Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine

Raven RSM - WFR Recert/Bridge
2025-06-22 - 2025-06-25 | Smithers, BC, Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
*Please note this is NOT a CAWM event and is published on behalf of a CAWM professional member – Raven RSM*
Wilderness First Responder Bridge Course hosted by Raven RSM. Registration is via the Raven RSM website:https://www.ravenrsm.com/
Contact info@ravenrsm.com with any questions.

Swift Water Rescue
2025-07-12 - 2025-07-13 | University of Calgary
This event is hosted by a CAWM Professional Member – Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine. This 2 day Swift Water Rescue course includes Swift Water Rescue Levels 1 and 2.
Swift Water Rescue training is based on and taught to current NFPA Standards 1670 & 1006.
Swift Water Rescue 1 focuses on self-rescue skills for open, moving water activities. Basic personal safety equipment, open water swimming skills, and rescue principles are introduced.
Swift Water Rescue 2 builds on the foundational self-rescue skills from Swift Water Rescue 1. Swimming skills and techniques for a variety of open, moving water environments will be introduced. Focus is placed on technique and equipment usage in the rescue of others.

CAWM Wilderness Medicine Race
2025-07-26 | Kingston, Ontario, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
The CAWM Wilderness Medicine Race is a team trail race traveled on foot. Teams of 3-4 will begin at the trailhead and encounter various wilderness medicine scenarios, challenges, and questions along the course of the race.
More information is available here: https://cawm.ca/cawm-wilderness-medicine-race/

40hr WFA with Intermediate First Aid
2025-08-16 - 2025-08-24 | University of Calgary
This event is hosted by a CAWM Professional Member – Rocky Mountain Adventure Medicine. The 40-hour Wilderness First Aid and Intermediate First Aid Blended program is delivered over 4 days (32 hours) and supplemented with online learning. In-person sessions take place both in a classroom and outdoors.
This course is suitable for those who work in a `non-standard` environment and for those who take on a leadership role in the backcountry. It is the “industry standard” for those who lead youth and adult groups in the outdoors. The course is not suitable for those who will be venturing into truly remote regions for an extended period of time with no additional help available to them.

CAWM MLIG Journal Club - Session #1 Pilot
2025-09-24 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Edmonton) | Online
Journal Club is designed to be a casual yet engaging event where we practice reviewing and critically appraising articles on hot topics in Wilderness Medicine.

The goal is twofold
1.⁠ ⁠To expose medical students to the field of wilderness medicine.
2.⁠ ⁠To help students practice the skills they’ll use in residency, where journal clubs are a regular part of training.
Format
Introduce your article – Start with the title, authors, and publication details.
Summarize the article – Briefly review the background/introduction, study design and methods, main results, and the authors’ conclusions.
Critically appraise – Highlight the strengths and limitations of the study. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists are a great resource to structure your appraisal, but feel free to adapt them to your style. You can integrate it into your summary above or appraise the article after your summary – whatever you see fit. Link to the CASP checklists here:https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/
Lead the discussion – Wrap up with your own thoughts on the article’s relevance to Wilderness Medicine and invite group discussion.
Supervisor Requirement
Presenters are responsible for finding their own supervisor to help select and approve the article or guideline. This person does not need to be an MD—we encourage interdisciplinary collaboration whenever possible (e.g., PhD’s, paramedics, physiotherapists, nurses, researchers, or other allied health professionals). Supervisors provide guidance on article choice and support the presenter in preparing their critical appraisal.
Additional Information
While we encourage you to follow the above structure, Journal Club is meant to be interactive and low-pressure. The focus is on learning together, sharing ideas, and exploring topics we’re passionate about. Feel free to make it your own, keep it engaging, and don’t be afraid to go off-script if discussion flows naturally.
Sessions will not be recorded so that everyone feels comfortable contributing openly.
Articles presented at each Journal Club are available HERE.
We encourage in-person “watch parties” with your local wilderness medicine club—half the fun is the camaraderie.
So grab a snack, a drink, and join in on a fun way to learn more about wilderness medicine!

CAWM2025
2025-10-03 - 2025-10-05 | COAST Canmore Hotel and Conference Centre, 511 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1N7, Canada
Our 6th annual CAWM conference will take place in Canmore Alberta from October 3-5, 2025 with pre-conference activities taking place October1-2, 2025. Join us for 3 full days of Wilderness Medicine lectures, workshops, networking, and more!

2025 AGM and Board of Directors Election
2025-10-05 07:00 - 08:00 | COAST Canmore Hotel and Conference Centre, 511 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, Alberta, T1W 1N7, Canada
Join us on Sunday October 5 at 7:00 MT for the CAWM Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Board of Directors Election! The AGM will take place at the Coast Canmore Hotel and virtually on Zoom. All CAWM members are welcome to attend.

CAWM MLIG Journal Club - Session #2 Heat Emergencies
2025-10-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Online

CAWM MLIG Journal Club - Session #3 Spinal Protection
2025-11-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Online

January AWLS Course
2026-01-08 - 2026-01-11 | University of Calgary
Wilderness MD is excited to offer an Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) course with a student discount this winter. The AWLS Calgary/Kananaskis course will take place January 8-11, 2026.
The course will take place at the Foothills Campus of the University of Calgary for January 8-9th and then will move to the University of Calgary’s Barrier Lake Station in Kananaskis for January 10-11th.
Schedule: A schedule will be sent out closer to the course, but an approximate schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Jan 8: 5:30pm – 9pm at UME
Friday, Jan 9: 8am – 5pm at UME
Saturday, Jan 10: 8am – 9pm (with breaks) at Kananaskis site
Sunday, Jan 11: 8am – 5pm at Kananaskis site

Course fees: $500+tax for medical & nursing students / $750+tax for licensed professionals
Accommodation/Meals:

Option 1: $169.00/person for meals and accommodation if staying 1 night (January 10th).

You need to arrive at the Kananaskis Barrier Lake Field Station by 7:45am on January 10th for an 8:00am start

Option 2: $212.68/person for meals and accommodation if staying 2 nights (January 9th and 10th)

Registration is now open. There are 30 spots which are all available on a first come, first serve basis. You will need to pay the course fees in full to secure your spot.
Register here: https://my.wilderness.md/awls
About the course: AWLS is a 4-day certification course intended exclusively for licensed medical professionals. The course curriculum attempts to strike a balance between didactic lectures and hands-on instruction to most effectively train students in managing medical situations in the remote context.
Course topics include professional wilderness management of hypothermia and cold injury, avalanche, altitude related problems, patient packaging & evacuation, medical problems, submersion injuries, lightning strikes, wound and musculoskeletal injury, wilderness medical kits, as well as sessions on basic survival and search and rescue fundamentals.
Please feel free to contact the lead course instructor, Dr. Steve Roy (steve.roy@wilderness.md) if you have any questions.

Journal Club - Session #4 Cold Emergencies
2026-01-28 18:30 - 19:30 | Online

Journal Club - Session #5 Altitude Sickness
2026-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Online

Case Study Night
2026-03-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Episode 1 – Cardiac Arrest: Drowning or Hypothermia, does it really matter?

When: Thursday March 5, 2026 @ 18:00 MT
Speaker: Len James BPE, BEd, ACP
Who: Available for everyone!
Since 1979, Len has contributed to a wide range of pre-hospital professions. He is presently employed part-time as an Advanced Care Paramedic with the Nipissing District Paramedic Service. Throughout his career, Len has undertaken various leadership roles in paramedic education and special operations. He continues to participate in major music festivals and multi-day athletic events.
Len was raised on a hunting and fishing lodge in northern Ontario, fostering a deep connection to the Canadian Shield. He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Physical Education and Teacher Education, with a specialization in outdoor education. His professional experience includes positions at Outward Bound Canada (OBC), working with adjudicated youth, and leading high school outdoor programs.
Since the mid-1980s, Len has been actively involved in teaching wilderness medical programs, delivering courses in ten countries across the globe—from northern regions to central and South America. Notably, he conducted the first wilderness medical program in mainland China. Len currently serves as the Director of Medical Curriculum and Program Development at Raven RSM.

Case: Cardiac Arrest: Drowning or Hypothermia does it really matter?
This is a review of a cardiac arrest by drowning/hypothermia. The case review will focus on the rescue and resuscitation by both park staff and paramedics. It will discuss the current understanding of drowning/hypothermia and care guidelines. The primary goal is to review the first responder care and draw insights on how to better manage these patients in the field.
**Content Advisory: This session contains discussion of a death by suicide. We encourage viewers to use discretion and prioritize their wellbeing when choosing to attend**

Special Seminar Series
2026-03-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Episode 7 – Mindset Awareness for Risk Decision Making

When: Wednesday March 18, 2026 @ 18:00 MT
Speaker: Ken Wylie IFMGA, BPE
Who: Members Only
Ken has lived and worked his entire career in HPC (High Potential Consequence) situations and environments. Certified internationally with the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA) (R), Ken’s work as a mountain guide and adventure educator has taken him into some incredibly hazardous environments where he has experienced the highs and lows with his clients and students as a guide and educator. From climbing the highest peaks in the western hemisphere, first ascents on rock and ice, to surviving a deadly avalanche that
claimed the lives of seven souls in 2003.
Ken has owed it all as part of the learning process of adventure. Through this experience, he realized that how we show up to engage with the challenges we face, is the key element to finding our true selves. Through his business, Archetypal, Ken’s calling is to help others understand how they are showing up to critical decision-making processes and how to elevate actions and outcomes to a higher place through awareness of mindset in order to survive ourselves.

This talk addresses a needed paradigm extension in how we manage hazards in High-Potential-Consequence (HPC) situations and environments. The extrinsic processes available to us for managing hazards are all underpinned by the fact that we are human, and we make choices from the inside out. By fostering greater awareness of the intrinsic elements and their effects, we can elevate the quality of our mindset and the following actions we take.
