News Release

Government of Canada Provides $625,000 to Canadian Avalanche Centre to Better Protect the Public

REVELSTOKE, September 5, 2007 - Jim Abbott, Member of Parliament for Kootenay-Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide $625,000 to the Canadian Avalanche Centre. 

The funding will be used to develop and deliver public avalanche safety programs and services across Canada in both official languages.

"In Canada over the past ten years, avalanche accidents have killed an average of 14 people per year, making snow avalanches the single greatest threat to winter recreation in the mountains," said Mr. Abbott. "The work undertaken by the Canadian Avalanche Centre protectsthe health and safety of Canadians and is crucial to reducing risks and saving lives."

"We have a long history of working together on avalanche awareness and safety," said Clair Israelson, executive director of the Canadian Avalanche Centre. "Together with a wide range of other organizations and agencies, both public and private, we are creating world-class public safety programs that save lives. We are pleased that our results over the past four years have prompted this renewed commitment from the Government of Canada.  We look forward to continuing this collaboration announced here today by Mr. Abbott."

The Canadian Avalanche Centre, headquartered in Revelstoke, British Columbia, was established in 2004 and serves as Canada's national public avalanche safety organization by:

• Coordinating public avalanche safety programming;
• Providing public avalanche safety warnings;
• Delivering public avalanche awareness and education;
• Providing avalanche training for non-professional winter recreation;
• Serving as point of contact for public, private and government avalanche information; and
• Encouraging avalanche research.

For more information about Environment Canada's programs and services please visit: http://www.ec.gc.ca

Environment Canada's Meteorological Service provides Canadians access to vital weather information and weather warnings 24/7.  For more information, please visit: http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca

For more information about the Canadian Avalanche Centre, please visit their Web site at: www.avalanche.ca

Background information:

• Avalanches: Be Weather Aware and Weather Prepared
• Parks Canada Avalanche Awareness Initiatives

For more information, please contact: