2022 KCP 20th Anniversary Fall Gathering - Registration closes Sept. 12!

September 23-24, Creston

KCP is excited to host a celebration of 20 years of partnership for the Kootenay Conservation Program! This event will showcase the achievements of KCP partner organizations in the past 20 years in conservation in the Kootenays in private land securement, landscape connectivity, local conservation funds and much more. It has been a few years since the KCP Fall Gathering has taken place in person and it will be an excellent opportunity to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region. Guest speakers will provide insights on looking forward into the next 20 years and preparing for conservation. The draft agenda can be viewed at the link below. Registration closes September 12. If you register for the Field Tour, we will confirm your spot by September 16.

Click here for the agenda and to register.

KCP applauds RDCK’s Local Conservation Fund effort

Slocan Valley residents will decide through referendum

The Kootenay Conservation Program congratulates the Regional District of Central Kootenay for its strong commitment to protecting our natural heritage through the proposed expansion of the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund. Residents of the Slocan Valley will now decide whether they share this commitment by voting on this service on October 15, 2022 through referendum.

Click here to read more. 

Local Conservation Fund Referendum in RDCK Area H 

Upcoming Information Sessions hosted by KCP, FAQ and short video available on KCP website

Before heading to the polls on October 15 to decide by referendum if they want to establish a Local Conservation Fund service for their Area that will support clean water, wildlife, and habitats, Slocan Valley residents in Area H of the Regional District of Central Kootenay can learn more by attending one of four information sessions hosted by the Kootenay Conservation Program. The Information Sessions are taking place in person on Saturday, October 1 from 3 - 4 pm in Crescent Valley at the Crescent Valley Hall, on Monday, October 3 from 7 - 8 pm in Winlaw at the Winlaw Hall, and on Tuesday, October 4 from 7 - 8 pm in New Denver at the Bosun Hall. For those who prefer to attend a Virtual Session, join KCP on Zoom on Wednesday, September 27 from 7 - 8 pm. Registration is required for the Virtual Session. KCP has also compiled an FAQ and 3-minute video that are available on a new Referendum webpage on the KCP website. 

Click here for the Referendum webpage and to register for the Virtual Session.

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund - Call for proposals now open! 

Deadline: October 28, 2022  

KCP in partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) provides funding for projects that benefit conservation in the area from Spillimacheen to Canal Flats through the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF). Read the announcement here. The closing date for project submissions is 4:30 pm MT October 28, 2022.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund - Call for proposals now open! 

Deadline: October 28, 2022

KCP in partnership with the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) provides funding for projects that benefit conservation in the rural areas around Kootenay Lake, specifically Electoral Areas A, D, and E (view the map) within the RDCK through the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund (KLLCF). Read the announcement here. The closing date for project submissions is 4:30 pm PDT October 28, 2022.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Regional District of Central Kootenay

Local Conservation Fund in the Slocan Valley

Slocan Valley residents heading to the local government election polls this fall will be asked to vote on a new parcel tax to protect local conservation values. The Regional District of Central Kootenay’s (RDCK) electoral area H will decide whether to establish a Local Conservation Fund. These funds put money into the hands of local organizations to help protect and conserve what residents value, from water quality to wildlife habitat and more.

Click here for the full Wildsight news article.

Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society

Western Toadlets spotted at Harrop Wetland

Volunteers and staff have been monitoring Harrop Wetland each week to keep an eye on Western Toads, their breeding success, and survival. During a regular monitoring visit, staff observed around 20,000 Western Toadlets at the wetland. Since 2013, FoKLSS has been working with the Harrop community and local experts to restore this wetland with the goal of increasing water retention to improve the breeding success of Western Toads. The 2022 Harrop Wetland Enhancement Project received funding from the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund.

Click here to read the full announcement.

Lower Kootenay Band and B.C. Wildlife Federation

Watershed renewal project at B.C. First Nation bearing fruit as wildlife returning

A collaboration between the Lower Kootenay Band and the B.C. Wildlife Federation (BCWF), the Yaqan Nukiy Wetlands Project was hatched to restore the area’s natural function as a floodplain and a habitat for moose, elk, grizzly bears, mule deer, waterfowl and fish, such as sturgeon and burbot. Just five years into the project, and the sandhill cranes and blue herons have already returned, Western painted turtles have turned up, and brown bats have begun to patrol the skies. Norm Allard with the Lower Kootenay Band and Neil Fletcher with the B.C. Wildlife Federation contributed the following article to the Globe & Mail, which can be read on the Coastal News Today website without needing a G&M subscription.

Click here for the article.

Living Lakes Canada

Three more lakes surveyed, high elevation monitoring and citizen science project kicks off in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park

Arrow Lakes, Trout Lake and St. Mary's Lake were the final lakes to be surveyed this summer as part of the Living Lakes Canada Foreshore Inventory Management Planning Columbia Basin Aquatic Species at Risk project. In other regional news, Living Lakes Canada’s High Elevation Monitoring Program has begun monitoring in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park to better understand climate impacts on water quantity and quality in this pilot study area. Additionally, anyone heading into the park is invited to get involved by helping create an inventory of plant and animal species using the iNaturalist app.

Click here for the FIMP announcement and here for details on the High Elevation Monitoring and citizen science project.

Government of BC

Wildlife fencing project to go ahead near Sparwood

Four km of wildlife fencing will be installed along Hwy. 3, east of Sparwood as part of a multi-phased project to keep people and wildlife safe from collisions. The project is phase one of the ‘Reconnecting the Rockies’ project, which is a six-phase project to develop underpasses and overpasses along Hwy. 3, connected by fencing that directs wildlife to the safer crossings. Similar projects have been shown to reduce collision with wildlife by between 80 and 90 percent, according to a release from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on Wednesday August 17.

Click here for the full news article.

Lake Windermere Ambassadors

2021 Lake Windermere Water Quality Report released

Findings from the 2021 Lake Windermere Ambassadors’ Community-Based Water Monitoring and Citizen-Science Education program show that Lake Windermere’s water quality supports aquatic life and recreation. Findings include: the annual aquatic plant survey found no invasive species in Lake Windermere for the eleventh year of sampling. While overall, there is a healthy abundance of vegetation throughout the lake, there were a couple of sites of concern that saw less healthy vegetation, mainly where sites saw higher boat traffic. The newly developed waterbird survey protocol and the investigative report found 18 species observed, 889 individuals, with several of them being rare sightings and species at risk.

Click here for the Executive Summary and full report.

Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology

Researchers’ Forum call for presentations Is now open

CMI’s Researchers’ Forum is coming to Radium Hot Springs this fall, and the call for presentations is open. For anyone interested in offering a 5, 10 or 15 minute presentation, bringing a poster, or leading a local field trip, please check out the submission guidelines. Please submit all presentation and field trip ideas to office@cmiae.org by September 12.

Click here for more details and to submit your proposal.

BC Wildlife Federation

Wetlandkeepers 2022: The Kootenays

From June 1st to 12th, the Wetlands Education Program (WEP) team ventured to the Kootenays for the first Wetlandkeeper workshops of the summer. The focus of these workshops was to provide participants with a working knowledge of wetlands and to understand their undeniable value.

Click here to read more.

BC Protected Areas Research Forum

Call for Proposals

BC Protected Areas Research Forum (BC PARF) is a partnership between the research community, and regional, provincial and federal park governing agencies. The BC PARF Research Forum brings together researchers, advocates, managers, and community members who create, share, and use research for parks and protected areas management in British Columbia. This year’s forum takes place in Nanaimo December 12-14 and keynote speakers are Chief Roland Willson and Naomi Owens-Beek on Indigenous Led Conservation: Saving the Threatened Klinse-Za Caribou Herd. Submissions are due by September 15.

Click here for more information.

QGIS Level I & II: Remote Attendance

Online, dates arranged by you and the instructor

The free, open source QGIS program is used and supported by a world-wide array of developers. Learn how to use this program to produce maps from public databases and your own knowledge. In a hands-on environment, students will load basic maps, add lines, shapes, overlay images, create contour maps, add labels and produce high quality maps for print or digital presentation. This popular course continues to receive great reviews from students. Hosted by Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology. 

Click here to learn more and register.

2nd Annual National Lake Blitz

Until September 31, Lakes everywhere

From May to September, Living Lakes Canada is hosting the National Lake Blitz, an entry-level citizen science program whereby volunteers were sent easy-to-use kits to monitor the lake of their choice. Currently 340 volunteers are monitoring lakes across Canada and all data collected is being shared in an online Lake Observation Map.

Click here for more information and to view the map.

Ecosystem Enhancement and Restoration Project Ideas Workshop

September 7 • 8, Online

The Ecosystem Enhancement Program aims to maintain and improve ecological health and native biodiversity in a variety of ecosystems by supporting landscape-scale ecosystem restoration and enhancement projects across the Basin. The Trust is hosting two Basin-wide, community discussions to review and seek input on the submitted projects ideas that could be supported through the Program. On Wednesday, September 7, the first workshop will run from 9-11 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. - 12 noon MT. On Thursday, September 8 the second workshop will run from 1-3 p.m. PT / 2-4 p.m. MT. Your input is important and will help inform which projects could be implemented. Registration is required so you can be provided with the project ideas received and review them prior to the meeting.

Click here to register for September 7 and here to register for September 8.

Harrop Wetland Community Meeting

September 8, Online

The Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society will be hosting a webinar on September 8th from 7-8 p.m. PT to go over their Harrop Wetland Enhancement Project and plans for 2022. In this webinar, they will be covering the history of the Harrop Wetland Project, their monitoring goals for 2022, what can be expected at the wetland during the construction phase, and different volunteer opportunities to get involved with restoration efforts.

Click here for more information and to register.

Columbia Salmon Festival

September 10, Invermere

Join the Shuswap Band on Saturday, September 10 for a full-day of honouring Columbia River salmon and learning about salmon reintroduction. The festival will take place at James Chabot Provincial Park in Invermere starting with a canoe brigade arriving at the beach at 10 a.m. MT. The day will include numerous presentations, demonstrations, drumming, vendors and more. A free meal for the public will be served at 3 p.m. and the day will wrap-up by 5 p.m. This will be the first time the festival has been held since Covid. Watch for updates on the festival Facebook page.

Click here for the festival Facebook page.

Meadow Creek Spawning Channel Open House

September 10, Meadow Creek (north end of Kootenay Lake)

Meadow Creek Spawning Channel Open House is back this September. View the spawning kokanee, talk to biologists, learn about the Nutrient Restoration Program in Kootenay Lake, and about co-existing with grizzly bears. Hosted by the FWCP and the Ministry of Forests. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT.

Click here for the FWCP event page.

Bioblitz

September 11, near New Denver

The second of two bioblitz field trips this summer hosted by Neighbours United. Join your neighbours to learn about the threatened ecosystems and identify plants and animals at risk in the West Kootenays. Meet at 11 am PT. At the proposed Zincton Resort Development, home to animals like the Selkirk caribou, Northern goshawks, and western toad.

Click here for details and to register.

Field Days: Riparian Management on Farmland

September 13, Grand Forks • September 14, Winlaw • September 15, Skookumchuck

Lee Hesketh of the Farmland Riparian Interface Stewardship Program (FRISP) and Gregoire Lamoureux of the Slocan Streamkeepers will inspire producers about simple solutions to protect their streambanks, protect land from erosion and identify sources of funding. 

Click here to learn more and register.

Ed Struzik – The Future of Fire

September 17, Invermere

Fires are burning bigger, hotter and with increasing frequency as the climate warms. A doubling of wildfire activity is expected by the end of this century. In this presentation, author Ed Struzik describes the many mistakes that have been made in managing fire in the past and what we can do in the future to mitigate the damage, and use fire in some cases, to our advantage. This event is part of the Fire & Ice series hosted by Wildsight Invermere.

Click here for more details and to register.

B.C. Wildlife Federation's Wetlands Institute

September 19-25, Grand Forks/Slocan Valley/Trail

This 7-day environmental stewardship workshop covers a wide variety of topics including wetland classification, hands-on techniques in planning, constructing, and restoring wetlands while providing a network of individuals who will help you successfully complete your local conservation project(s). Participants are expected to come to the course with a wetland or watershed-related project or program that they wish to implement in their community or have a high likelihood to initiate a project/program in the future. Registration has closed. 

Click here for more information.

2022 KCP Fall Gathering – Registration now open!

September 23-24, Creston

KCP is excited to host a celebration of 20 years of partnership for the Kootenay Conservation Program! This event will showcase the achievements of KCP partner organizations in the past 20 years in conservation in the Kootenays in private land securement, landscape connectivity, local conservation funds and much more. It has been a few years since the KCP Fall Gathering has taken place in person and it will be an excellent opportunity to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region. Guest speakers will provide insights on looking forward into the next 20 years and preparing for conservation. The draft agenda can be viewed at the link below. 

Click here for more information and to register.

Fungal Ecology: Beyond Decomposition

September 23-24, Revelstoke

This is a 1.5-day workshop with Tyson Ehlers and Robert Macrae. The course will inspire appreciation for fungi, while providing practical identification and collection techniques. It'll be an expanded version of the popular workshop we delivered in 2019 that filled very quickly, so be sure to register right away.

Click here for more information and to register.

Climate Change and Watershed Security

September 27, Radium Hot Springs

Living Lakes Canada is delivering an evening presentation as part of Wildsight’s Fire & Ice series. This presentation will explore how climate change is challenging stable water supply and impacting the ecosystems upon which humans and animals depend. Join on September 27th from 7-8 p.m. MT in Radium Hot Springs to investigate the state of water data and water monitoring in the Columbia Basin.

Click here for more details and to register.

Local Conservation Fund Area H Referendum: Information Sessions

September 27, Online • October 1, Crescent Valley • October 3, Winlaw • October 4, New Denver

Slocan Valley residents in Area H of the Regional District of Central Kootenay will have the opportunity on October 15 to decide by referendum if they want to establish a Local Conservation Fund service for their Area that will support clean water, wildlife, and habitats. 

Before heading to the polls, residents can learn more by attending one of four information sessions hosted by the Kootenay Conservation Program. The Information Sessions will cover LCFs, how they work, what they mean for landowners, and examples of successful LCFs in the West and East Kootenays. Registration is required for the Virtual Session.

Click here for details and to register for the Virtual Session.

Every Child Matters 2022-2023 Year-Long Learning Challenge

Starting October 2022, 10 monthly modules

CBEEN acknowledges that Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives are foundational to environmental education, and that we cannot engage in this without undertaking a learning journey towards Truth and Reconciliation. From October 2022 - June 2023, they invite you to join them on this 4 Seasons of Reconciliation learning challenge in partnership with Rocky Mountain School District 6, the First Nations University of Canada and Reconciliation Education. Through this partnership CBEEN is pleased to offer an anti-racist learning opportunity that aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.

Click here for more information and to register.

Planting an ecologically focused garden - Save the Date!

October 1, Castlegar

This is a public workshop with Bren Beckwith (KinSeed Ecologies) and Laurie Carr (Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society) on Saturday, October 1 taking place at the Kootenay Gallery of Art in Castlegar. Time is TBD – check the KinSeed website for more information.

Click here for the KinSeed website.

Local Data for Local Climate Action

October 12, Online

Climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for watershed security need to be local, and local strategies require local water and climate data. Join Living Lakes Canada, Columbia Basin Climate Source and Selkirk Innovates for a 1.25-hour Virtual Panel Discussion profiling different perspectives on how local data can inform climate action. Expert Panelists include: Mark Thomas, Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative Technical Lead; Shuswap Band Councillor; Paris Marshall Smith, Regional District of Central Kootenay Sustainability Planner; Herb Hammond, Forest Ecologist; Nature-Directed Planner; Silva Forest Foundation Founder; and John Cathro, Registered Professional Forester; Independent Resource Professional. Starts at 9:30 am PT / 10:30 am MT. 

Click here for more information and to register.

CMI Researchers' Forum - Call for presentations now open!

October 14-15, Radium Hot Springs

Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology is excited about the return of their annual Researchers' Forum where they gather with ecologists (of various descriptions!) to provide updates on ecological projects taking place in southeastern British Columbia, such as research, field trials, new ecological projects and their associated community initiatives. These updates cover a wide range of topics and species. This is an informal atmosphere and everyone is invited to attend. This year the emphasis will be the theme of restoration, although all proposals for ecological projects in the area are welcome. Please submit all presentation and field trip ideas to office@cmiae.org by September 12, 2022.

Click here for more information.

Take Me Outside Day & Week

October 17-21, Everywhere

Take Me Outside Week helps to raise awareness about outdoor learning by encouraging teachers to take their students outside. Last year 8,900 educators and nearly 400,000 learners joined in on the activities and learning opportunities provided. CBEEN is looking forward to working with their partners to host a full week of speakers, activities and events for students. They will provide resources and opportunities to deepen connections with Indigenous perspectives, strengthen health and well-being, and increase knowledge on climate change and the environment. All participants will be eligible to win prizes from The Outdoor Learning Store.

Click here to register.

BC Community Forest Association 2022 Conference and AGM

October 19-21, Nakusp

Join the BC Community Forest Association to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the BCCFA. Conference includes a field trip, special workshop, evening reception, plenary sessions, the annual banquet and awards night, and more. Check the website for details and to register. Hosted by the Nakusp and Area Community Forest.

Click here for the conference webpage.

Classrooms to Communities: Reconnecting Ourselves with Landscapes, Waterways and Each Other

October 21-22, Revelstoke

Registration is now open for the C2C 2022 Conference. CBEEN is partnering with many C2C Partners to host the 2022 C2C Conference in Revelstoke. Join educators, change makers and community partners from across B.C. for this 2-day, in-person conference. The Classrooms to Communities (C2C) 2022 Conference aims to support the practice of learning connected to landscapes, waterways and communities. The conference will feature a variety of indoor and outdoor sessions, workshops, gatherings and other opportunities for professional learning, celebration and dialogue.

Click here for more information and to register.

An Introduction to Camera Trap Data Management and Analysis in R

October 26-28/October 31-November 2, Revelstoke (full - waitlists available)

The number of projects employing camera traps to understand ecological phenomena is growing rapidly – as are the number of statistical tools to analyze the resultant data. Consequently, the management and analysis of camera trap data can seem complex and overwhelming. This course aims to guide participants in effective ways to store, manipulate and analyze camera trap data within the R statistical environment. To be added to the waitlist, contact office@cmiae.org with the course (1 or 2) to which you would like your name added.

Click here for more information.

Intro to R Software: Course Description 

November 22-25, Online

An introduction to the programming language R. This course hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology will include installation of R and RStudio, installation of R packages and libraries, introduction to base R objects and data types, the power of variables, exposure to functions, for loops and conditional statements, reading data from common file types (csv/xlsx), and how to do mathematical operations and linear regression. 9am - 12pm PT. This course is now full. Email office@cmiae.org if interested in being put on the waitlist.

Click here for more information and to register.

Data Manipulation & Visualization. 

November 29 - December 2, Online

Taught by Alya Pearson over 4-half days (slightly longer days than the Intro to R). This Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology course will provide students with the tools they need to effectively tidy, transform and visualize their data in R.

Click here for more information and to register.

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund - Call for proposals now open! 

Deadline: October 28  

KCP in partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) provides funding for projects that benefit conservation in the area from Spillimacheen to Canal Flats through the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF). The closing date for project submissions is 4:30 pm MT October 28, 2022.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund - Call for proposals now open! 

Deadline: October 28

KCP in partnership with the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) provides funding for projects that benefit conservation in the rural areas around Kootenay Lake, specifically Electoral Areas A, D, and E (view the map) within the RDCK through the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund (KLLCF). The closing date for project submissions is 4:30 pm PDT October 28, 2022.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Annual Grants

Deadline: October 28

All grant applications are due on Friday, October 28, 2022, 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m MT and must align with a priority action in any of FWCP’s regional action plans. The FWCP Columbia Region board is working to strengthen engagement of First Nations and is encouraging grant applicants to take part in an optional Notice of Intent (NOI) process that supports early engagement with interested First Nations. The optional NOI is a short description of your proposed project due Friday, September 9, 2022 by 4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m MT.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Vancouver Foundation LEVEL BIPOC Grant 

Deadline: November 2

The LEVEL BIPOC Grants Program offers flexible, operating grants of up to $50,000 to BIPOC-led charities and other qualified donees to cover costs that will contribute to their stability and capacity to advance racial equity and racial justice within their communities and programs. Addressing racial inequities and injustices is important systems change work and racialized communities are at the forefront of solutions by and for their communities. These grants are intended to be used at the discretion of these organizations based on their need and priorities to ultimately support the aspirations and hopes of BIPOC leaders in their work to advance racial justice.

Click here for the LEVEL BIPOC Grants page.

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Stewardship Grants

Deadline: November 4

For 2023-24, HCTF will only accept Continuing Stewardship proposals in Fall 2022 (Continuing New Phase proposals will also be accepted). The Stewardship grant is undergoing an update to better integrate with other HCTF grant programs. This will improve clarity and criteria for proponents as well as streamline the application process.

Click here for more information.

Support Available to Improve Ecological Health

Deadline: Ongoing

Do you have a new project, big or small, that helps improve ecological health and native biodiversity in the Basin? If so, the Trust wants to hear from you. Does your new project enhance a terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystem, such as wetlands, fish habitat, forests or grasslands? Implement on-the-ground action? Have a small local scale? Take less than two years to implement? If your project meets these criteria, email Natasha Jmaeff, Delivery of Benefits Manager, at njmaeff@ourtrust.org to discuss your project further.

Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program

Deadline: Ongoing

If you have an idea that will maintain or enhance grassland resources while meeting conservation, environment and recreation objectives, this program could help support it. This program is delivered by the Kootenay Livestock Association.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Community Engagement Grants

Deadline: Ongoing

Community Engagement Grants are typically $500 to $1,000 and help stewardship groups and others take action to benefit local fish and wildlife.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program

Deadline: First-come, first-served basis

The Columbia Basin Trust Career Internship Program provides eligible employers with up to 50 per cent of an intern’s salary (up to $25,000 over a seven to 12 month term) for full-time, career-focused positions that lead to permanent employment. Eligible employers are businesses, registered non-profits, municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous organizations within the Columbia Basin Trust region.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program

Sr. Environmental Coordinator (Columbia Region Manager), Castlegar

BC Hydro is hiring a Sr. Environmental Coordinator (FWCP Columbia Region Manager) to join their Fish & Wildlife Compensation Team. As a member of FWCP team, this position is responsible for managing all aspects of the FWCP in the Columbia Region, including annual work planning, Board and committee coordination, budget management, contract management, proponent liaison, strategic planning and special projects or initiatives related to the Program. The deadline to apply is September 2.

Click here for the full job posting.

Wildsight Kimberley

Communications & Fundraising Coordinator, Kimberley

Are you a nature enthusiast with fundraising experience and strong digital communications skills? Wildsight Kimberley Cranbrook is looking to hire a Communications & Fundraising Coordinator. Candidates should have extensive experience organizing fundraising campaigns and leading communications for a non-profit organization or business. This is a 10 hour per week staff position and can be based out of your home office and/or the Wildsight Kimberley office. Deadline to apply is September 7 at 9 a.m. MT.

Click here for the full job posting.

Living Lakes Canada

Communications Coordinator, Remote

Living Lakes Canada (LLC) seeks a creative, organized, proactive, and motivated Communications Coordinator 32-40 hours per week. Reporting directly to the Communications Director, the Communications Coordinator will work closely with LLC program managers and coordinators to help develop and implement inspired and effective content across a variety of media platforms to expand and engage all of LLC’s audiences. The ideal candidate will have a passion for climate action, environmental science, social change and storytelling, a strong instinct to think outside the box and experiment with new ideas, skilled working knowledge of current digital marketing best practices, excellent writing ability, and familiarity with the non-profit sector. Open until the position is filled.

Click here for the full job posting.

Invasive Species Council of BC

Action Team Member, Cranbrook

The Invasive Species Council of BC is a provincial non-profit organization working to protect and restore BC’s landscapes and habitats from the devastating impacts of invasive species. Action Team Members are part of a 4-person crew involved in field survey, management and restoration of BC’s landscapes and habitats from the impacts of invasive species. Reporting to the Action Team Supervisor, this role requires self-motivation and high levels of organization from individuals who enjoy learning new skills and working on a team. Posting will stay open until the position is filled.

Click here for the full job posting.

KCP Board of Directors

Seeking two new Board members 

Want to contribute to a collaborative partnership aimed at promoting private land conservation by becoming a KCP Board member? The role of the KCP Board is to balance the desire for decision-making that is as inclusive as possible with the need to prioritize limited resources and the need to respond quickly to changing circumstances and emerging opportunities. KCP is currently seeking two individuals to join the Board. Board members must be part of a KCP partner organization or First Nation and be willing to stand for election at the KCP AGM on September 24th in Creston. Nominations must be received by September 1st. Please contact KCP Program Director Juliet Craig at juliet@kootenayconservation.ca for more information.

Click here to learn about the current KCP Board.

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund

Technical Review Committee Member, Columbia Valley Region

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) in partnership with the Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) are seeking qualified members for the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF) Technical Review Committee (TRC). The role of the TRC is to make recommendations on allocating annual funding for conservation projects for the area from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen. Applications will be received on an ongoing basis.

Click here for the full posting.

IPCA Knowledge Basket

Resource supports Indigenous-led conservation pathways in Canada

The IPCA Knowledge Basket is a digital space created to honour, celebrate, and catalyze Indigenous-led conservation pathways in Canada, including Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). The IPCA Knowledge Basket holds stories, videos, songs, government reports and policies, academic articles, resources, and artwork. A legacy initiative of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership, the IPCA Knowledge Basket is a digital platform for reciprocal knowledge-sharing and collaborative learning in the spirit of ‘We Rise Together’. It was designed through a Two-Eyed Seeing approach to weave a diversity of resources and knowledge together in one place, while elevating Indigenous knowledge systems and supporting Indigenous-led conservation.

Click here to access this resource.

KCP Stewardship Solutions Toolkit

Resource updated with growing number of stewardship listings

In 2019, KCP launched Stewardship Solutions, an easy-to-access stewardship resource for landowners and land managers in the Kootenays available both in print and online. In late 2021, we completed a full review of the toolkit and updated all the available stewardship "solutions" (i.e. services and resources) available in each of the 14 Conservation Neighbourhoods. Visit the website, select your location on the homepage map, and you'll be brought to the growing list of stewardship options available in your region.

Visit the Stewardship Solutions website.

A Case for Conservation

KCP brochure promoting private land conservation available

KCP's “Case for Conservation” trifold brochure details 9 different reasons why conserving private land is so crucial to the health of the region’s ecosystems that support a myriad of plant, fish and animal species — many of which are currently rare or endangered or at risk of becoming so. The brochure opens up into an attractive poster that can be easily posted in offices, public spaces and homes. Printed brochures are available for distribution. If you would like copies, please contact KCP Program Director Juliet Craig at: juliet@kootenayconservation.ca.

Click here to view the brochure and download the PDF.

Kootenay Conservation Program

Conservation Resources for our Region

The Kootenay Conservation Program helps partners to coordinate and facilitate conservation efforts on private land, and in an effort to support this, KCP has developed a webpage that compiles some of the best conservation and stewardship resources available for our region.

Click here for more information.