{"id":250,"date":"2026-02-27T00:56:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/ottawabelowzero\/?page_id=250"},"modified":"2026-02-27T21:43:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T21:43:42","slug":"when-accidents-happen-inside-camp-fortunes-ski-patrol","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stories.j-proj.com\/ottawabelowzero\/when-accidents-happen-inside-camp-fortunes-ski-patrol\/","title":{"rendered":"When Accidents Happen: A Day with Camp Fortune\u2019s Ski Patrol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Skating Around<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Winter Pop-Ups<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Ottawa Below Zero<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Winter Fits<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Cozy Eats<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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336 words<\/div>\n\n
1\u20132 minutes<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Between the snowy peaks of the Gatineau Hills and the dense forest that surrounds them, a small team in red jackets moves with quiet purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Camp Fortune<\/a>, where thousands carve down the slopes each winter, ski patrollers are the ones scanning every run, clearing every hazard, and stepping in when a rider\u2019s day takes a sudden turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Camp Fortune may be known for its exhilarating terrain and deep roots in Canadian ski culture, but behind the scenes is a crew defined by readiness and care. They\u2019re the first to respond, the last to leave, and the reason so many visitors feel safe on the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dive in to explore the daily patrolling operations on the hill:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more about how patrollers help injured skiers<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Learn more about Camp Fortune’s patrollers<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Learn more about the patrol’s daily routines<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A map of Camp Fortune’s trails and ski hills. Photo: Camp Fortune <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Camp Fortune Quick Facts<\/strong><\/summary>\n
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  • The patrol at Camp Fortune is part of the Canadian Ski Patrol (www.skipatrol.ca). They are a national volunteer organization of more than 4,500 members assigned to the Gatineau Zone (www.skipatrol.ca\/gatineau) of the Quebec Division of the CSP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The team consists of 90 patrollers. About 60 are volunteer and 30 are paid. The volunteer team works Saturdays and Sundays, while a paid team handles duties Monday to Friday and seven nights per week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • There are more than 300 members in the Gatineau Zone assigned to nine local alpine areas and one Nordic area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The Gatineau Zone Ski Patrol helps provide safety services year-round. In the summer, they are the \u201cprincipal safety partner\u201d to TD Place (Redblacks, BlackJacks, Atl\u00e9tico, Rapids, Charge) and the safety team at Bluesfest, CityFolk, Army Run, Ottawa Race Weekend and Ironman.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • The Skyline area of Fortune has one ski lift overseen by four patrollers, while Valley has three lifts overseen by six patrollers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Becoming a ski patroller is no easy feat. Applicants must successfully pass an 80-hour hybrid course and complete annual recertifications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n
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