2023-24 Waiver

All members and participants of Orienteering Ottawa activities must sign this waiver once for the orienteering year 2023-24. Age of majority is 18 and over for Ontario and Quebec.

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ORIENTEERING CANADA

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

(To be executed by Participants who are the Age of Majority and older)

WARNING: Please read carefully! By signing this document you will waive certain legal rights including the right to sue.

Participant's First Name* Last Name* Participant's Date of Birth:*

Please agree to step 1 of the adult waiver.

1. This is a binding legal agreement. Clarify any questions or concerns before signing. Prior to participating, an individual who is the age of majority or older and who wants to participate in orienteering and the activities, programs, classes and services provided by, and/or in the events sponsored or organized by Orienteering Canada, and its affiliated Provincial/Territorial Associations and/or Clubs which may include but is not limited to: competitions, events, rogaining, cross country ski events, mountain bike events, training, personal or strength training, dry land training, training using machines or weights, nutritional and dietary programs, orientational or instructional sessions or lessons, and aerobic and anaerobic conditioning programs (collectively the “Activities”) must acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this agreement.

Disclaimer

2. Orienteering Canada, and its affiliated Provincial/Territorial Associations and/or Clubs and their respective Directors, Officers, committee members, members, employees, coaches, volunteers, officials, participants, agents, sponsors, owners/operators of the facilities in which the Activities take place, and representatives (collectively the “Organization”) are not responsible for any injury, personal injury, damage, property damage, expense, loss of income or loss of any kind suffered by a Participant during, or as a result of, the Activities, caused in any manner whatsoever including, but not limited to, the negligence of the Organization.

I have read and agree to be bound by paragraphs 1 and 2

Please agree to step 2 of the adult waiver.

Description and Acknowledgement of Risks

3. I understand and acknowledge that

a) The Activities have foreseeable and unforeseeable inherent risks, hazards and dangers that no amount of care, caution or expertise can eliminate, including without limitation, the potential for serious bodily injury, permanent disability, paralysis and loss of life

b) The Organization may offer or promote online programming (such as webinars, remote conferences, workshops, and online training) which have different foreseeable and unforeseeable risks than in-person programming

c) The Organization has a difficult task to ensure safety and it is not infallible. The Organization may be unaware of my fitness or abilities, may misjudge weather or environmental conditions, may give incomplete warnings or instructions, and the equipment being used might malfunction

d) (COVID-19) The COVID-19 disease has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization and is extremely contagious. The Organization has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, the Organization cannot guarantee that I will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, participating in the Activities could increase my risk of contracting COVID-19

4. I am participating voluntarily in the Activities. In consideration of my participation, I hereby acknowledge that I am aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with or related to the Activities. I understand that the Organization may fail to safeguard or protect me from the risks, dangers and hazards of the Activities, some of which are listed below. The risks, dangers and hazards include, but are not limited to:

a) Health: executing strenuous and demanding physical techniques; physical exertion; overexertion; stretching; dehydration; fatigue; cardiovascular workouts; rapid movements and stops; lack of fitness or conditioning; traumatic injury; sprains and fractures, spinal cord injuries; bacterial infections; rashes; bodily injuries due to landscape terrain; the transmission of communicable diseases, including viruses of all kinds, COVID-19, bacteria, parasites or other organisms or any mutation thereof

b) Premises: terrain hazards which may lead to collisions with trees, rocks, fences, ruins, bridges and man-made objects; falling down cliffs, slopes, gullies, ditches, pits, or depressions; possibly being caught in watercourse hazards or streams, rivers, ponds and lakes; dangerous, unsafe, or irregular conditions on the ground or other surfaces; remoteness of the location and possible inability of rescue services or medical assistance to come easily or quickly; travel to and from the premises

c) Weather: extreme weather conditions such as rain, sleet, hail, or snow which may cause unstable surfaces/footing and/or hypothermia; excessive hot or humid weather which may cause heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and/or disorientation

d) Use of equipment: mechanical failure of the equipment; negligent design or manufacture of the equipment; the provision of or the failure by the Organization to provide any warnings, directions, instructions or guidance as to the use of the equipment; failure to wear safety or protective equipment; and failure to use or operate equipment within my own ability

e) Contact: contact that may lead to serious bodily injury, including but not limited to concussions and/or other brain injury or serious spinal injury; encounters with aggressive wildlife such as bears, coyotes, dogs, elk, deer, moose, snakes or wasps, which could result in injury; encounters with plants that produce allergic reactions

f) Advice: negligent advice regarding the Activities

g) Ability: failing to act safely or within my own ability or within designated areas

h) Cyber: privacy breaches; hacking; and technology malfunction or damage

i) Conduct: my conduct and conduct of other persons including any physical altercation between participants

j) Travel: travel to and from the Activities

k) Negligence: my negligence and negligence of other persons, including NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION, which may increase the risk of damage, loss, personal injury or death

I have read and agree to be bound by paragraphs 3 and 4

Please agree to step 3 of the adult waiver.

Terms

5. In consideration of the Organization allowing me to participate in the Activities, I agree:

a) That when I practice or train in my own space, I am responsible for my surroundings and the location and equipment that I select

b) That my mental and physical condition is appropriate to participate in the Activities and I assume all risks related to my mental and physical condition

c) To comply with the rules and regulations for participation in the Activities

d) To comply with the rules of the facility or equipment

e) That if I observe an unusual significant hazard or risk, I will remove myself from participation and bring my observations to a representative of the Organization immediately

f) The risks associated with the Activities are increased when I am impaired and I will not participate if impaired in any way

g) That it is my sole responsibility to assess whether any Activities are too difficult for me. By commencing an Activity, I acknowledge and accept the suitability and conditions of the Activity

h) That I am responsible for my choice of safety or protective equipment and the secure fitting of that equipment

i) (COVID-19) That COVID-19 is contagious in nature and I may be exposed to, or infected by, COVID-19 and such exposure may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, or death

Release of Liability and Disclaimer

6. In consideration of the Organization allowing me to participate, I agree:

a) That the sole responsibility for my safety remains with me

b) To ASSUME all risks arising out of, associated with or related to my participation

c) That I am not relying on any oral or written statements made by the Organization or its agents, whether in a brochure or advertisement or in individual conversations, to agree to participate in the Activities

d) To WAIVE any and all claims that I may have now or in the future against the Organization

e) To freely ACCEPT AND FULLY ASSUME all such risks and possibility of personal injury, death, property damage, expense and related loss, including loss of income, resulting from my participation in the Activities

f) To FOREVER RELEASE and INDEMNIFY the Organization from any and all liability for any and all claims, demands, actions, damages including direct, indirect, special and/or consequential), losses, actions, judgments, and costs (including legal fees) (collectively, the “Claims”) which I have or may have in the future, that might arise out of, result from, or relate to my participation in the Activities, even though such Claims may have been caused by any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to, the negligence, gross negligence, negligent rescue, omissions, carelessness, breach of contract and/or breach of any statutory duty of care of the Organization

g) To FOREVER RELEASE AND INDEMNIFY the Organization from any action related to my becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 as a result of, or from, any action, omission or negligence of myself or others, including but not limited to the Organization

h) That the Organization is not responsible or liable for any damage to my vehicle, property, or equipment that may occur as a result of the Activities

i) That negligence includes failure on the part of the Organization to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect me from the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the Activities

j) This release, waiver and indemnity agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by law of the Province of Alberta and if any portion thereof is held invalid, the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect

Jurisdiction

7. I agree that in the event that I file a lawsuit against the Organization, I will do so solely in the Province of Alberta and further agree that the substantive law of the Province of Alberta will apply without regard to conflict of law rules.

I have read and agree to be bound by paragraphs 5 to 7