The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has cancelled ski trips involving chair lifts after a 13-year-old girl was left with life-threatening injuries from an incident at Centre Vorlage on Wednesday.
In a message to staff, the OCDSB said the use of chairlifts at ski hills was prohibited for staff and students effective immediately. Ski trips may proceed if the use of chairlifts can be avoided.
“We are hopeful this will be a temporary measure while the incident is reviewed,” said the message, which directed staff to the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education (OPHEA).
The girl’s identity and name of her school had not been released as of Friday.
According to the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais police, a preliminary investigation indicated the girl’s hoodie became tangled in the chairlift’s pull device in lift area B at the top of the ski hill near Wakefield, Que., about 35 kilometres north of Ottawa.
First responders were unable to free the girl and a decision was made to move her to the bottom of the ski hill while still hanging from the cable. She was transported to Wakefield Hospital before being transported to CHEO.
“Our thoughts are with the student, their family and the entire school community during this deeply difficult time,” OCDSB spokesperson Diane Pernari said in a statement.
“Student well-being is always paramount, and we have taken immediate steps to support those affected, including ensuring mental health professionals are available to assist students and staff following the trip and in the days ahead.”
The Ottawa Catholic School Board has not issued any new system-wide directives related to school trips as a result of the incident at Vorlage.
“That said, schools are always encouraged to review planned excursions carefully and make decisions based on current information, site conditions, and student safety,” OCSB spokesperson Sharlene Hunter said.
“We have well-established procedures to support the safe planning and supervision of school trips. These are outlined in our board policies and administrative procedures related to field trips, excursions, and risk management. We also follow the OPHEA guidelines and regularly review them with staff.”
OPHEA guidelines for alpine ski skiing state that, before going on a ski trip, organizers should discuss the possible risks with students, such as the dangers of impact with obstacles, including trees, lift towers, fences and snow-making and grooming equipment and the ways to minimize collisions, as well as reviewing lift guidelines with students.
Centre Vorlage remained closed.
“Our most sincere thoughts are with the young girl, her family, and all those affected,” the ski centre posted on Facebook on Friday. “We wish to inform you that we will remain closed this Saturday and Sunday.
“Although the police investigations have been completed, we believe it is important to take the necessary time to be present for our employees and provide them with all the support needed during this difficult period. In the meantime, we continue our collaboration with the authorities.
“We will get back to you on Sunday with further information.”
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