Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Zero Ceiling reaching new heights with new status

Whistler summer recreation businesses willing to help disadvantaged youth are being sought by the Zero Ceiling Society of Canada, as part of a move to turn its successful winter-based program into a year round community service.

Whistler summer recreation businesses willing to help disadvantaged youth are being sought by the Zero Ceiling Society of Canada, as part of a move to turn its successful winter-based program into a year round community service.

Since its conception in December 1997, the program has hosted more than 350 youth in Whistler through referrals from the Dusk to Dawn youth shelter in Vancouver, and more recently, North Shore House. The goal: to inspire young people into seeking a healthy and happy lifestyle despite their tough starts.

The stepping-stone for youth in the program has, until now, been learning how to snowboard. However, program founder, Chris Winter, says companies offering summer activities such as rafting, mountain-bike riding, horseback riding and even golf are being sought to expand the good lessons that sport can bring.

"A lot of people could view Zero Ceiling as a free day's snowboarding on the mountain without realizing the huge difference it can make. You just see their faces light up," he says. "Sport teaches self-reliance, teamwork and confidence – it's more than just fun."

One of the many success stories from the Zero Ceiling program is Tyler, a snowboard instructor with two seasons under his belt in Whistler. He was one of four youth chosen to undertake the annual instructors' course offering by Zero Ceiling and Intrawest in 1998. He says three of the four have branched out to new things because of the program, although one of the group returned to his old ways in the city 18 months after completing the course.

"It's a chance you are given to get off the street and one chance is all that some people need," says Tyler.

Tyler believes 75 per cent of people who go through the program use it to turn their lives around, and he is happy to lend a hand with the new entrants.

"If Chris gives me a call I take a day off work to help take care of the new group," he says. "I like to explain to them the potential of being up here and how they can change their lives."

Most of the kids in the program live on the streets of Vancouver but try to collect enough money to rent a house together during the winter months, he says. The shelter is where they go for food and to relax away from traffic.

Tyler says his personal goal is to work on his snowboarding in winter, and toward being a chef during the summer. "I'm now a third cook in the lineup and like working in the catering business. Zero Ceiling is a great program and should be supported."

Likewise a graduate of this year's instructor program, Carter, says Zero Ceiling gave him the best opportunity he has ever had to change his life for the better.

"I had been snowboarding only nine times through other youth centres in the city so jumped at the chance to train up," he says. "My whole outlook on life has changed. I feel more connected with people, I'm healthier and everything is more positive. I can do anything."

This season Carter took home the award of most improved instructor on Whistler-Blackcomb and plans to work on the mountains again next season. He says too many of his old friends are still living on the streets, but he hopes some will make it up to Whistler next winter with Zero Ceiling.

Carter says boredom and drugs are the reality of life on the streets, as well as bad health from living with automobile traffic and trying to find a place to sleep every night.

"I left all that stuff in Vancouver, but it takes a change of atmosphere and environment to fully make the break. It is hard to be positive when you live like that."

Carter says instructing has made him a real people-person and he wouldn't give up the job or lifestyle for anything.

Zero Ceiling's board of directors hope to extend the program and reach even more at risk youth. The organization officially extended its title to the Zero Ceiling Society of Canada — La Societe Sans Limites du Canada after gaining non-profit status in January 2001 and expects a decision on its application for charitable status in October. Winter says it will make a huge difference to what the program can achieve if they get approval.

"Donators will be able to get tax back off their contributions and it will help expand the program as well as pay salaries, because without workers the program can't operate."

Winter is the only salaried Zero Ceiling staff member at the moment, after working on a voluntary basis for the past four years.

"I almost threw the towel in a half dozen times but I'm not a quitter and am excited about the positive changes it brings to these kids," he says.

Winter points out that Whistler also benefits from the cultural diversity that Zero Ceiling brings.

"Whistler is such a mono-culture. This type of program makes for a more textured community and it doesn't hurt any of us to get out of our comfort zone and look outside the Whistler bubble."

Plus the ski bum and the street bum lifestyles have a lot in common when you think about it, he adds. "Both are alternative lifestyles to the norm and both are all about getting high through healthy or unhealthy means," he explains. "In Whistler, people get their high off snowboarding, skiing or mountain biking, using recreation as a healthy drug."

Winter says up to 100 youth a year have been going through the Zero Ceiling program but the goal is to have around 300 signing up each year, including First Nations young people and those from areas outside Vancouver.

Stephanie Barbara, Zero Ceiling's treasurer, says Whistler has been incredibly supportive of the program to date, especially Whistler-Blackcomb. She says special fund-raisers were run this season by Powder Magazine, the World Ski and Snowboard Festival and the Brett Carlson Memorial Fund-raiser, as well as Buttkus and Associates, and the Whistler Lodging Company. More activities are planned this summer.

Winter says another goal is to put the film making skills he's developed through his work as a professional skier to good use with Zero Ceiling. He says a promotional video on the program and its success stories could be an ideal fund-raising tool, especially for the business community.

"We have applied to the Whistler Foundation for money to buy a digital camera for building a Web site so will have to see how that goes. But regardless we have huge plans in regard to movies," he says, declining to reveal more details.

Another possible venture is linking up similar schemes across Canada and coming up with an awards program for disadvantaged youth who are role models in turning their lives around.

Anyone with outdoor summer activities to offer can call Zero Ceiling at 905-4404.