Avalanche Québec: Quebec’s Leading Authority on Avalanche Safety

In the web series Behind the Scenes in Gaspésie, Christine Bérubé-Martin meets people who enhance the region’s winter experiences. During one of her visits, she spoke with Jean-François Michaud, Head of Forecasting Services at Avalanche Québec in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. This conversation provides an opportunity to discuss mountain safety and learn about the journey of this passionate expert.

Choosing Haute-Gaspésie

Jean-François is a Gaspésie resident by choice, having left his life in Montreal over 10 years ago to be closer to the mountains. In Montreal, he worked as a community worker with people experiencing homelessness. Upon arriving in Gaspésie, he became involved with guided ski companies and quickly realized that he could turn his love for powder into a true profession.

After working as a ski guide and backcountry terrain developer, he now serves as Head of Forecasting Services at Avalanche Québec. While he valued his role as a community worker, he now feels fortunate to combine usefulness with passion: contributing to the safety of skiers while fully living out his love for the mountains.

The Science of Snow in Eastern Canada

Avalanche Québec’s office is located in the heart of the Chic-Chocs, about 20 km from Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. It is the only avalanche center east of the Rockies.

Avalanche Québec is a non-profit organization dedicated to avalanche safety. It is a unique program that was launched in 1999 thanks to the MRC of La Haute-Gaspésie and has grown over the years with the support of numerous partners. The organization’s mission is to protect the public by preventing accidents and improving avalanche safety. This is achieved through awareness activities, information services, and educational programs.

From December 1 to April 30, forecasters go out into the field and work as a team to produce a daily bulletin. While one person digs and takes snow observations, the other compiles the field data. This information, combined with weather data, allows them to analyze the stability of snow layers and forecast avalanche risks.

Despite the accuracy of these tools, Jean-François Michaud emphasizes the importance of remaining self-reliant in the mountains. He explains that, since the bulletin covers very large areas, it should not be taken as absolute truth but rather as a tool. Personal terrain analysis is still necessary. To enjoy the mountains safely, he recommends taking avalanche safety courses, staying informed, and venturing out with experienced companions.

To learn more about Jean-François Michaud and his work in the mountains, watch the episode Shaping and Caring for the Summits from the web series Behind the Scenes in Gaspésie.

Beyond this episode, the series takes you into the daily lives of people who use their expertise to serve the region and contribute every day to its vitality. You can watch this episode and the full web series on our YouTube channel.

Please note that these texts have been translated by AI.