Scroll down the webcasts to 30 Aug 2010 named Ski [...]]]> Check out a CBC Interview with our very own Brian Chisamore.

Scroll down the webcasts to 30 Aug 2010 named Ski Patrol.  http://www.cbc.ca/allinaday/listenagain.html

Selectionez le photo suivant pour en [...]]]> Click on the picture below to learn how to join !

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On Saturday June 26th, 2010, our Gatineau Zone and Quebec Division First Aid Champions, brought home another Gold. Melanie Brosseau, Dave Fazzari, and Danielle Morneault of the Camp Fortune Ski Patrol had been preparing and training for that moment since [...]]]>

2010 First Aid Champions - Dave Fazzari, Danielle Morneault & Melanie Brosseau (Photo Courtesy: Jean-Marie Philippe)

On Saturday June 26th, 2010, our Gatineau Zone and Quebec Division First Aid Champions, brought home another Gold. Melanie Brosseau, Dave Fazzari, and Danielle Morneault of the Camp Fortune Ski Patrol had been preparing and training for that moment since December 2009.

For those of you unfamiliar with the First Aid Competition, new to the Patrol, or considering joining our ranks – winning the National First Aid Competition means you can say your team is the best among our 6,000 strong National Ski Patrol System. These competitions, whether they occur locally, regionally or nationally, provide an opportunity for the ski patrol to showcase outstanding skills, encourage continuous skills improvement and foster teamwork.

If you have a chance, congratulate Mel, Dave and Danielle on this achievement and if you’d like to try your hand at the comp, their advice is to: Practice Early, Practice Often and Play Well Together! Speak to your PL and get a team of your pals together in time for our Zone Competition next February at Calabogie Peaks.

The group of 15 Spring Recruits have been taking advantage of the warm weather to learn out of doors.  It’s a stark contrast to the cool climate where they will learn valuable on-hill skills later this year.  Spring Recruits will be joining our ranks after June 13th and [...]]]>

Spring Recruits 2010 - Photo Courtesy: J. Simpson

The group of 15 Spring Recruits have been taking advantage of the warm weather to learn out of doors.  It’s a stark contrast to the cool climate where they will learn valuable on-hill skills later this year.  Spring Recruits will be joining our ranks after June 13th and will be involved in summer events.  They’ll link up with returning patrollers and recruits for lift evacuation training and the ski evaluation.  Keep an eye out on their progress and personal accounts of their training experience!

For those interested in volunteering with the ski patrol in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, keep an eye out or subscribe to our RSS on the latest and greatest on upcoming training.

I extend our thanks to Glenda for her service as President; over her tenure we saw a number of accomplishments such as the introduction of the coupon program for special events, a spring course and we hosted a [...]]]> It is with great pleasure that I address you all in the first months of this exciting new job.

I extend our thanks to Glenda for her service as President; over her tenure we saw a number of accomplishments such as the introduction of the coupon program for special events, a spring course and we hosted a great NAC.  A special thanks to Carol Mothersill, VP Marketing, Julie Bourdeau, Safety, Lola Ho, Secretary and Mark Severin, PL Pakenham, who stepped down recently for a much deserved break from their extraordinary efforts on the Executive team.

This message is the first of many to begin a dialogue on where we want to go as an organization. From the start, I know I want to engage you – our most vital resource – to make sure we retain you, the people needed to continue our success, and attract the right new people.  I want to outline an approach to identify what that success will look like for us and share this ambitious vision on the ways we can achieve that success.

This vision is focused on community, more specifically on building, strengthening and enhancing that community.  That means:

• Taking advantage of every promotional opportunity to attract a greater number recruits to help us out on the slopes and community events.  Rejuvenate  that competitiveness and      excitement that comes from new blood joining our ranks;
• Strengthening our current team with a focused retention strategy that makes the necessary investments to revitalize our image, identity and you;
• Building and capitalizing on partnerships with local outdoor, snow sport, medical and community organizations to advance the common goals we share and achieve better recognition of our identity and your hard work.

Marketing & Communications will be significant in achieving on this ambitious vision. Danielle Morneault, the new VP Marketing and Communications, will look to all of you for your insight and your help in realizing them. I invite you to keep an eye on the Website and share any of your ideas and thoughts with Danielle.

Key to our success to date is the professionalism, charisma and compassion that you all ably demonstrate. Superb training, a dedicated cadre of instructors and countless hours spent by our patrollers training and recertifying contributes to this.  Continuing on that tradition, “Back to Basics” was the theme for requalification this year and that got everyone thinking about what we do and how we do it.  Within the Patrol, major changes have come about with the introduction of Health Care Provider level CPR, and AEDs are finding homes all over the zone thanks to the dedication and commitment of many of you.   The Administration and Operations manuals have undergone major re-writes for this year and will be introduced in the fall 2010.  Our spring course has 15 new recruits who will join us officially as of the 13th of June.  I look forward to everything our Education Department, led by VP Education; Don Grant will come up with this year to continue to inspire us.

Special Events have evolved quickly and exponentially in the past few years.  The VP Special Events, Scott Dowser, has been pivotal in making this happen and we are now involved in a substantial number of events.  Working closely with Scott, we want to rationalize what and when we participate in to make sure it continues to make sense and explore every opportunity to promote our identity when we contribute to Special Events.  We’ve become the preferred choice by Ottawa EMS for summer events and we are in high demand.  That means you and your skills are in high demand.  It’s an exciting time to be a patroller in the summer and I hope that you all find time to do a few.

The logistics of running the 3rd largest zone in the country is not without its challenges.  Derek Beatty and Julie Anne Bourdeau, the VPs of Administration and our Secretary, have their work cut out for them keeping us all in line.  My replacement as VP Finance, Suzanne Zarate, will continue the sound financial management of the Zone.  Our website has taken on a new look and feel thanks very much to Derek Beatty and his continued efforts to modernize the Zone management practices and Online capabilities.

Operations on hill is what makes us who we are, and our VP Operations, Marc Andre Poitras supported by our dedicated Patrol Leaders and area officers, ensure we continue to deliver professional, timely and effective Safety and First Aid Services at all of our area location.

Calabogie Peaks:        Bruce Hutchinson
Edelweiss Valley:       Marc Plante
Deep River :               Steve McAuley
Camp Fortune :           Bob Brooks
Mount Chilly :             Rick Hernberger
Mont Cascades :         Nick Cartwright
Mont Ste Marie :         Matt Healey
Mt. Pakenham :          Jeff Broughton
Nakkertok (Nordic):     Jenifer Cepella
Ski Vorlage :              George Prazmowski

I appreciate the continued efforts of all of you in making this a truly wonderful organization to volunteer for and am humbled by the challenge to represent this incredible Zone and all the outstanding people involved in it.

Jean-Charles Côté
Gatineau Zone President