HeliCat Canada has established a fund to support our partners - including First Nations, government, and community stakeholders - with comprehensive, research-based data to inform decisions that impact best practices and tenure security for operators in our sector.

 

The Fund


The HeliCat Canada Wildlife & Environmental Research Fund is a guest-funded initiative focused on supporting research and management projects that enable the HeliCat sector to continually improve its operating practices.

Research Projects & Applications

The HeliCat Canada Wildlife & Environmental Research Fund (the WER Fund) provides grant funding to support important and pertinent research projects that enable the helicat sector to continually improve its operating practices according to the following identified themes: 

  • Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

  • Climate Change Impacts

  • Sustainability Initiatives

  • Indigenous Relations, Reconciliation, and Indigenous Capacity Building

  • Avalanche & Safety

We encourage proposals from qualified researchers, consultants, academics, NGOs, and government agencies. Projects must fall under these themes and be of benefit to the helicat sector.

The HeliCat Canada WER Fund is an initiative funded by operators and guests alike. HeliCat Canada guests participate in the fund by contributing $5.00 per ski day. Every dollar collected goes directly to this fund. In addition to the contribution made by guests, all HeliCat Canada operators also contribute a per-ski-day levy to maximize total guest and operator contribution. We expect to fund over $200,000 of projects in the 2020 year.

purpose

Our goal is to support the generation of ethical, valid, independent and evidence-based information and knowledge related to environmental conservation and sustainability. The WER Fund is intended to support our partners, including First Nations and tribal governments and organizations, as well as federal, provincial and municipal governments, by funding research projects that will inform future decisions that impact best operating practices and tenure security for our sector.

fund management

The HeliCat Canada WER Fund is independently managed by a volunteer Fund Management Committee that solicits and reviews proposals, makes funding decisions, and tracks project success. The Committee manages projects from conception to completion, including the proposal, award, and evaluation phases.

fund management - committee membership

The Fund Management Committee consists of the following membership:

  • Lead technical reviewer

  • Biologist

  • Regional Tourism Association member

  • Indigenous researcher with lived and scholarly perspectives and experience

  • Academic faculty

  • Heliskiing operator representative

  • Snowcat skiing operator representative

  • HeliCat Canada Executive Director

The HCC Executive Administer provides support for the work of the WER Fund Management Committee as needed.

Application Process

One-year and multi-year research project proposals from university faculty and graduate students, independent researchers, First Nations and Indigenous entities, government agencies, NGOs and others are solicited, then reviewed and evaluated. An approved list of projects is published annually along with project details and budgets. 

More information on the application process, funding themes, and application closing dates may be found in the HeliCat Canada Wildlife & Environmental Research Fund Application Guidelines Handbook, linked below.

Questions about applications may be forwarded to Corrina Stafford at info@helicat.org. Please read the following Application Guidelines document first.

Research Proposal Themes

HeliCat Canada accepts proposals to the Wildlife & Environmental Research Fund until April 30th of each year. The Fund highlights five themes, defined as follows.

  1. Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

Projects with the goal of contributing knowledge and management advances in how the helicat industry can better manage their interactions with wildlife, with the primary goal of species at risk habitat protection, conservation and recovery.

Some examples of projects that would fit this theme might include:

  • Assess the effectiveness of thermal imaging cameras (infrared) to detect and avoid wildlife during helicat operations (see the 2020 RFP for this).

  • Best practices for meeting the needs of key wildlife species in the helicat sector.

  • Development and delivery of an education program for helicopter operators, adventure tourism businesses, and recreationists of best practice and regulatory requirements for adventure tourism and personal recreation within caribou habitat.

  • Research to identify the effects of helicat activities on key wildlife species and development of novel mitigation strategies.

2. Climate Change Impacts

Projects with the goal of better understanding the implications of climate change on the helicat industry and the development of management practices in the areas of air quality, ecosystems, energy, fuel management, carbon-use reduction, and human health.

Some examples of projects that would fit this theme might include:

  • Identifying the most effective and ethical approaches and strategies for helicat operators to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and chart practical pathways to deeply reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Conduct an assessment of direct air capture (DAC) technology and conversion of CO2 into carbon-neutral fuel using renewable energy sources and its application to the HCC sector and exploring the possibility of partnerships.

  • Identify legitimate, ethical and best practice carbon offset programs available to the helicat sector (see the 2020 RFP for this).

3. Sustainability Initiatives

Projects with the goal of improving the sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness of the helicat sector through the evolution of industry best practice and policy. Our goal is to act as a leader in the greater business community by implementing practices for sustainability in mountain ecosystems and encouraging research that supports operations as they continue to move towards a more sustainable future.

Some examples of projects that would fit this theme might include:

  • Identifying waste management practices to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

  • Working with sector suppliers to positively impact supply chains.

  • Identify best practice energy generation options for remote lodge operations.

4. Reconciliation Efforts with Indigenous Place-Based Peoples

Projects with the goal of improving the helicat sector’s application of principles found in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and/or Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, and/or Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and/or local Indigenous Peoples’ self-development efforts.

Some examples of projects that would fit this theme might include:

  • Helicat operator capacity building.

  • Capacity building of indigenous business ability to service helicat operators.

  • Development of an Indigenous Relations Strategic Engagement Plan for helicat operators (see the 2020 RFP for this).

5. Avalanche & Safety

Projects with the goal of improving the safety of helicat staff and guests. This may include technological advancement, snow science research, and industry operating procedures.

Some examples of projects that would fit this theme might include:

  • Trend analysis of avalanches in the helicat sector.

  • Development of standard operating procedures for ski cutting in a guiding operation.

  • Development of post-incident management manual for the helicat sector.

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Requests for Proposals

Each year, HeliCat Canada prioritizes a short list of projects we would like to fund and solicits proposals through advertised Requests for Proposals (RFPs). This year’s RFPs can be found at the following links. We also accept expressions of interest for additional projects from qualified proponents.

2020 RFP’s

Applications

Previous Research

Since 2001, HeliCat Canada members have collectively contributed close to $2,000,000 towards avalanche research and wildlife conservation initiatives. HCC businesses bring over 41,000 visitors each year to the mountains of BC for a truly awe-inspiring experience. We are acutely aware that we need to minimize our impact on the remote mountain regions in which we operate. As stewards of these sensitive mountain landscapes, we have first-hand knowledge of the challenges some wildlife species will face in the near future, as well as challenges brought about by climate change. We are committed to solutions that allow our guests to continue to experience the best mountain experiences in the world, while allowing these species to thrive.

An abbreviated list of some of the previous research projects HeliCat Canada has funded include:

  • Wildlife

    • Funded solely by HeliCat Canada member operators, past wildlife conservation projects have included studies on wolverines, caribou and mountain goats. In addition to financial contributions, some members provide lodging, meals, and transportation services for researchers and government biologists.

    • Assessing Arboreal Lichen Abundance in Treated and Untreated Forest Stands with CMH Gothics Tenure: Phase I (Funded by CMH).

    • Implementing and Effectiveness Monitoring of Standard Operating Procedures for Heli-skiing and Snow-cat Skiing Activities in Mountain Caribou Habitat (annual report jointly funded by the Government of BC and HeliCat Canada). Steven F. Wilson, PhD., R.P. Bio

    • Behavioural Responses of Southern Mountain Caribou to Commercial Backcountry Skiing Activities: A Ten-Year Retrospective Analysis. John F. Wilmshurst, PhD. and Steven F. Wilson, PhD., R.P. Bio.

  • Avalanche Risk Management

    Avalanches are one of the greatest risks to the helicopter and snowcat skiing sector. This is why HeliCat Canada is the largest non-public source of funding for research in avalanche risk management in Canada, contributing over $2,000,000.00 to date. Investing in research has led to tremendous progress in understanding snow science and behaviour which, in turn, has led to more informed practices and increased awareness within all aspects of the industry and public avalanche safety around the world. HeliCat Canada is an ongoing funding partner of the Simon Fraser University Avalanche Research Program.

  • Sustainability

    HeliCat Canada and its members believe in the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. In 2003, we developed a set of guidelines, called Best Practices for Sustainability. As our industry and social values are always evolving, the document was updated in 2017, resulting in a collection of key findings and recommended actions for operators in the helicat sector. The current best practice resources may be found at this link.

  • Occupational Health & Safety

    HeliCat Canada collaborates with various representatives and committees each year to review and refine the Association's standardized OH&S Program Manual, HeliCat Risk Assessment Tool, Safe Work Procedures and Safety Talks in an effort to help our member organizations prevent accidents and injuries on the job. Please see our programs page for our resources for industry. WorkSafeBC is a funding partner in many of these projects.

  • Socio-Economic Impact

    Helicopter and snowcat skiing is a marquee adventure tourism product in BC and Canada. The contribution of these businesses in rural communities across the province is significant. In 2019, HeliCat commissioned an updated Socio-Economic Impact Assessment to fully understand the current socio-economic contributions of the sector in BC. This updates an earlier 2016 Socio-Economic Impact report.

  • Noise Exposure of Heli-Ski Guides (WorkSafeBC funding)

    Measuring the impact of helicopter noise on heli-ski guide hearing.

  • BC Adventure Tourism Industry Strategy

    In partnership with numerous other BC adventure tourism associations.

  • HeliCat Sector Injury Risk Analysis

  • Simon Fraser University NSERC Chair in Avalanche Risk Management

    Annual and ongoing funding for the Chair of Avalanche Risk Management at Simon Fraser University.

  • HeliCat Sector Wage & Benefits Report

    Biennial compilation of wages paid by employee category.

  • Fatigue Risk Management in Wilderness Ski Guiding (WorkSafe BC funding)

    An industry review to characterize the fatigue that wilderness ski guides are exposed to throughout their workday, shift and season.

  • University of Calgary Applied Snow & Avalanche Research Program

    HCC was a core funder of the U of C Snow & Avalanche Research Program for many years.

  • HeliCat Canada Incident Reporting & Exchange Database (HIRE)

    Development of a multi-source, single-location, industry-wide information database related to incidents and near-miss incidents associated with all types of helicat backcountry skiing in Canada.