Parks Canada smartphone bulletins for tech-savvy youth
Looks like Parks Canada is getting with the tech program. This from the Calgary Herald...
CALGARY — Avalanche forecasters hope new smartphone-friendly bulletins — featuring less text and more graphics — will help young, tech-savvy backcountry adventurers make smarter decisions before hitting the slopes.
Parks Canada and the Canadian Avalanche Centre will begin using the new avalanche bulletin format this month.
“While moving away from a text-based report to a visual one is a bold step, the research tells us that it’s the right thing to do,” said Calgary Centre-North MP Michelle Rempel, who unveiled the redesigned bulletins in Calgary Wednesday on behalf of Environment Minister Peter Kent.
“Today’s tech-heavy world demands that brief and succinct information be available at the click of a mouse, via smartphone, 24 hours a day.”
Last year, 11 people died in avalanches, according to Canadian Avalanche Centre data. The average number of deaths each year is 14.
Grant Statham, Parks Canada mountain risk specialist, said it’s easy to get into trouble in the backcountry. The new avalanche bulletin provides easy to understand information before heading to the mountains, he said.
Here's what the new bulletin looks like:
