‘She lived big’: Calgary teacher killed in Kananaskis avalanche remembered for adventurous life

A young Calgary teacher who was swept to her death in an avalanche west of the city last week lived a rich and adventurous life — it’s something her lifelong friend will miss as she goes on without her.

“She lived big and made the most of every moment,” says Emily King-Moore. “I think it’s an important lesson to take.”

Minetta Norrie was easy to befriend and, back in Grade 5, King-Moore and Norrie forged a kinship that would last more than two decades.

It was tragically cut short last week when Norrie, a 34-year-old Calgary Board of Education elementary school teacher, was killed in an avalanche while back country skiing in Kananaskis’ Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

“I think we’re all kind of shell shocked by this,” says King-Moore. “It doesn’t feel possible, she was the most alive person we knew.”

King-Moore says her longtime friend excelled in hiking and camping, and worked as a rafting guide. She also had a strong passion for back country skiing.

“(Minetta) not only loved nature, she was an unstoppable force of nature,” King-Moore says. “She was kind of raised by a really adventurous family.”

Norrie leaves behind her parents, two brothers, many friends and beloved students, and according to King-Moore, she pushed many who knew her to live life to the fullest.

“She deserves to be known as more than ’34-year-old Calgary woman’ because she was incredible,” says King-Moore. “She was vivacious, and energetic and unforgettable. She was always the loudest person in the room.”

RCMP said four people were skiing when the avalanche happened and Norrie was carried a distance before she was buried in the snow.

After an SOS beacon notified first responders, helicopters retrieved her and brought her to paramedics where she was pronounced dead. No other injuries were reported among the group.

Norrie’s family have asked that any donations in her memory be made to Education Matters.

Officials warn of dangerous conditions in wake of 2 fatal slides

A separate avalanche killed another skier outside the boundaries of Lake Louise Ski Resort last Friday. That slide happened about 20 minutes before the one in Kananaskis that claimed Norrie’s life.

Avalanche Canada officials are asking people heading into the backcountry to be prepared in light of the two deadly incidents west of Calgary,

A senior forecaster with the organization says the current avalanche rating is ‘considerable’ through the mountain parks, B.C. Interior and South Rockies.

“Considerable means dangerous avalanche conditions and careful snowpack evaluations,” says Mark Bender, adding that those heading out should exercise caution when picking routes and use conservative decision making.

“That just means that folks should stick to low angle terrain, meaning in around 25 degrees or less, and avoid being exposed to avalanche areas that might be above,” he says.

Bender recommends checking the Avalanche Canada website for the latest conditions before heading out.