Who is the CSIA?
Founded in 1938 and incorporated in 1949 as a not-for-profit organization, the CSIA is the professional ski teaching body in Canada. It is a federally recognized teaching institution and it trains and certifies Ski Instructors to best serve its Partners such as Snow Schools and the Canadian Skiing Public. While the CSIA National Office is located in Montréal, the British Columbia/Yukon region is represented by its own not-for-profit organization whose Board is comprised of elected, volunteers.
What do we Offer?
CSIA Education includes Programs with four Certification Levels and extensive Professional Development with Pro Days. Anyone who wishes to become a regular Member of the CSIA must attend and pass a Certification Program. Each Member has access to all types of training and education and receives communications and online material provided by the CSIA as well as other benefits and perks provide by our industry partners.
Diversity and Equality
“The Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance stands for equality”.
These are challenging times. Our sphere of influence is the passion for our sport and our love of the mountains. It is this realm that gives us a unique opportunity to help shape the future.
We want everyone to join us on the slopes. Everyone. In recent months, we have made some of the biggest changes in the organization’s history. It is our goal to embrace all those communities that have been underrepresented in our organization as Instructors. We are motivated to provide an educational system that provides the opportunity for anyone to be successful.
A deep connection is the cornerstone of us being compassionate and respectful to one another. Our sport creates such a connection. It is the essence of our profession. Our journey to be better never ends.
Mission
At the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA), we value our sport and its environment, our Members, our Partners and the Skiing Public. As the leader in the profession of ski instruction and a most valued and respected contributor to the sport of skiing, we develop a safe and positive guest experience, a progressive approach and set national standards in ski teaching, providing opportunity for anyone to be successful.
The BC Region services regional needs in British Columbia and the Yukon by providing:
- Member engagement activities such as:
- Scholarship and Bursaries
- Regional member communications
- Social and Regional Event (all on-hill education program portions of the events are delivered through the Pro Days Programs administered by CSIA)
- Member support and source of resources and information regarding the CSIA
The CSIA BC Board
Michel “Meesh” Berthoud
Chair
With a degree in Mechanical Engineering fresh in hand, the door to my future stood open in front of me. The road ahead filled with opportunity and promise. Then a funny thing happened as the road ahead took a sharp turn West. The straight 6 lane highway suddenly became a narrow, twisting dirt path through the forest and over the mountains. Nice suits gave way to gortex (patched with duct tape) jackets, company cars turned into chairlifts and the office cubicle transformed into powdery runs down the mountain.
Since arriving Whistler, that narrow, twisting dirt road has offered many great opportunities. I have been fortunate enough to ski more than 100 resorts in over 10 countries across 4 continents, meeting many great people and forming fantastic friendships along the way. As a CSIA Level 4 and Level 3 Course Conductor, I’m able to share my passion for skiing and the mountains with others, whether on-course, on the chair or in the pub over a refreshing beverage.
Skiing has given many great memories and I can’t wait to see which adventure that narrow, twisting dirt path will lead to next.
Pat Bell
Treasurer
A lifelong skier, Pat didn’t start his Instructional career until his late 50’s. Currently a Level 2 Instructor at the Hart Highland Winter Club in Prince George, Pat continues to challenge himself by pursuing the Level 3 certification. Pat’s teaching is focused on very young skiers, some as young as 32 months of age, and he takes great joy in working with Parents to help support their young skiers develop.
Pat brings a significant background in both the business and political world with him to the BC CSIA Board and looks forward to supporting Instructors in the Northern Region as well as throughout BC.
Amy McCarthy
Director at Large
I have recently been elected as the Director at Large on the CSIA BC Board of Directors, which I am very excited about. My goal in this role is to connect with all the ski areas in all regions, and to also provide support to all the regional directors.
A little bit about me:
I hail from Ireland, and it wasn’t until I was 15 that I first put skis on, and I was hooked straight away. It did take another ten years before I did my first winter season. As soon as I finished my education, I hopped on a plane straight to Whistler. Legend has it that I arrived into Canada with a surfboard and a wetsuit….
After a year in Canada, I headed to Australia, and ended up there for five years. I remember sitting in Melbourne, where I had just relocated for an engineering job, and watched as the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics kicked off—I had sudden FOMO as I sat in my generic hotel room. I knew I wanted to be back in Canada, and formulated a plan for an eventual return.
I’ve been back for over six years, and working in the ski industry since. What I love is the passion that skiers have for their sport. My passion is as strong as ever and it always amazes me how the mountains continue to call to me and our community. This year, more than any other, has highlighted how important it is to be active in the great outdoors, doing a sport we love, and the therapeutic effect that it brings. It is vital for our mental and physical wellness.
So let’s #skiwellbewell. I hope to see you on the slopes from a safe two metres away.
Anne Terwiel
Okanagan Thompson Zone
Anne has been a CSIA member since November 1981—almost 40 years—and is proud of her 4-digit CSIA number. Teaching skiing at Grouse Mountain seemed a great way to put herself through university, and once her teaching degree was complete, all Anne could think about was how to create a career in the ski industry. Balancing being a public school teacher and a ski instructor was easy at Grouse Mountain, where, in those days, the busy ski school ran lessons from 9am to 9pm. If one was willing to put in 12 hour days, a good living could be earned!
Anne’s husband, George, was also an instructor at Grouse, and after their two skiing kids were born, they looked for an opportunity for a full time life in the mountains. Moving to Sun Peaks in 1992 allowed Anne and George to re-enter the industry on a full time basis, and to fall in love with Interior BC snow. A family affair, all four Terwiels have been involved in the ski industry in one way or another, and skiing together is their greatest joy.
Along the way Anne returned to university, earned an MBA, and is now a Teaching Professor in the Tourism Management Department at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. As a Level 4 CSIA member, Anne’s passion is training other instructors, helping them to excel in an industry that has brought her such joy and fulfillment for over four decades.
Kia Kaspian
Kia is based out of Cypress Mountain in Vancouver BC, working as its Director of Snowsports serving proudly on the BC Board as a representative of the Southwest Region. He has a background in Biochemistry, Life Sciences, and Exercise Management.
He began his career as an instructor in December 2006 and completed his CSIA Level 4 in April of 2020. In addition to his work at Cypress Mountain, Kia works as an active course conductor for the CSIA.
Kia processes a passion for instruction and mentorship. He has devoted much of his career to the inspiration of other instructors in the Vancouver region to pursue their goals in the industry. He truly believes that for an instructor to succeed in industry goals, he or she must not lose the love of skiing. Kia is open to for any member to reach out to him if they need support, mentorship, or guidance of any kind. He loves a good chat and will always take the time to get to know a member on a personal level.
In his spare time and in the off season, Kia enjoys playing tennis, riding motorcycles, weightlifting, eating ice cream, and taking care of his three fur-babies (2 cats and a dog): Ollie, Kishmish, and Butterscotch.
J-S Forget
From a really young age, I was learning the art of skiing on the cold slopes of Mont-Tremblant, Québec. Gradually, I developed a passion for sliding on two planks and a desire to improve my teaching methods.
For over a decade, I have pursued my ski professional career in the beautiful Coast Mountains of British-Columbia. I am currently a training lead as well as privates pro for the Whistler Blackcomb Snow School. I often delivers courses for the CSIA across the Sea to Sky region to continue to sharpen my facilitator skills. I love free days skiing steeps chute and deep powder turns with friends. But I am also a sucker for working on my skiing technique in difficult conditions.
Julie
Hi! My name is Julie and I live in Fernie BC! Skiing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in the Laurentides region of Quebec where the mountains are small but the passion for skiing is big! As a child every weekend was spent at my home ski hill, Sommet Olympia. This is where I started my ski instructing career at the age of 14. I knew right away that I wanted to make ski instructing a life long career but I didn’t know how to at the time. While going to college, I continued working as the weekend kids club supervisor and after attaining my degree in visual design and merchandising, I decided to head to Fernie for a ski season. Before I knew it, one ski season had turned to 10 and I was still living the dream in Fernie!
My ski career has brought me to so many places and brought on many opportunities. From one side of the country to the other, to back to back winters on the north island of New Zealand and a winter in Thredbo, Australia, I have occupied many different positions and worked in various aspects of ski instructing from freestyle to ski racing. Now as a CSIA level 4, I am the head coach of the Fernie big mountain team as well as working with the gap year program here, while also being a course conductor.
I love sharing my passion for skiing and helping my students build confidence while pushing their limits. I aspire to be a role model for the next generation of skiers. I like to ski fast down steep runs, ski deep powder snow and find new things to jump off on my skis. When I am not skiing you can find me on my mountain bike, camping, gardening or spending time with my dog Camber!