Policy Statement
The CADS Mount Pakenham Adaptive Snowsports program operates with the health and safety of its members (athletes, instructors, and volunteers) and their families. This includes the protection of members from extreme weather events such as cold temperatures and wind chills, snowfall and blizzard conditions, and icing.
Scope
This policy applies both to conditions at the hill and to conditions affecting the safe commute to and from the hill.
Application
This policy applies to all members and is overseen by the CADS Mount Pakenham Adaptive Snow School management team.
Responsibilities
Management Team
The management team is responsible for the development and implementation of this policy, monitoring, and overseeing its consistent and fair application across all program activities.
On-Hill Supervisors
On-hill Supervisors are responsible for leading the assessment of current conditions and determining when elements of this policy should be applied to the operations they oversee. This assessment and determination should be made in consultation with all lead instructors delivering lessons during the schedule period.
Lead Instructors
Lead instructors are responsible for assessing current conditions, determining when prevailing conditions are detrimental to the health and safety of the athlete(s) over which they have a duty of care as defined by the CADS National program, and taking appropriate action in the interest of the athlete(s) and other members of the instructional team.
Members
All members are responsible for identifying and raising concerns about any conditions that they observe which have not otherwise been addressed.
Decision-making Authority
The parties listed above have the full authority to make a decision consistent with the policy statement and the scope of their stated responsibilities. Those under the supervisory responsibility of another are expected to take direction and to respect the decision. There is no recourse in the case of disagreement.
Definitions
Environment Canada Public Weather Alerts
Environment Canada has identified threshold criteria for the area which includes Southeastern Ontario. These criteria may differ from those of Western Quebec. Public weather alerts are issued when these criteria are met.
Extreme Cold
When the temperature or wind chill is expected to reach minus 35°C for at least two hours.
Blizzard
When winds of 40 km/hr or greater are expected to cause widespread reductions in visibility to 400 metres or less, due to blowing snow, or blowing snow in combination with falling snow, for at least 4 hours.
Blowing Snow
When blowing snow, caused by winds of at least 30 km/h, is expected to reduce visibility to 800 metres or less for at least 3 hours.
Flash Freeze
When significant ice is expected to form on roads, sidewalks or other surfaces over much of a region because of the freezing of residual water from either melted snow, or falling/fallen rain due to a rapid drop in temperatures.
Freezing Drizzle
When a period of freezing drizzle is expected for at least eight hours.
Freezing Rain
When freezing rain is expected to pose a hazard to transportation or property;
Or
When freezing rain is expected for at least two hours.
Procedures
Communication of Decisions
Directed by Management
When the management team make a decision on behalf of the entire program notification is sent by email to the On-Hill Supervisor(s) and Lead Instructors. Lead instructors are responsible for communicating the decision to the athlete(s) and their families, care-givers, and service workers (as appropriate). On-Hill Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the decision has been communicated to all interested parties, and then informing the Operations Manager and Coordinator that this has been done.
Directed by On-Hill Supervisor
The On-Hill Supervisor making a decision on behalf of the program schedule they supervise will notify by email all the Lead Instructors affected. Lead instructors are responsible for communicating the decision to the athlete(s) and their families, care-givers, and service workers (as appropriate). On-Hill Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the decision has been communicated to all interested parties, and then informing the Operations Manager and Coordinator of their decision and that appropriate notification has occurred
Decided by Lead Instructor
Lead instructors are responsible for communicating their decision to the athlete(s) and their families, care-givers, and service workers (as appropriate) and then informing the On-Hill Supervisor of their decision and that appropriate notification has occurred.
Cancelled Lessons
Whenever possible, cancelled lessons will be rescheduled to another date and/or time. The ability to achieve this is limited by the schedule and commitments of the interested parties, weather, and availability of usable terrain. There is no procedure for compensating athletes for missed and unrecoverable lessons.