As reported elsewhere, the coroner’s jury at the inquest into the death Sheilah Sweatman delivered nine recommendations intended to prevent similar tragedies from recurring in the future.  Evidence at the inquest revealed that 20 other SAR volunteers and three RCMP members were present when she drowned, unable to rescue her after she became entangled in a tow truck cable.  It was apparent that the recovery endeavour was poorly planned and executed, with a series of errors leading to the tragic result.  Sheilah’s family attended all six days of the hearing, and will hopefully draw some strength and solace from findings and recommendations.

Sheilah Sweatman's family

Sheilah Sweatman

The British Columbia Coroners Service has announced that the inquest into the death of Sheilah Sweatman will take place during the week of November 19, 2012 in Nelson, BC.  We are counsel for Sheilah’s family and expect to participate at the coroner’s inquest, where other lawyers will be representing the coroner, Worksafe BC, Emergency Management BC and Search and Rescue groups.  Sheilah, 29, was a volunteer member of the Nelson SAR team when she lost her life in the Goat River on June 29, 2011 while attempting to recover a vehicle from the swift water.  The fatal incident was filmed for a reality television series titled “CALLOUT: Search and Rescue” and the video, which was never televised, will likely form part of the evidence to be considered by the jury.

An inquest is a fact-finding hearing conducted by a coroner and a five member lay jury.  The jury may make recommendations designed to prevent similar deaths from recurring.

The Alberta Law Review has published Cameron Ward’s case comment on the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision concerning Vancouver’s safe injection site.  The comment on Canada (A.G.) v. PHS Community Services Society, 2011 SCC 44 can be found at page 195 of Alta. Law Rev. Vol. 50, No. 1.

Cameron Ward, Theo Meiners, April, 2012

The ski world lost a legend recently.  Theo Meiner’s memorial tribute was held last weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

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From POWDER, September 28, 2012:

A man known for being in control while moving through some of Mother Nature’s most uncontrolled environments, Theo Meiners exuded a passion for life and stoke for skiing that made him known the world over. In a sad twist, the 59-year-old owner and operator of Alaska Rendezvous Heli-Guides fell to his death Friday of last week in the controlled confines of a convention center while in Anchorage, Alaska, for the International Snow Science Workshop.

When news hit the digital waves, members of the storied Jackson Hole Air Force immediately coalesced to honor Meiners, a longtime Air Forcer. “Guys I haven’t talked to in years called me up and told me, ‘Air Forcer down,’” said Micah Black, an old friend of Meiners from their days working as janitors at the Tsaina Lodge on Alaska’s Thompson Pass outside Valdez.

During the early-to-mid ’90s, Meiners contributed to the cowboy culture that formed the backbone of Alaska heli skiing led by Doug Coombs and Dean Cummings amongst others. He lived in the bathroom of the Tsaina while Black called a snowcave home. Those glory days atop Thompson Pass for Meiners consisted of scrubbing down the Tsaina bathroom before scoring a seat for afternoon heli bumps. He and the trailblazing group logged countless first descents in the Chugach, writing the map to the region. And Meiners was instrumental in it all. “He was always stoked,” says Black, “with a spaghetti head and meatball eyes. We lived the life together and Theo always talked about ‘technique, technique.’” Meiners eventually became the logistics manager at Valdez Heli-Guides, working for Doug and Emily Coombs from 1996 to 2000.

But Meiners influence wasn’t just felt in Alaska. He brought the skills and wisdom he learned in the Chugach back home to the Tetons while working as a patroller at Jackson’s Snow King Resort and an alpine guide for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. “He was a mentor to me,” says former JHMR alpine guide Eric Henderson. “He was a silent giant, as you really had to prove yourself to him. But once you did, he was open to sharing all his knowledge, which was a lot. He always had my back no matter the circumstances. He just had it.” While in Jackson, Meiners continued working for the Coombs as one of their Steep Skiing Camps guides. His extensive experience analyzing snowpacks and working with clients allowed him to travel the world as a guide and patrol instructor. Eventually, Meiners was appointed National Ski Patrol Regional Avalanche Advisor for the Northern Intermountain Division.

Ultimately, his skier’s soul led him to purchase 27 acres on Thompson Pass to launch Alaska Rendezvous Heli-Guides. With the help of his daughter, Alexandra, and son, Aidan, and fellow Jackson Hole Air Forcer and longtime Coombs guide Dave Miller, he shared his ceaseless stoke with others seeking to experience the Alaska heli-ski dream.

“He loved to ski,” says Black. “He kept going. He got his place up there [Alaska Rendezvous]. But he wasn’t a hater or ever on a high horse or anything like that. He’d always say, ‘Let’s bring it home today.’ It was real, man. People came from all over the world to ski with him.”

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Our thoughts are with Ali, Aiden and all of Theo’s family and friends.