CAA Scholarship Programs.
We are working to create future scholarship opportunities to support individuals pursuing professional education and training through the CAA’s Industry Training Program, including both current members and those entering the avalanche industry.
If you are a business or organization interested in sponsoring a scholarship to help support students and professionals pursuing ITP training, please reach out to Membership Services.
Austin Powder Blasting Scholarship
This scholarship, provided by Austin Powder, covers the course fees for one person on the CAA Avalanche Control Blasting course in 2026. We recommend that all scholarship applicants register for an ITP course on a date of their preference; the registration fee will be refunded if successful.
2026 Recipient: Alexandre Grandmaison
Alexandre’s career in the avalanche industry grew from a passion for snowmobiling and snowboarding into a commitment to avalanche safety and professional development.
Since 2022, he has worked as a Snowmobile Guide with Toby Creek Adventures in Panorama, BC, guiding guests through mountain terrain while contributing to daily avalanche observations and operations.
Alexandre is a CMBGA Level 2 Snowmobile Guide and holds CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1 and AvSAR Level 2 certifications. This spring, he was accepted into the CAA Avalanche Operations Level 2 program, marking another step forward in his professional development.
The Austin Powder Blasting Scholarship will cover the course fees for Alexandre to attend the CAA Avalanche Control Blasting course in 2026, supporting his continued development in avalanche operations.
Applications are closed for 2026.
Everett Clausen Bursary
This bursary is dedicated to one of the CAA’s biggest supporters. Everett Clausen and CIL have supported the CAA for over 20 years. This bursary provides a $500 credit toward the course of the recipient’s choice. We recommend that all scholarship applicants register for an ITP course on a date of their preference. Upon award of the scholarship, the recipient will be refunded against their existing course fees invoice. This bursary is only available to CAA members.
2026 Recipient: Julie LeBlanc
Julie graduated from the Adventure Guide Diploma program at Thompson Rivers University in 2005 and has worked in the avalanche industry ever since. Her career has focused on public avalanche forecasting, including with Avalanche Québec in the Chic-Chocs and remotely with Avalanche Canada for Western Canada.
The bursary will support a long-standing professional goal: completing Avalanche Operations Level 3 in Squamish in September 2026.
The Everett Clausen Bursary provides a $500 credit toward the CAA course of the recipient’s choice and is available to CAA members.
Applications are closed for 2026.
Women’s + Avalanche Operations Level 1 Scholarship
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In recognition of women’s underrepresentation across ITP courses, the CAA pledges to cover the full Avalanche Operations Level 1 course and hut fees of one successful scholarship recipient for an Avalanche Operations Level 1 course at Kootenay Pass, BC, from February 20 – 27, 2027. This scholarship is available to students who identify as women, gender non-conforming, non-binary, genderqueer, and/or other marginalized gender identities.
Applications are closed for 2026.
2026 Recipient: Sage Robine
Sage (she/her) is an avid backcountry skier who works as a wildland firefighter in the United States and Canada. She grew up in Rossland, BC, so she’s excited to return to the Kootenays through the Women’s+ Operations Level 1 course.
She hopes that through this scholarship and future CAA courses, she can push for more open dialogue on gender, sexuality, race and discrimination in outdoor spaces. She plans to pursue a career in rural avalanche forecasting and education, combined with seasonal fire behaviour and fuels work. Through this work, she plans to improve access to resources and support for more queer, trans, BIPOC, and low-income people via subsidized funding and targeted AST courses.
Young Snow Professional Award Nominations
The Young Snow Professional Award Program supports early-career avalanche practitioners and researchers by helping reduce barriers to attend the biennial International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW) conference and fosters professional development within the international avalanche community.
Through this program, the ISSW Organizing Committee reserves a select number of conference registrations Young Snow Professional Award recipients nominated by avalanche association organizations including: OEGSL (Austria), NORSKED (Norway), the American Avalanche Association, and our own association, the Canadian Avalanche Association.
Each participating organization selects recipients using its own application and selection process.
