Membership

Join

Why join the Alpine Club of Canada Toronto Section?

  • Participate in club activities, ranging from rock-climbing days at local crags to mountaineering expeditions. In the winter, section trips explore the many ice-climbing and back-country ski areas within a day’s drive of Toronto. Many climbers learn through participation in section trips and gain the ability needed to go out on their own. Special nights at local climbing gyms and social get-togethers are also amongst the section’s offerings.
  • Benefit from members’ rates at our cabin (including boat service) at Bon Echo, where a granite cliff 100m high and almost 2km long rises out of the water at Lake Mazinaw.
  • Benefit from members’ rates at the Montreal Section’s cabin in the Adirondacks.
  • Enjoy our semi-annual newsletter.
  • Support our Access Committee, which is working to maintain good relationships with land-owners and preserve climbing rights throughout Southern Ontario.

As a member of Toronto Section, you’ll automatically become a member of the national club; Alpine Club of Canada. Members of the national club have the following benefits:

  • Participation in the National Club’s ski and climbing camps in western Canada
  • The National Club’s quarterly newsletter
  • Liability insurance for club events
  • Members’ rates at the club’s hostel in Lake Louise
  • UIAA affiliation
  • The annual Canadian Alpine Journal, one of the world’s best alpine journals, at preferential rates
  • As an option, advance booking privileges and members’ rates at the hut system out west, including the Canmore clubhouse.

To join the Toronto Section of the Alpine Club of Canada, you must join through the National Club. The Alpine Club of Canada’s application form will ask which section of the club you wish to be affiliated.

If you would like further information, please contact the Toronto Section’s membership coordinator, at membership@alpineclubtoronto.ca. You will also find more information on membership at the National Club website.

For your convenience, new memberships or membership renewals can be completed by following the link below:

On-line new membership or renewal

Volunteer

Volunteers are the life-blood of the Alpine Club of Canada Toronto Section. Without our great volunteers we wouldn’t have memorable Bon Echo weekends, the inspiring Banff Mountain Film Festival, and especially all the local events in both the summer and winter that everyone loves.

No matter how experienced you are, no matter whether you can tell a figure-eight from a dulfersitz, we can use all types of volunteers.

How You Can Help

  • Lead a trip. You don’t need to lead 5.11 trad to take a group out for the day. The Activities coordinators can help you connect with knowledgeable keeners like you to get a group out for the day or the weekend.
  • Take tickets, be an usher, and more at the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. Held each year in March at the Bloor Cinema, we always need hands to help out deliver this world-class film festival.
  • Join the Executive. Would you be interested in being considered for any of the Executive positions as they become available? Let us know, and the Executive will keep you in mind for the future.
  • Lend a hand. Have a particular skill that might be handy (i.e. hiker, photographer, web programmer, first aid instructor, bake-sale organizer, etc)? Let us know and we’ll be sure to try to put you to use.
  • Anything else… The ACC Toronto section is an open and flexible organization. If you have any ideas or comments on how to volunteer, don’t hesitate to let us know. Many hands make light work…

If you are interested in Volunteering with the ACC Toronto Section, either join the mailing list! or send a direct email to the Membership Coordinator.

FAQ

What if I can't climb?

You don’t need to have the technical skills to set up top ropes or lead climb to organize a group, provided you convince someone who does have the skills to participate. The Activities coordinators can always help connect you with others.

Does my trip have to be climbing?

No, there are many alpine activities and skills that are not specifically vertically oriented such as hiking, navigation, snowshoeing, pub nights, cross-country skiing, first aid, etc.

Do I have to use my own gear?

The club owns ropes, anchor gear, and Gri Gris that you can use for your event. Participants will have to provide their own helmets (MANDATORY), harnesses, shoes, trad gear, etc.

How do I unsubscribe from your newsletter?

You can unsubscribe from the Volunteer emails at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email, or emailing the Membership Coordinator directly.

You can unsubscribe from the Volunteer emails at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email, or emailing the Membership Coordinator directly.

I haven't heard back from anyone regarding volunteering

All of the ACC Toronto section members and Executive are volunteers themselves, with busy lives and (usually) jobs to pay the bills. Have some patience, it’s unlikely whomever you’re trying to contact is purposefully ignoring you. Consider sending additional emails, or approach them nicely at a Pub Night or other ACC events.