The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts (MTCA) awarded a tenure to Knight Inlet Heli Sports (KIHS) for heli-skiing and other heli assisted activities in the Waddington Range, the Whitemantle Range and the whole Klinaklini-Silverthrone aream(File # 1412758). This area, in particular the Waddington Range, is recognized as an important world class mountaineering, climbing and ski touring area.

MTCA awarded tenure for three of the four zones applied for – all except Zone 2, which includes the Mt. Waddington massif.  A communication and avoidance strategy for operating in these zones has been developed by the proponent KIHS and MTSA with input from the FMCBC.  Part of this strategy includes a minimum avoidance buffer for ski parties and a communication protocol with known clubs and service providers to determine who and where parties will be. The remaining Zone 2 with Mt Waddington itself has been given a deferred status by MTCA with the hope that the interest groups (i.e. KIHS and FMCBC) can come to a shared use agreement.

The quandary for the FMCBC is that we strongly oppose heli-ski activity in Zone 2. The introduction of a heli-ski tenure into this area will have damaging and irreversible impacts on the traditional non-motorized, self-propelled recreational users of the Waddington Range and surrounding area. The FMCBC feels compelled to protect it, from this and any future applications for motorized activity except for restricted motorized air access for self-propelled groups.  So coming to a shared use agreement for Zone 2 has been difficult. For the long-term future the FMCBC will be arguing for a permanent non-motorized area in Zone 2 to protect this important massif from future motorized recreation tenure applications.

For more information on the tenure application review the tenure application and map (below).