Building a More Sustainable, Inclusive Future for Western Snowsports

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Introducing PSIA-AASI West’s Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Initiative

PSIA-AASI West exists to create lifelong adventures through education and to support a diverse, inspirational community of snowsports professionals. To keep doing that work in a changing world, PSIA-AASI West is launching a focused Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiative.

Why ESG, and why now?

A winter environment that sustains snow is essential to our work, our students, and our way of life. At the same time, PSIA-AASI is committed to equity and inclusion so that everyone who wants to participate in snowsports has the opportunity, representation, and support they need to thrive. Our Board has also made strong commitments to ethical, transparent, and financially responsible governance.

For PSIA-AASI West, ESG is not about checking a box or chasing a trend—it is how we keep our community and our business healthy over time. When we ignore misconduct or fail to follow through on our values around equity and inclusion, we increase the risk of legal action, damage trust, and make it harder to sustain the programs and events members rely on. When we invest in access and equity, we protect our ability to deliver high-quality education, maintain assessment integrity, and keep doors open for future instructors.

Our ESG initiative pulls these commitments together for PSIA-AASI West and turns them into clear actions over the next few seasons.

What this means for you

Over the coming years, you’ll see changes in three areas:

  1. Environment: protecting winter and fostering sustainability
  • We are adopting PSIA-AASI’s Sustainability Policy at the regional level and working with external partners such as to bring simple climate and sustainability content into Western education offerings.
  • We will start using more digital materials, encourage low‑impact travel options to events when practical, and highlight resort partners that are investing in sustainability.
  1. Social: expanding access, safety, and belonging
  • We will continue to build on PSIA-AASI’s Equity and Inclusion in Snowsports work, including new learning opportunities focused on inclusive teaching and leadership and bias awareness for stakeholders.
  • Through our Education Foundations and Financial Aid programs, we plan to grow scholarships and fee support, with special attention to women, BIPOC and underrepresented instructors and disciplines, adaptive programs, members facing financial hardship, and members impacted by emergencies.
  • We are expanding programs that make it possible for more people to enter and stay in this profession. These efforts are about more than demonstrating our commitment to fairness—they are how we make sure PSIA-AASI West has a strong, diverse pipeline of instructors and leaders so the organization can remain solvent and effective for the long term.
  • We are reaffirming our commitment to a safe, respectful learning and working environment through our Code of Conduct, anti-harassment, whistleblower, and safety policies.
  1. Governance: strong foundations for the long term
  • ESG will be integrated into the way our Board oversees PSIA-AASI West, using our existing Policy Governance model.
  • We will continue to uphold our whistleblower, conflict of interest, and financial stewardship policies to protect the organization and the community we serve, and we will use lessons learned to respond more consistently and transparently when serious concerns arise.

What you’ll see in year one

This first year focuses on listening, learning, and piloting a few concrete steps:

  • A short ESG statement and information page on the PSIA-AASI West website.
  • At least one climate/sustainability-themed learning opportunity and one inclusion-focused session at Western events.
  • Continued growth of programs like the Western Ambassador Program and Western Women and Families Task Force initiatives.
  • Clear information on our ethics and conduct expectations and how to raise concerns if something does not feel right.

How you can get involved

  • Share your ideas and feedback on how PSIA-AASI West can better support sustainability, inclusion, and strong governance in our region, including through member forums and surveys.
  • Volunteer to sit on the new ESG Committee or related project committees.
  • Look for small ways to integrate sustainability and inclusion into your daily teaching and leadership, using resources from PSIA-AASI and our partners.

We will keep members updated on our ESG progress through our website, newsletters, and at major events. Thank you for helping us protect winter, expand access, and strengthen our community for years to come.