As the first female president of the Alpine Club of Canada, one of the country’s foundational outdoor organizations, Isabelle Daigneault says she can’t help but feel some weight on her shoulders.
The ACC is an organization, based in Canmore, Alta., that manages a network of cabins across Canada’s remote backcountry and has worked to educate people on the world of mountaineering for more than a century. Many countries have their own alpine clubs and they play a central role as stewards for the outdoors.
“It’s telling that the industry has taken a long time to give women the same opportunities to progress as men have had. It’s a great step,” said Sarah Hueniken, a rock-climbing guide based in Canmore whose accomplishments include a 47-metre ice climb at a frozen Niagara Falls.Ms. Daigneault used to be the only female board member at the club for years and remembers feeling brushed off when bringing certain ideas and thoughts to the table.
Sylvia Forest, president of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, remembers being the only woman during training courses to become accredited for backcountry guiding and rescue. Now in the winter, she works with one heli-skiing team that has an equal split of men and women, and says they’re better off because of the gender parity.
I will take a Male guide thanks