Erin Touchie, Outgoing Atlantic TEC Representative
We extend our sincere thanks to Erin Touchie for her dedication and contributions in her role as Atlantic Representative on the Technical Education Committee (TEC). Erin began her term in 2021 and wrapped up her time on the committee at the end of April.
The TEC is a standing committee established by the CSIA National Board. The committee plays a central role in shaping and refining ski technique, teaching methodology, educational programming, as well as the certification system. It also supports the ongoing development of national standards and contributes to the continued growth of the CSIA.
We recently spoke with Erin about her role and experiences.
Having the responsibility of representing the Atlantic Region on the Technical Education Committee (TEC) has been an absolutely amazing experience and reinvigorated my passion for teaching skiing. Next year (2027) will be my 25th year teaching skiing and the 5 years I had the privilege to spend on the Committee will have certainly been a highlight. When I started teaching skiing, I had no idea how much it would change my life. I have made many new friends, met my husband, and changed career paths to become a school teacher in New Brunswick. I now teach skiing on weekends at Wentworth. Every winter I look forward to each lesson, every training session, training new instructors in a Level 1 course, and all the times I get to stand with other instructors at a lesson lineup. Teaching skiing has given me so much; I am grateful to have been given the chance to give back to the CSIA these last 5 years by being a part of the amazing Technical Education Committee.
Looking back on your time with the TEC, which projects or initiatives have been your favourites to work on, and why?
Serving as the chair of the committee was definitely a highlight, I passed the role over to Guy Dale in May 2025.
Working on the rubric project has been a high point of my time on the TEC. A rubric is a guide used to help course conductors evaluate the ability of the candidates.
We also had a teaching children sub-committee this year. It was great working with experienced course conductors who were going out and teaching children every week. Members of the TEC showed their dedication by working to create something for the members and showed that you are never too old, or too highly certified, to teach kids.
How has your experience serving on the TEC shaped the way you teach lessons or engage with clients?
The TEC gave me a new way to think about teaching. Along with always trying to meet my students’ goals and improve myself, I was constantly thinking about the TEC and projects that were ongoing and how does this experience help me with those projects. While teaching the public or staff training, I always had something the TEC was working on that I could use/think about in this lesson.
What would you say to others who are considering volunteering on a national committee?
If you think you have something to offer, you can volunteer. Volunteers are the heart of the CSIA. We are a member’s organization, it belongs to all of us. Being able to give back to the organization that has given me so much, it has been a huge honour. Be aware you will need to give a lot of your time. You will work with other volunteers and CSIA paid staff who will all have their own points of view. The organization, much like this country, is big. Meeting times can be at odd hours for us in the Atlantic; you do get to travel for some meetings, but not always so you can ski. Volunteering isn’t for everyone, it takes patience above all. Change doesn’t come easy, it takes lots of hard-working people using open dialog and giving kindness and respect to everyone at all times.
Thank you CSIA Atlantic for having me as your member on the CSIA Technical Education Committee. It was a pleasure and an honour.
Thank you again Erin, for your commitment and leadership on the Technical Education Committee (TEC). We wish you continued success and all the best in your future endeavours.
We also look forward to introducing our new Atlantic Representative next month.