Canadian Ski Patrol System

The Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS) is an organization made up of over 5000 (as of 2005) volunteer and paid alpine skiers, telemark skiers, snow boarders, and Nordic skiers that provides safety and rescue services. The CSPS provides, without charge, a uniformly highly-skilled, and responsible service to the skiing public.

A patroller must pass a rigid set of examinations on all aspects of patrolling, including ski safety, first aid, procedures and programs, and must participate in the activities of the System. First Aid, CPR, and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required annually, while On-snow (toboggan) training, every 3 years.

The CSPS motto is:

Safety and Service

The CSPS mission statement is:

To promote safety and injury prevention in partnership with the ski/snow industry and to provide the highest possible standards of education, certification and delivery in first aid and rescue services.

The CSPS is a founding member of the FIPS (Fédération internationale des patrouilles de ski).

As the Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS) is a non-profit organization they must raise their own funds to purchase first aid equipment and supplies as well as funds for rigorous training of their members in first aid techniques, pulling patient toboggans through difficult terrain and chairlift evacuation. Their main fundraising efforts are the Winter Extreme Ski Show and Swaps [1] The world's largest ski shows and swaps, Winter Extreme is the combined efforts of 5000+ members of the CSPS across Canada. [2]

History

1940: The System was founded by Douglas Firth who was asked by the Canadian Amateur Ski Association (CASA) to organize a group of people to patrol ski areas and train them to provide first aid to injured skiers.
1941-1948: The Toronto and Montreal patrols united to form the basis for today's System. The Montreal patrol was started by [[James Harold Millard]]. Mr Millard was honoured with a lifetime membership in appreciation for the many years of dedication to the CSPC.
1957: The by-laws are amended such that the National president is elected by the Zone Presidents.
1961: The CSPS was accredited as a charitable organization.
1962: The CSPS was incorporated as a national non profit corporation. The CSPS revised and published the first edition of the Patroller's Manual, a manual used for training ski patrollers in first-aid.
1965: The CSPS opened an office in Ottawa with a full-time secretary.
1967: Georges Vanier, Governor General of Canada, became the first patron of the CSPS.
1970: The Saskatchewan Division is formed.
1973: The CSPS adopted the current national logo (made up of a yellow or gold cross on a blue stylized maple leaf). An independent Zone, the Schwartzwald Zone, was established to meet the needs of members of the Canadian Forces and their dependants serving in Germany.
1974: The Atlantic Division split into Atlantic West and Atlantic East Divisions.
1975: The national logo is registered as the trademark of the System.
1979: The CSPS was a founding members of the FIPS.
1988: The CSPS provides first aid services at the Calgary winter olympics.
2010: The CSPS provides first aid services at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

System Organization

The CSPS comprises nine divisions:

A Division is led by a Division President. All divisions also have an education officer as well as other officers as needed.

Divisions are sub-divided into Zones. Zones comprise a Zone President, executive officers (including an education officer), patrol leaders (one for each ski area), and members (patrollers).

Atlantic East Division