RiverWatch Service Provider Assessment

RiverWatch directors receive the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence presented by Prime Minister Jean Chretien

School and school board administrators ask a variety of questions when they evaluate any service provider offering educational programs to students. The RiverWatch Science Program is pleased to highlight a sampling of these assessment questions and answers.

What company offers this educational activity?

The RiverWatch Science Program began in 1995 and is managed by the not-for-profit company Beyond Books Institute of Alberta.

How is the company structured?

The Beyond Books Institute of Alberta is a not-for-profit company incorporated under Part IX of the Alberta Companies Act. "RiverWatch" is a trade name filed with the Registrar of Corporations of Alberta.

Beyond Books is managed by a three-member board of directors that also act as the officers of the company. The company hires an office manager and ten seasonal interpretive raft guides.

Management

Guides Qualifications

What affiliations does this company have?

RiverWatch is an independent program and is no way an employee, agent or connected with any school board other than to sign Service Provider Master Agreement #004 with the Calgary Board of Education.

From time to time, RiverWatch does enter into formal and informal partnerships for the benefit of students.

This web site was sponsored by the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, the Eastern Irrigation District and EPCOR

The program has a home base kindly provided at the Alberta Environment Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery in Calgary and at the City of Edmonton Goldbar Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The staff of wastewater treatment plants welcome students in towns and cities across central and southern Alberta during tours of their facilities as part of the RiverWatch Program.

Government, foundation and corporate sponsors have stepped forward to fund equipment purchases and the development of this web site.

Sponsors

Is the company insured for general liability?

Beyond Books maintains full general liability insurance on behalf of student participants. Vehicles, equipment, directors, shareholders and employees are also fully insured.

Are students or parents required to sign a waiver of liability form?

RiverWatch operates under the principle of "informed consent" as granted by a permission form signed by parents and students. At no time are students or parents asked to sign a waiver of liability. Only adult supervisors participating on the trip are required to sign a waiver.

Permission Form

Adult Supervisor Waiver

Does the service provider indemnify the School Board from liability costs?

The Service Provider Master Agreement #004 with the Calgary Board of Education states that Beyond Books "accepts to fully indemnify the Board…from any liability, claims, losses, damages or costs which may be incurred by the students, the parents, or employees of the Board…"