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Bursaries

Fernie Avalanche Bursary Program

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FT&STC) offers a bursary program with the goal of promoting avalanche safety and awareness in the Elk Valley and to assist individuals who are pursuing a career in the avalanche industry. Each year $2000 is available and individual applicants can receive up to $500.

The bursary program is intended to support introductory Avalanche Safety Training courses (AST) or a Canadian Avalanche Association Industry Training Program Level I or II.

Applicants must submit a letter which outlines their experience in the winter backcountry, their interest in the avalanche phenomenon and their personal or professional goals with respect to avalanche safety. The applicant also needs to send proof of registration in their respective course.

Preference will be given to those who have shown a commitment to working in the avalanche safety industry and are a resident of Fernie.

Applications should be directed to directors@fernietrails.com.

Submissions will be accepted between September 1st and November 30th.

The recipients will be advised on December 15th.

The FT&STC was incorporated in 1993 and its goal is to maintain responsible, non-motorized trail and ski access on Fernie and surrounding area Crown lands and private lands. The organization also maintains and manages backcountry cabins for winter touring and hiking.

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2025 Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Bursary Recipients

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FTSTC) 2025 Avalanche Bursary Program awarded a total of $2,400 split equally between six recipients. FTSTC President Magnus Leckenby commented, “We’re happy that our bursary program is supporting individuals who will contribute to a safer backcountry.” Each year, bursaries are available to help further avalanche education in the […]

2024 Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Bursary Recipients

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FTSTC) have finalized the 2024 Avalanche Bursary program with awards going to seven recipients with bursaries totaling $3425. Magnus Leckenby, FTSTC President, commented, “Were happy that our bursary program is going towards people who will contribute to a safer backcountry”. Every year $2000 is available to help further […]

2023 Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Bursary Recipients

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FTSTC) have finalized the 2023 Avalanche Bursary program with awards going to an unprecedented all female group of seven recipients with bursaries totaling $2250. Ian Stokie, FTSTC President, commented, “Were happy that our bursary program is going towards people who are pursuing a career in avalanche safety and […]

2022 Avalanche Bursary Recipients Announced

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FTSTC) have finalized the 2022 Avalanche Bursary program with awards to an unprecedented nine recipients with bursaries totaling $3400. This year the annual budget was increased to cover the increased number and quality of the submissions. Ian Stokie, FTSTC President, commented, “Were happy that our bursary program is […]

Megan Bell receives Avalanche Bursary

Megan Bell was awarded a $500 Bursary from the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club to pursue a professional career in the avalanche industry. We are pleased to support Megan with her CAA AvSAR course and wish her the best. Every year $2000 is available to help further avalanche education in the Elk Valley. The […]

Matthew Szczepanski Awarded Avalanche Bursary

Matthew Szczepanski was awarded a $500 Bursary from the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club to pursue a professional career in the avalanche industry. We are pleased to once again support Matthew, this time with his Avalanche Search And Rescue course and wish him the best. Having trained people like Matthew in the community is […]

Savannah Cash Receives Avalanche Bursary

Savannah Cash was awarded a $500 Bursary from the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club to pursue a professional career in the avalanche industry. We are pleased to support Savannah with her Avalanche Operations Level 1 course and wish her the best. Every year $2000 is available to help further avalanche education in the Elk […]

Sam Higgins awarded Bursary for Avalanche Operations Level 1

Sam Higgins was awarded a $500 Bursary from the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club to pursue a professional career in the avalanche industry. We are pleased to support Sam with his Avalanche Operations Level 1 course and wish him the best. Every year $2000 is available to help further avalanche education in the Elk […]

Avalanche Bursaries Awarded

The Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club has awarded Avalanche Bursaries to Jacob Hayden and Jesse Kilpatrick. Every year $2000 is available to help further avalanche education in the Elk Valley. The program has been in existence for the past decade and bursary applicants need to apply in writing to fernietrails@fernie.com for consideration. Read more […]

Avalanche Bursary awarded to Justine Cowitz

The Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club has awarded the 1st Avalanche Bursary of the season to Justine Cowitz. Every year $2000 is available to help further avalanche education in the Elk Valley. The program has been in existence for the past decade and bursary applicants need to apply in writing to fernietrails@fernie.com for consideration. […]

Final Avalanche Bursary Awarded

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club have finalized the Avalanche Bursary program with awards to Megan Bell and Matthew Szczepanski, pictured below with Ian Stokie, FT&STC President. Stokie commented, “Were happy that our bursary program is going towards people who are interested in avalanche safety and working locally”. Every year $2000 is available to […]

Avalanche Bursary awarded to Eric Pearson

Eric Pearson is the most recent applicant who the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club has supported in our Avalanche Bursary Program. Every year $2000 is available to help further avalanche education in the Elk Valley. The program has been existence for the past decade and bursary applicants need to apply in writing to fernietrails@fernie.com […]

2018 Avalanche Bursary Program Recipient

Yuri Lortscher is the most recent applicant who the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club has supported in our Avalanche Bursary Program. Every year $2000 is available to help further avalanche education in the Elk Valley. The program has been existence for the past decade and bursary applicants need to apply in writing to fernietrails@fernie.com […]

Final 2017 Avalanche Bursary Recipients

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FT&STC) is pleased to announce the final recipients of an Avalanche Bursary for 2017. Simon Pollock (Above right) is a 22 year old from the small town of Elora, Ontario. He is now living in Fernie attending the College of the Rockies, studying Mountain Adventure Skills Training. It […]

Avalanche Bursary Recipient

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FT&STC) is pleased to announce another recipient of an Avalanche Bursary. Yuri Lortscher was awarded $500 to help pay for a AvSAR course, a prerequisite for the Avalanche Operations Level II course. Above: FTSTC President Ian Stokie (left) presents a cheque to Yuri at our annual wood splitting […]

2017 Avalanche Bursary Recipients

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FT&STC) is pleased to announce two 2017 Avalanche Bursary recipients. The avalanche bursary program has been in place for several years with the goal of promoting avalanche safety and awareness in the Elk Valley and to assist individuals who are pursuing a career in the avalanche industry. Gordon […]

2016 Avalanche Bursary Final Recipients

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FT&STC) is pleased to announce the 2016 Avalanche Bursary Final Recipients. The avalanche bursary program has been in place for several years with the goal of promoting avalanche safety and awareness in the Elk Valley and to assist individuals who are pursuing a career in the avalanche industry. […]

Avalanche Bursary Awarded

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FT&STC) is pleased to announce that we have awarded an Avalanche Bursary to Jeremy Wishart. Jeremy was awarded $750 to help fund his CAA Level 2 Avalanche Operations. On receiving the bursary Jeremy commented, “Please pass on my gratitude to the FTSTC for their generosity in providing this […]

Avalanche Bursary Thank you

Curtis Hall was a recipient of the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club’s annual avalanche training bursary program. He successfully completed his level 1 and is see here with course instructor Tomo Fujimura. Congratulations Curtis! Curtis Hall wrote, “I would like to thank the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club for their support in awarding […]

FT&STC Avalanche Bursary appreciated

Following is a thank you letter from Melissa Makepeace for the Avalanche Bursary received from our club last November. I would like to express my gratitude for your support. This past December I successfully completed the Canadian Avalanche Association Level 2 program. The financial contribution I received from the Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club […]