Kananaskis Hosts Free Winter Safety Day with Live Demonstrations

Winter Safety Day is returning to Kananaskis this month, offering a full afternoon of free, hands-on learning for anyone who spends time outdoors in winter.

The family-oriented event runs Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Canoe Meadows Day Use Area along Highway 40. No registration is required.

The day is being organized by Friends of Kananaskis in partnership with Alberta Parks, with a wide range of rescue teams, educators, and outdoor groups confirmed to lead demonstrations and activities.

Visitors will be able to learn how avalanche forecasts are created, how snow pits are dug and analyzed, and watch avalanche transceiver search demonstrations with Alberta Parks Mountain Rescue and Conservation Officers. Avalanche probing and shovelling techniques will be shown by Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, while Alberta Parks Interpretation staff will cover how to recognize avalanche terrain and what gear people should be carrying.

Cold water safety and wild ice preparedness, including ice rescue and self-rescue using the 1-10-1 rule, will be demonstrated by Alberta Parks Rangers. Calgary Search and Rescue will focus on the 10 essentials and the importance of leaving a trip plan, and Foothills Search and Rescue will show how to build emergency winter shelters using snow.

Wildlife safety and winter track identification will be covered by Bow Valley WildSmart, Alberta Parks Ecology and Education staff, and the University of Calgary’s Biogeoscience Field Research Station, which will also offer short snowshoe walks with free snowshoes to borrow.

Other activities include fire starting and winter clothing tips with the Canadian Rockies Public School Outdoor Learning Centre, fat bike trail grooming and test rides with the Canmore Area Mountain Bike Association, backcountry gear selection and field repairs with SkiUphill, and demonstrations of how RECCO devices assist in search and rescue. Attendees can also meet Java, an avalanche rescue dog, and learn how dogs are trained for avalanche searches.

Friends of Kananaskis will be providing free hot dogs and hot chocolate, and attendees are encouraged to bring reusable mugs.

Snowshoes will be available to borrow, though participants are encouraged to bring their own if joining guided walks.

Full event details are available here.