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Outdoor education program marred, but not broken
By
Staff reporter
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School will be conducting a review into their flagship outdoor education program as recommended by an independent expert, hired to review a school trip that ended in the death of seven students.
Ross Cloutier, chair of the adventures programs department at the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops, was hired in March to prepare a report that was delivered to a special committee of the school's board of governors last week.
Cloutier's in-depth 58-page report on the incident where an avalanche at Roger's Pass killed seven students, with 32 recommendations, was delivered to the school June 23.
Cloutier recommended that the school look at the sites currently being used for school trips, review its policy on assuming risk and advised that communication be upgraded to ensure full parental awareness of the outdoor education students activities and the inherent risks that these activities may entail.
Complacency of the school and parents was addressed throughout the report.
'There has been a great deal of complacency on the part of both the school and parents about the kind and amount of information on STS outdoor education activities available to parents,' Cloutier wrote.
During interview with parents he discovered a only a few parents were fully aware of the terrain their children would encounter while back country skiing at Connaught Valley in the Rogers Pass, while many others were unaware of the trip's destination.
The size of the group was also troublesome according to Cloutier.
He said a group of 12 would be considered manageable, not the 17 present on the Feb. 1 trip.
As well the credentials of staff and volunteer supervisors should be reviewed and likely upgraded, Cloutier advised.
However, he concluded all is not lost.
'The STS outdoor education is not broken,' Cloutier wrote. 'It should not be stopped, but it should be delivered expertly and in a manner that minimizes exposure to unnecessary risks.'
Risk assessment should no longer be in the hands of the three outdoor education teachers, said Cloutier.
He advised that the school create a policy on acceptable risk, with input from parents, veering away from adventure type trips common with commercial ventures.
Marilyn McCaig, chair of the STS board of governors, said a committee is already in place to create an implementation plan over the summer.
'The board unanimously adopted Mr. Cloutier's report and resolved to initiate the timely implementation of all of the recommendations contained therein,' said McCaig in a press release June 25.
'While it is premature to comment on actions stemming from the recommendations, the board is committed to undertaking a detailed analysis of its outdoor education program and it has appointed a committee to effect the implementation of the recommendations,' she continued.
To view Cloutier's full report visit the STS website at www.sts.ab.ca
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Triumphant
Valedictorian Thomas Crosley pumps the air in celebration during the Foothills Composite High School's Color Day ceremonies June 26. See next week's Western Wheel for a special section highlighting Grad 2003.
- photo by Janelle Brennand
Motta Fatality inquiry - Health region not to blame says lawyer
By
Staff reporter
A review into the conduct of the Calgary Health Region's (CHR) during the fatality inquiry of Okotokian Vince Motta concludes that lack of clear rules in the inquiry process were instead to blame for the region's actions.
The inquiry into the death of the 23-year-old Okotoks man was struck in 2001.
Motta died of a severe asthma attack that occurred after he underwent an emergency appendectomy at the High River Hospital Dec. 31, 2000. He and his mother had first traveled to the Rockyview and Foothills Hospital in Calgary, but left due to long wait times.
Later that night they visited the High River Hospital, where the surgery took place. Following the successful operation Motta, an asthmatic, suffered a severe attack. He was airlifted by STARS air ambulance to Rockyview Hospital, but never recovered.
Judge Manfred Delong criticized the CHR for delaying the inquiry by not providing requested material in a timely way and said some documents were unintelligible and misleading. He also said the CHR took an adversarial approach to the inquiry and treated the process as a public relations exercise.
David Tavender, a lawyer specializing in civil litigation, was hired by the CHR to review Delong's criticisms.
Tavender concluded at the June 24 public board meeting that legislation needs to change to clearly define the role of parties involved in fatality inquiries.
'The CHR was responding in an informal process,' Tavender explained.
The CHR was asked to produce documents by the lead counsel in the case. Tavender said in talking to Jay Guthrie, the lawyer hired to represent the CHR at the inquiry, he was told the requests for information were ongoing as the inquiry carried on.
'The process tends to change, evolve and expand,' Tavender said, adding that in his opinion the CHR made an effort to respond to these requests in a timely way.
He pointed out that the CHR was not subpoenaed to produce the documentation. However, some documents could not be handed over due to the Public Health Act.
Tavender recommended the province consider changing the fatality inquiries act to narrow the focus to solely determining the cause of death and allow broader issues, such as emergency health funding, be directed to the public inquiries system or that in keeping with civil litigation practices, defense counsel should control the type of evidence a witness will speak to.
In addition, he said parties should receive disclosure, before the inquiry begins, to ensure they are presenting the most knowledgeable witnesses.
Delong criticized CHR emergency and trauma services director Susan Conroy saying she 'took great pains to portray the system to be the beneficiary of many changes and improvements in recent years, although the data does not support her enthusiastic report of progress received.'
Tavender countered saying Conroy was not prepared to answer all the questions asked of her, but was chosen as a witness to testify on the state of emergency health. Throughout the trial the focus switched to many other areas, such as bed counts, said Tavender, that Conroy was not equipped to deal with.
'The CHR at all relevant levels, endeavored to respond to the inquiry in a fully cooperative and helpful manner consistent with the duties and obligations of a public body,' Tavender wrote in his report to the Region's Board of Directors. 'I can say that most particularly with respect to Ms. Conroy, who bore the brunt of the court's most pointed criticisms.'
The Motta family, who sat in the audience while Tavender discussed his report, were outraged by the findings.
'This is bullshit,' said Motta's father Tom.
Pina Motta, Vince's mother, said it was necessary that the inquiry delve into issues such as bed counts.
'In High River they couldn't find a bed — that was a delay,' Pina Motta said angrily. 'Without the time delay he would still be with me.'
The Mottas say they will continue with a $4.5 million lawsuit that names the CHR, High River Hospital, STARS air ambulance and some of their employees as defendants.
Tavender's report has been forwarded to Alberta Justice and is under review by an internal committee.
