Saviour of the slopes
Patrol volunteers provide aid when skiers take a tumble
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It’s not yet winter but that hasn’t stopped Lori Natuik from preparing for when snow hits the ground.
Winter is her favourite season and she’s ready to strap on her skis, not only for pleasure but also as part of her duties as a Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) volunteer.
Natuik, 69, is one of more than 4,500 CSP volunteers across the country.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Lori Natuik is a volunteer ski patroller in the Red River Zone of the Canadian Ski Patrol. Natuik uses advanced first aid training to help people in trouble on the slopes.
CSP volunteers are often the first responders when skiiers get into difficulty on the slopes. The non-profit organization was established in 1941 to provide advanced first aid services for more than 200 alpine and Nordic ski areas nationally. In the off-season volunteers provide services at non-skiing events such as marathons, bike races, fundraising events, sporting tournaments and concerts.
“It’s more than standard first aid because we’re able to assess a number of different situations, whether it’s in the slopes or on the ski lodges,” Natuik explains adding that volunteers have to recertify every year to retain their advanced first aid accreditation.
“We learn various techniques for getting somebody off a ski slope because it’s not always easy. If somebody falls down on a ski slope or on a Nordic trail, and we get called, we attend the scene, we assess their injuries, we stabilize them on hill if we have to and we get them off the hill as safely as possible.”
In Manitoba the CSP has a presence in four zones — Lake of the Woods, Western Manitoba, Northern Manitoba and the Red River. Within The Red River zone, volunteers — two patrollers per shift — provide service to four ski areas: Spring Hill Winter Park, Holiday Mountain, Falcon Trails and Windsor Park Nordic Centre.
Natuik is based at Spring Hill, where she patrols either on the weekend or during the week, when the park is open from 6:30-9:30p.m.
She gets to the CSP building on site before 6:30 p.m. to don her uniform and check equipment and supplies. Hopefully it’s a quiet evening and her services will not be needed.
She spends her shift moving between the treatment building and the slopes and trails, carrying her fully stocked first aid kit with her.
Lift operators, working on either the ropetow or chairlift, contact patrollers via radio when a skiier falls and sustains an injury. Natuik and her fellow patroller then attend to the person as quickly as possible.
“If further treatment is necessary we will bring them to the treatment building on our rescue toboggans. Sometimes people are OK with being transported on a side-by-side ATV-type vehicle,” she explains.
Natuik goes to the gym regularly, working out four to five days a week. It’s a lifestyle choice she made around 40 years ago, she says.
“I’m active outside of the gym as well and I can assist in lifting somebody,” she says, pointing out that maintaining fitness is a personal choice.
Volunteers are required to be strong intermediate Nordic or alpine skiers or snowboarders and must enrol in the organization’s certified training program where they will learn about emergency care, avalanche control, lift evacuation, skiing and snowboarding improvements, toboggan handling among other things.
This winter will be Natuik’s 23rd season volunteering with the charity. She started in 2003 after her brother, a volunteer at the time, suggested she try it out.
“He said to see if I liked it … and I liked it because I’m still in it,” Natuik says. “I really like knowing that I have the skill to help somebody if they’re injured and make sure they seek other medical care. It’s very gratifying to be able to help somebody in that manner.
“I’ve made such wonderful friends, so many people from all different walks of life and we all have a common purpose. We all have common interest, we like to ski and because we work closely together some very special, very unique bonds are created.”
The skills she’s learned in her time with the charity have served her outside her voluntary hours. She’s attended to people who have been involved in car accidents, has given first aid when someone became ill during a social event and once, at a grocery store.
“The training comes in handy. Because you know what to do. You’re used to assessing a situation, figuring out if it’s something critical or not so critical. There’s that feeling of being able to help somebody … it’s very comforting to know you’re able to ease somebody’s pain,” she says.
If you know a special volunteer, please contact AV.Kitching@freepress.mb.ca
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Volunteer opportunities
THE following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to wfp.to/volunteers or call 204-477-5180.
Equal Housing Initiative (EHI) is seeking dependable and compassionate volunteers who are available on Thursdays to assist with food preparation, packaging, organization, and distribution. Volunteers will follow food-safety procedures, treat community members with dignity and respect, and work in a welcoming, collaborative environment. Applicants should be punctual, team-oriented, able to stand and lift light items, and committed to supporting vulnerable individuals. Food-service experience and a driver’s licence are assets but not required. Apply by email: Skhan@equalhousinginitiative.com. Deadline is Oct. 30.
Sargent MCC Thrift Store needs volunteers to assist customers with their purchases, handling transactions, operating cash register, stocking product and organizing the clothing department. Volunteers should be reliable, with good customer service skills, effective communication skills, able to handle money and work as part of a team or independently. Time commitment is 3:30-6:30 p.m. Apply by email: mccsargent@shaw.ca. Deadline is Oct. 30.
Jocelyn House Hospice is seeking board members to be responsible for providing governance, strategic leadership, and oversight to ensure the organization fulfils its mission, remains financially sustainable, and complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Board members act in the best interests of the organization and support its long-term success through informed decision-making and active engagement. Experience in areas such as human resources, government relations, fundraising, marketing/communications, public relations, board governance, policy development or business management is considered an asset. For more details and to apply, email: sgrocholski@jocelynhouse.ca. Deadline Dec. 31.
United for Literacy is currently recruiting Volunteer Tutors to support its online homework club. The volunteer position will be online through the Zoom platform and will be supported by one of their literacy interns. The volunteers will work with a small group of children between the ages of six to 17 in breakout rooms or one-on-one to improve their math and literacy skills. This volunteer position can be done remotely. United for Literacy will provide free and any additional support or resources throughout your tutoring experience. They can also sign off on your volunteer hours and provide a reference. Apply online: http://wfp.to/ixY. Deadline is Feb. 1, 2027.
West End Resource Centre (WERC) requires a driver/buyer to assist in the running of its food security programs. The main duties will be operating the WERC vehicle to collect fresh produce from retail partners and food donation organizations across the city for distribution to their community members. They will determine which produce items to purchase/select, load and unload the goods using the WERC-supplied van, and assist with distribution including bagging produce, staging tables in the resource centre, and more. WERC will provide the work vehicle for the volunteer shifts, fuel cards for fuel, a uniform (if required), and training. They are looking for volunteers that can commit to the following schedule: Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursdays: 1-4 p.m. for a three-month period. Apply online: http://wfp.to/ix4. Deadline is Oct. 10.
Help Bring the YMCA-YWCA Fall Festival to Life – Kids’ Entertainment Volunteers Needed! The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg is hosting a Fall Festival on Oct. 30 at its downtown branch, and we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help create a fun and memorable experience for children ages six to 12. They are looking for volunteers with fun talents or skills, including face painting, magic, balloon art, music, dancing, games, performances, or other children’s entertainment. If you have a fun idea or talent to share, they would love to hear from you. Apply by email: roc@ymanitoba.ca. Deadline is Oct. 15.
Bravestone Centre Special Events Committee requires community volunteers to help recommend, plan and implements activities and events with the goal of raising the profile of Manitoba’s longest operating and largest second stage facility for women and children who are transitioning from violent intimate relationships. In addition to hosting special events the committee contributes to raising funds that benefit the families of Bravestone Centre. Volunteers should be creative, organized, collaborative, and confident communicating with donors, sponsors, and the public. Experience in nonprofit events is an asset but not required. Meetings are typically held once a month on weekday evenings, with additional flexible time needed as events approach. Apply by email: arunahall@shaw.ca. Deadline is Dec. 31.
Boo at the Zoo is BACK! BATZ runs from Oct. 2-31 at Assiniboine Park Zoo. The event relies on volunteers to help visitors enjoy an extraordinary experience at Boo at the Zoo. Must be 18 years of age or older. Go online at http://wfp.to/iR1 for more information and application. Deadline is Oct. 18.
The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Apply at wfp.to/0pE, volunteer@redcross.ca or 1-844-818-2155.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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