Cancellation Policy

If you have to cancel your course, please let us know as soon as possible.

We calculate the following fees as of the date we receive your written cancellation notice by email.

If you cancel more than 60 days from your course start date:

• For any course other than a ‘5-day Wilderness First Responder’ or ‘2-day Wilderness First Aid’—you’ll get a full refund of all funds that you have paid minus a $95 registration fee.

• For medical course where you opted to have the textbook mailed to you in advance, if it’s already been sent out, you’ll get a full refund minus $145 ($95 registration + $45 textbook and shipping).

This is the case for any the 2-day Wilderness First Aid, because we ship you the course textbook as soon as you register.

If you cancel 60 days or less but more than 14 days before your course start date:

• You get a 100% refund of additional lodging and equipment rental fees that you have paid
• You get a 50% refund of course fees

If you cancel 14 days or less before your course start date:

• We do not provide refunds for cancellations 14 days or less before the start of a course.

Course cancelled by Boreal River Rescue:

If a course has to be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control (i.e., flood, pandemic) then we give you a spot on another date and location of the same course, or a full credit to use towards any of our other courses.

Boreal River is not responsible for expenses incurred by students in preparing for a cancelled course (for example non-refundable advance purchase plane tickets, visa fees, inoculations, equipment etc. or for any additional arrangements for other travel plans associated with this course). 

For courses run by one of Boreal River Rescue’s training partners:

See the cancellation policy included in the Info Pack for your specific course or contact the Course Organizer directly.

For group courses / private courses:

When we partner with you to provide training for your group, we’ll discuss the details for your course including:

• your training goals
• course location options
• numbers
• dates
• what’s included and equipment needs
• and more…

Next we send you a detailed proposal that includes payment and cancellation terms. We discuss these and we are flexible so that the whole process works well for your organization or group.

Once we agree to dates and you give us the go ahead to start planning, we send you a Course Agreement to read over, sign and return.

Please contact us if you have any questions and to discuss options.

How to enroll for your course

Booking your course with Boreal River is simple. Just call 1 866 242 9383 to speak with us or reserve your course on the web through our online booking system.

If you’re not sure if a particular course is right for you or you’re looking for more information, let us know and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Payment

Payment can be made by credit card, email transfer (within Canada), wire transfer, or cheque.

For courses in North America: you pay the full tuition for your course when you register.

For Costa Rica courses: you can pay a 25% deposit if it is more than 120 days from the course start date to reserve your spot and then the remaining balance 120 days from the course start date. If you are enrolling with less than 120 days to go before your course starts—you pay the full cost when you register.

Pricing, currency & taxes

All Canadian courses are priced in Canadian dollars. Boreal River charges in Canadian dollars and it is your credit card company or bank who determines your exchange rate on the day your transaction takes place. Pricing is subject to change.

For all courses in Canada, you’ll pay federal sales tax. The federal tax called the GST (Goods and Services Tax) is 5%. There will be provincial sales tax that you will pay depending on the province where the course is taking place. The taxes will be well indicated and itemized throughout your online checkout and on your invoice and receipt.

All Costa Rica courses and all adventure trips outside of Canada are priced in US dollars.

For Costa Rica courses, you will not be charged any additional tax.

Course preparation

Once you have registered for a course, we’ll send you a confirmation email and an Info Pack. The Info Pack is a detailed document that includes everything that you will need to prepare for your course including a course outline, packing list, directions and meeting times.

Our courses are accessible and inclusive

Boreal River prides itself on having some of the most accessible courses in the industry and we strive to accommodate all students. So if you’re unsure, please contact us and we’ll discuss how we can make the course work for you.

Flexibility

You must also acknowledge that training with Boreal River requires a degree of flexibility and understanding that the course sites, itinerary, accommodation and modes of transport are subject to change without prior notice due to local circumstances. While training with Boreal River Rescue you agree to accept the authority of the instructor at all times. You need to be aware that group training may involve compromise to accommodate the diverse desires and abilities of group members. 

Your safety

One thing you’ll learn on any rescue course with us is that your own safety as a rescuer should always come before anybody else’s. That is true during a real-life rescue, and it is also the case during your training—so throughout your course with us, please prioritize your own safety.

Although no previous experience is required on many of our courses, as with any outdoor activity, there is always an element of risk. Your instructors will do everything they can to run the course securely, however you are ultimately responsible for your own safety.

If you have an injury, illness, or disability that you think is relevant and may affect your safety on the course or that of the group, please let us know. As we are not able to evaluate your level of fitness beforehand, we ask that you (possibly along with your doctor) determine whether or not you are able to join one of our courses. If you have any medical conditions, we encourage you to check with your doctor before you reserve your course. 

Risk acknowledgement / Liability Release forms

Each student is required to read and fill out a Liability Release and Indemnity Agreement. The Liability Release and Indemnity Agreement is different for medical, rescue, and Costa Rica courses. You will have a chance to read it before you sign. If you’d like to see the form in advance, please contact us and we’ll email you a copy.

Passports and visas

You must carry a valid passport and/or necessary documentation and have obtained the appropriate visas when on a course with Boreal River. If you are coming from outside of the country where the course is taking place, please ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas for your travels. Boreal River Rescue does not accept responsibility if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct documentation or the authorities deem you unsuitable for entry.

Storage of personal information

Due to the nature of our services, it is necessary to collect and store a certain amount of personal information. By providing us with your address and personal information, you consent to the storage of this information for a period of time deemed appropriate by Boreal River Rescue. We aim to permanently delete any of your personal medical information within 2 weeks after the end of the course. We keep some personal information such as your name, phone number, email address and billing address in our database unless specifically requested to remove it.

Privacy policy

Boreal River Rescue occasionally sends out an e-newsletter and occasional industry-specific news that we think you’ll want to hear about. We will NEVER share your email address with any third-party company (unless it is for the purpose of coordinating course logistics, for example booking train tickets). You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing or clicking on the links in newsletters. For more information please feel free to call us at 1 866 242 9383 or email us at info@borealriver.com.

Photographic release

Boreal River Rescue reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any of its courses. Course participants should be aware that Boreal River Rescue may use these photos or film for promotional and or commercial purposes without remuneration to the course participants.