About Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting
Our Mission, Values & Vision
At Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting, we are passionate about connecting the right people to the right service.
OUR MISSION is to promote safety in the wilderness and provide the highest quality care and education to recreationalists and outdoor professionals. We are dedicated to making a positive change in this culture.
WE VALUE the knowledge and experience shared among students and instructors. We believe that quality first aid education should be made readily available to all outdoor professionals and recreationalists. We believe that education, communication, and cooperation are key components of safety in wilderness and outdoor settings. We strive to provide creative, realistic learning environments that help students feel comfortable and connect with others while learning key concepts of pre-hospital care outdoors.
OUR VISION is to be an extension of the community that develops around those who play or work in the backcountry. Our aim is to become a valuable resource accessible at any time for members of the outdoor community and to provide the highest-quality education in pre-hospital outdoor care for professionals and recreationalists.
Our Story
In the late 1980’s, Wayne Flann, a patroller from Blackcomb Mountain, had a vision of educating guests, staff and locals about skier safety within and outside the ski area boundary. He created the Blackcomb Institute for Skier Safety (BISS), a non-profit organization in Whistler, BC.
In 1994, the National Ski Patrol (NSP) Outdoor Emergency Care Technician program was introduced in Canada and adopted by both the Whistler and Blackcomb Ski Patrols. In the mid 1990’s Avalanche Canada created a Recreational Avalanche Course for the general public. In the following years, there became a demand for these courses by residents and businesses within Whistler and Squamish and across British Columbia.
In 2000, longtime Whistler locals and patrollers Gwen Milley and Suzanne (Kenney) Clarke incorporated the BISS and renamed it the Pacific Alpine Institute, where it served the Sea to Sky for 20 years. In September 2020, we transitioned ownership of the company to Catherine Malette, a longtime Whistler pro patroller and Critical Care paramedic, and former employee of the PAI. Catherine then partnered with Matthew Smith, a pediatric Critical Care paramedic and Blackcomb ski patroller who instructed wilderness first aid courses, and incorporated Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting (COMC) to expand the educational offerings. We are still situated in the Sea to Sky Corridor and maintain and share the original vision for creating such an organization.
Over the years, COMC has delivered outstanding educational courses with strong governing bodies, nationally recognized course standards, instructional materials, videos, student manuals, and websites. Our courses maintain a high standard of professionalism. While our focus is on serving BC, over 2500 students have been through our programs from all over the world.
COMC has also become an industry leader in Event Medical Support and risk management, bringing highly trained medical professionals into the field to support some of the highest-risk outdoor sporting events, with clients ranging from the Canadian Enduro League to Crankworx, from Gran Fondos with 6000+ participants to moto Hard Enduro events.
Canadian Outdoor Medical Consulting encourages personal growth in ourselves and our students. We are a small, independent company that provides a personal service that larger providers cannot fulfill. We strive for excellence in service, attention to detail, organization, and professionalism. We hope you join us in advancing your outdoor education, and look to us for assistance in running a safe, fun and high-level outdoor event.