a day of ski touring or learning Advanced Wilderness First Aid skills, our Virtual Classroom will provide an opportunity to engage with our Instructors and Guides on a 1:1 basis to ensure you are getting the best (and safest) instruction and guidance possible. Our virtual classroom environment will be easy to access and will host a comprehensive selection of reference and support materials, in addition to cutting edge learning and course offerings.

Our experience dealing with Covid-19 over the past summer season has helped us develop strategies to manage the safety of our participants, while also finding new and creative ways to conduct the same high-quality programs our team has always been proud to deliver. This winter we are looking forward to running our full season of Avalanche Skills Training, Ski Touring, Winter Travel, Ice Climbing and Wilderness First Aid programs supported by our great team of Instructors and Guides!

Brian Jones
Canada West Mountain School

 

---

 

June 24, 2020

We have had a lot of interest in all of our programs and we thank everyone for their patience as we waited for the appropriate time to fully open. The BC Government has announced today, June 24th, that we have entered into Phase-3 of the BC Restart Plan (BC Government Restart Plan Phase-3). This means that restrictions on travelling between communities and non-essential travel within BC have been relaxed and we can get out and enjoy our mountains and climbing crags again!

All Canada West Mountain School programs will continue to operate under our strict Covid-19 Protocols (see Canada West Covid-19 Protocols/), but now that we are in Phase 3 we are able to welcome everyone to join our programs.

Thanks again for your support and patience as we all move forward in dealing with the pandemic. If we continue to keep up the habits and practices we have developed over the past few months, we should all be able to enjoy a great summer of climbing, hiking and mountaineering!

Brian Jones
Canada West Mountain School

 

---

 

June 18, 2020 – Covid-19 Protocols for Summer 2020.

Canada West Mountain School is committed to the safety of our participants, staff and the public and we will be continuing to offer our Summer 2020 programs with the highest degree of safety during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with some important modifications. Following is a summary of the Canada West Mountain School Covid-19 Protocols for Summer 2020 programs:

• All programs will follow existing Federal, Provincial, Municipal or Regional health guidance.
• Instructors, Guides and Staff on all CWMS programs will be trained in current industry best practices for protecting the health and safety of everyone on our programs, as well as to continue to limit the spread of Covid-19.
• Each participant and Guide/Instructor on all CWMS programs will be required to complete a Covid-19 screening and disclosure form prior to all activities. This screening questionnaire will include disclosure of any existing or prior Covid-19 symptoms; current or prior contact with Covid-19 positive persons; and, recent travel history outside of their home region.
• Anyone (participants or CWMS staff) who has Covid-19 symptoms, or has been in recent direct contact with another person who has tested positive for Covid-19 will be asked to postpone their participation. If anyone is refused participation for these reasons a full credit will be offered. Staff will be replaced with equally qualified replacement.
• There will be a screening discussion each morning before every program to ensure that everyone is free of Covid-19 symptoms. Anyone exhibiting symptoms (at any time during the program) will be required to withdraw from the program.
• Appropriate personal hygiene (hand-washing, etc) will be encouraged and facilitated by provision of hand sanitizer on all programs. Canada West Mountain School will provide hand sanitizer and personal masks to each participant as required, free of charge.
• Only activities that can be conducted while maintaining recommended physical distancing of 2 meters will be offered at this point. Some modifications we will be incorporating into our programs:
  • All programs will be run with a maximum group size of 6 people with 1 Guide/Instructor. Many programs will be run with smaller groups as well in order to maximize ability to maintain physical distancing and also to avoid potential crowding issue with members of the public.
  • Training sites and locations will be chosen to facilitate ease of keeping participants separated, both at the training sites and while walking to/from. Sites that are in more remote or less-used venues will also be a priority.
  • Activities will be modified to eliminate the need for any close physical contact (however, standard safety protocols will not be sacrificed or compromised, but new systems will be in place that allow for ensuring safety levels at the same time as physical distancing).
• In the event of any situation or incident that may require breaking physical distance guidelines, all CWMS Guides/Instructors will have a “Covid Kit” including a full set of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) consisting of masks and gloves for every person in the group. This PPE will be available on request by any participant at any time who requests it as well.
• Programs will only proceed provided the region of delivery is welcoming of the activity. As an example, CWMS will only operate our Rock Climbing programs in Squamish once the community of Squamish has indicated that rock climbing is encouraged and accepted socially.
• Programs requiring overnight camping will have protocols in place to ensure that no shared cooking, tenting or other activities that may compromise safe distancing are required. People are welcome to share with others that they have already been sharing social contact with, prior to the program.
• Personal safety equipment that is supplied by CWMS (climbing harnesses, helmets, etc) will be disinfected, sealed and stored for a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) prior to use.
• Ride sharing will not be encouraged, everyone will be responsible for arranging their own individual transport to/from the designated program area.

Please contact us directly with any questions or concerns you have, we want to hear from everyone. We are entering a new era and we are confident we will be able to safely navigate these times while still getting out and enjoying all of the trails, mountains and climbing areas that British Columbia has to offer. At the same time, we want to ensure that we do everything we can to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and keep people healthy.

 

---

 

June 4, 2020 – Covid-19.

We realize that everyone is getting excited to start climbing, mountaineering, hiking and even a bit of late-season spring ski touring – summer is almost upon us and we share your enthusiasm!

Unfortunately, we still cannot forget that the Covid-19 pandemic is still happening, and as much as we are primed and ready to get out with you, the guidance from BC Provincial authorities and local Tourism Associations issued on Thursday, June 4th continues to be that non-essential travel between communities is still not recommended. Please visit the Destination BC website at www.hellobc.com; and, also check out the recommendation from Tourism Squamish to avoid travelling outside of our home communities during this time.

However, we are cautiously continuing to open some programs, with limited capacity and new modifications. Rock Climbing programs in Squamish are open to locals, and we are slowly starting to conduct limited Mountaineering, Backpacking and Hiking programs on the North Shore mountains, closer to many home communities for people in the Lower Mainland. These programs are being conducted in areas that are out of the way and are designed to minimize any interaction with other users and minimize travel outside of home communities.

We are encouraging all groups and individuals to consider booking private, customized programs in order to avoid crowding and minimize interactions between people (Canada West Custom programs). This allows you to choose who to spend your time with, as well as providing full flexibility in when and where to do you training or guided trip. Call us to discuss this option, we are available by phone and email full time these days.

Canada West Mountain School is committed to the safety and health of everyone on our programs as well as to the public; we are working hard to provide safe, healthy opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts while still balancing the ongoing reality of Covid-19.

Be patient, stay healthy and we look forward to getting out with you soon!

Brian Jones,
Canada West Mountain School

---

May 21, 2020

COVID-19 update – Stay local this week.

We are closely following the directions of the BC Provincial authorities and local Tourism Associations as we look towards reopening our spring and summer programs and activities. Under the BC Restart Program, residents of British Columbia have been encouraged to start getting out and enjoying their local communities, while adhering to physical distancing guidelines. Our latest guidance comes from the Provincial Government update issued on Wednesday, May 20 via the Destination BC website.  At this point, non-essential travel between communities is still not recommended – please visit the Destination BC website at www.hellobc.com.

While we know many of you are very exited at the prospect of coming up to Squamish or the Sea to Sky region to climb, hike or head into the mountains, we will only be able to accept bookings from residents of the Squamish community for our Rock Climbing guided and instructional programs at this point. If you live in the lower mainland or elsewhere, we look forward to having you join us later, but in the meantime we will be waiting for the provincial authorities to give everyone the “green light” to start travelling outside of our home communities.

We understand that this may be frustrating to not get out during such a great spring season, but we encourage everyone to follow the recommendations so that we can move forward to the next stage quickly. Remember – the crags, mountains and trails that BC is known for will always be there for us to enjoy later!

May 8, 2020

COVID-19 updates – Cautious optimism!
As we transition into Spring and Summer here on the West Coast we have reason to be optimistic about the near future! Due to the overwhelming support of the Public Health recommendations  in BC for the past 50+ days, we are finally able to consider resuming some of our regular activities here in British Columbia. While certainly not a return to pre-Covid normal it is still great to start planning.

As a result, Canada West Mountain School is currently planning on operating all programs that are listed on our website starting on May 22, with the following conditions:

• All programs will abide by existing Federal, Provincial, Municipal or regional health guidance. This will include Tourism Industry Sector and Land Management requirements as well, such as BC Parks and Regional Parks regulations/restrictions.
• Instructors, Guides and Staff on all CWMS programs will be trained in current industry best practices for protecting the health and safety of everyone on our programs, as well as to continue to limit the spread of Covid-19.
• Every participant, Instructor and Guide will complete a full pre-trip screening questionnaire to identify and disclose any existing or prior Covid-19 symptoms; current or prior contact with Covid-19 positive persons; and, recent travel history outside of their home region.
• Anyone (participants or CWMS staff) who has symptoms or has been in direct contact with another person who has tested positive for Covid-19 will not be allowed to participate. If anyone is refused participation for these reasons a full refund will be offered. Staff will be replaced with equally qualified replacements.
• There will be a screening discussion each morning before every program to ensure that everyone is free of Covid-19 symptoms. Anyone exhibiting symptoms (at any time during the program) will be required to remove themselves from the program.
• Appropriate personal hygiene (hand-washing, etc) will be encouraged and facilitated by provision of hand sanitizer on all programs.
• Only activities that can be conducted while maintaining recommended physical distancing of 2 meters will be offered at this point. Some modifications we will be incorporating into our programs:
  • All programs will be run with a maximum group size of 6 people with 1 Guide/Instructor. Many programs will be run with smaller groups as well.
  • Training sites and locations will be chosen to facilitate ease of keeping participants separated, both at the training sites and while walking to/from.
  • Activities will be modified to eliminate the need for any close physical contact (however, standard safety protocols will not be sacrificed or compromised, but new systems will be in place that allow for ensuring safety levels at the same time as physical distancing).

• In the event of any situation or incident that may require breaking physical distance guidelines, all CWMS Guides/Instructors will have a “Covid Kit” including a full set of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) consisting of masks, eye protection and gloves for every person in the group. This PPE will be available on request by any participant at any time who requests it as well.
• Programs will only proceed provided the region of delivery is welcoming of the activity. As an example, CWMS will only operate our Rock Climbing programs in Squamish once the community of Squamish has indicated that rock climbing is encouraged and accepted socially.
• Programs requiring overnight camping will have protocols in place to ensure that no shared cooking, tenting or other activities that may compromise safe distancing are required. People are welcome to share with others that they have already been sharing social contact with, prior to the program.
• Personal safety equipment that is supplied by CWMS (climbing harnesses, helmets, etc) will be disinfected, sealed and stored for a minimum of 96 hours (4 days) prior to use.
• Ride sharing will not be encouraged, everyone will be responsible for arranging their own individual transport to/from the designated program area.

March 31, 2020

COVID-19 update

We are grateful to all the health and essential service workers who are working  so hard for everyone to ensure that we slow and eventually stop the spread of COVID-19. In order to help with this ongoing effort, all Canada West Mountain School programs and activities continue to be suspended until April 10, 2020.   We will re-evaluate our operations schedule on April 10 and will be directed by recommendations of public health officials.

I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, however outdoor activities and courses cannot be conducted safely while at the same time supporting necessary social and physical distancing measures. We all look forward to a return to normalcy and I hope that you, your family and close ones stay healthy during these times.

If you are currently registered on a Canada West Mountain School program, please contact our office directly regarding refunds and rescheduling options.

Sincerely,

Brian Jones
Canada West Mountain School

---

March 17, 2020

COVID-19 update
During this time of concern surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, the highest priority of Canada West Mountain School has been the health and safety of our participants, staff and the general public. As a result, in order to help with efforts to slow the spread of this virus, we have made the decision to cancel all Canada West Mountain School scheduled programs for the remainder of March, 2020.

However, on March 27th, we will re-evaluate the status of April programs and events. Currently, we are hoping to operate all programs and events from mid-April and into the future as usual, but of course this may change with any new developments.