Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) Ombuds Office (Ombuds Office)
The Ombuds Office helps members of the CSIA community to resolve concerns and complaints related to CSIA policies, procedures, rules, and administrative decisions. The Ombuds Office promotes a fair, equitable, inclusive, and respectful culture for the CSIA community.
Any member of the CSIA community can use the ombuds service, including employees, course conductors, members, and volunteers. Services are provided in English and in French.
The Ombuds Office is independent, confidential, impartial, and accountable. Click here to read more about our purpose and scope of services.
We present annually to the CSIA Board of Directors, as well as posting regularly on the CSIA Communique and hosting webinars:
- 2024 Annual Report – CSIA Ombuds Office
- CSIA Code of conduct and complaints webinar (January 16, 2025 YouTube video)
We are an office of last resort, which means that in most cases you will need to try to address your concerns directly with CSIA before we will become involved. Click here to read the CSIA Code of Conduct & Resolution Process.
Click here to fill in our intake form and speak to a member of the Ombuds office team.
If you are unable to use this form, you can also contact us by phone: 1-800-811-6428 ext.113 (messages only, no live answer) or email:
What we can do
- Provide information, advice, coaching, and/or referrals to resolve complaints or issues
- Facilitate discussions or act as a mediator to resolve concerns or complaints
- Conduct independent and impartial fact-finding /investigations
- Make individual or systemic formal recommendations to address fairness issues
- Report to the CSIA community about our services and recommendations
What we cannot do
- Provide legal advice or act as your advocate or representative
- Reverse a decision of CSIA, make decisions on behalf of CSIA, or award compensation
- Intervene if you have not exhausted all internal processes or an internal process is ongoing
- Intervention/case review is not possible when the community member has already exercised recourse before a court or an administrative tribunal or formal notice
Who we are
Julie Boncompain, Brent Epperson, and Heather McGhee Peggs are the CSIA Ombuds. We are professional ombuds and the founding members of JustEquitable Inc. We bring to this role extensive experience in dispute resolution and conflict coaching, including facilitation, training, mediation, restorative practices, and investigation. We listen, collaborate, and think creatively about how to prevent and resolve conflict and complaints.
Our work as ombuds aligns with internationally accepted ombuds best practices and principles, including:
- Independence: The Ombuds operates independently from the organization; we are not aligned with CSIA management or any business or operational unit.
- Impartiality: The Ombuds does not take sides or advocate for one party or another. The Ombuds advocates for and promotes fairness. The Ombuds reviews issues objectively.
- Confidentiality: The Ombuds offers a place to discuss issues ‘off the record’. Unless we have your permission to disclose an issue, or there is a risk of harm to self or others, we will keep all information confidential. Our records are not accessible by anyone within CSIA.
- Informality: The Ombuds operates informally whenever possible to resolve concerns. The Ombuds will decline to participate in formal processes related to concerns brought to its attention.
