WIDOW OF AVALANCHE VICTIM SUING GUIDES, LODGE OPERATOR

The widow of an Alberta man who died in an avalanche near Golden, B.C., is suing the guides, their mountain guide association and the lodge operator. Douglas Churchill, 64, and his wife Sheila were among 13 people skiing in the backcountry, about 50 kilometres northwest of Golden, when an avalanche struck in February 2016. The statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court says five people were completely buried, including her husband, who died from his injuries, while she also suffered significant injuries. The notice of claim names the lodge operator, Golden Alpine Holiday Inc., three employees and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides as defendants, outlining a list of claims including that they ignored avalanche predictions and failed to exercise reasonable care. None of the allegations has been proven in court and the defendants haven’t yet filed a statement of defence in the action.