CAF Director Robert Kennedy addresses the audience in Whistler
Sponsors, donors and friends gathered in Whistler on March 2nd and in Calgary on March 7th for the Canadian Avalanche Foundation’s annual gala fundraisers.
In Whistler, CAF founder Chris Stethem was honoured and was presented with the Peter Schaerer Award for lifetime achievement in avalanche safety. The Peter Schaerer Award was created to recognize those individuals whose work has been transformative in advancing public safety and/or professional standards for avalanche workers in Canada. Peter’s professionalism and integrity have continually served as a model for his colleagues, his students and the greater avalanche community. This award in his name will celebrate those who carry on in his tradition of visionary contributions to the greater good. Many thanks to the Canada Avalanche Association for sponsoring the award. We would also like to express our gratitude to Sharon Audley and Gordon Dyson in Whistler for organizing the event.
In Calgary, CAC president Ross Cloutier spoke about the extensive advancements in avalanche safety that have happened in the last ten years. Canadian Pacific hosted the annual event at the CP Rail Pavilion and guests enjoyed snacks and drinks while participating in the silent auction.
Over $100,000 was raised from both events. These monies will be used to fund avalanche bulletins issued by the Canadian Avalanche Centre in Revelstoke, avalanche research, and education programs. Since 1999 the Canadian Avalanche Foundation has contributed over $1.5 million to avalanche safety in Canada.
We celebrate and thank the contributions of our major sponsors and donors: Canadian Pacific, CMH Heli-skiing, Athabasca Oil Corporation, Stantec, Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges, FirstEnergy Capital, BMO Capital Markets, Ski Cellar Snowboard, Gibson Energy, McDaniel & Associates, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Murphy Oil Company, Peters & Co., Hemmera Envirochem, Toba Montrose General Partnership, B&B Heavy Civil Construction, V. Lange Consulting, Farris Vaughan, Wills & Murphy, Meyers Norris Penny, Zaui Software, Hatfield Consultants, Lucent Strategies, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Silver Star Mountain Resort, Whitewater Ski Resort, Grouse Mountain Resorts, Lake Louise Ski Area and Whistler Blackcomb, as well as many other donors and silent auction donors.
The Canadian Avalanche Foundation would like to thank everyone who attended or donated to the fundraiser at Wild Bill’s on Saturday, January 12. In particular we’d like to thank:
