We’re pleased to introduce a new timeline on our website that details all the major milestones and initiatives in KCP's history since inception in 2002 when it first began as the East Kootenay Conservation Program before expanding Kootenay-wide in 2012. Please take a moment to scroll through this colourful timeline to learn more about what KCP has accomplished over the past two decades.

World-class conservation efforts by local land trust partners have resulted in the acquisition of properties throughout the East and West Kootenay that protect fish and wildlife, movement corridors, grasslands, old forests, and riparian areas. Coordinated and prioritized in partnership with KCP, these properties have increased landscape-level connectivity and secured valuable habitat for species at risk. The KCP website now features an updated selection of the properties acquired since 2002 in an easy-to-view timeline format.

With an investment of $60.6 million over five years, this new Parks Canada-led program will support and enable other jurisdictions and organizations to develop better ecological connections between protected and conserved areas, which will benefit the environment and all Canadians. Notably, KCP’s Kootenay Connect project is listed in the government’s announcement as a great example of ecological corridors that already exist across Canada.

The Columbia Basin Trust's Climate Resilience Program has granted over $1.7 million to eight projects that are helping Basin communities become more climate-resilient. The list of projects range from launching a pilot to build workforce capacity for a clean-energy transition through training opportunities, to launching a water-monitoring program in three pilot watersheds to enable local governments and First Nations to understand climate change impacts.

Born out of season 6 of the CREDtalks, which focused on the theme of Climate Disruption in the Upper Columbia Basin, is an essay. At the end of the season, project coordinator Hailey Ross posed a question to the speakers, asking them “How or where do you find hope? What inspires you to take action, to keep going?” Her original vision was to share a bulleted list of resources and sources of inspiration with registrants – but what came about was an engaging email exchange with a diversity of responses. With speaker permission and the support of writer Donna MacDonald, these emails (or segments of them) have been strung together into an essay.

Each year, HCTF provides approximately $6 million dollars in Enhancement and Restoration (E&R) Grants. 2022-23 projects included in this preliminary list have been approved in principle but may have reduced budgets or funding conditions. All applicants have now received official notification emails, including HCTF Board and technical committee comments.

The Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (MNAI) is inviting local governments to submit an expression of interest to develop a high-level natural asset management roadmap. MNAI is one of 16 partners that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), with funding from Infrastructure Canada, selected to provide training and learning opportunities to municipalities to help them make sustainable infrastructure decisions. This call for expressions of interest is for local governments that are just starting to build natural asset considerations into their asset management practices: MNAI will provide technical assistance and support them in developing a roadmap to determine short- to medium-term steps. Deadline to register is May 15.

Does putting on your touring skins and spending the day on a six-hour uphill hike in the mountainous backcountry sound like a decent way to spend your day? How about carving your way back down again in the final light of the setting sun? For Paul Saso, this is a work day. Paul is a hydrologist with Living Lakes Canada’s Kootenay Watershed Science program. His work involves long treks into high elevation areas in order to monitor snowpack.

Bank swallows are arguably facing the fastest population decline for a species in Canada, with a staggering 98% population loss over a 40-year period. With only 2% of their population left in our country, this species requires urgent conservation action. Wildsight Golden is working closely with Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Canadian WIldlife Service to track Bank Swallows. Through the Upper Columbia Swallow Habitat Enhancement Project (UCSHEP), we will be installing two or three long range Motus Wildlife Tracking Stations in the Columbia Valley this year. Wildsight Golden is also advising the public to be aware of the Migratory Birds Convention Act under which nests of migratory birds are protected all year.

With the arrival of migratory birds also comes the second year of the five-year (2021-2026) Upper Columbia Swallow Habitat Enhancement Project (UCSHEP). Volunteers are being requested to help with barn and bank swallow nest monitoring between April/May – September for barn swallows and between June – July for bank swallows. The locations of any new barn and bank swallow nesting sites in the Columbia Valley is also being requested. If you are interested in participating in this project or want more information, please contact the project biologist at racheldarvill@gmail.com.

CKISS is appealing to Kootenay Lake residents to volunteer in two community science initiatives to help protect Kootenay Lake from aquatic invasive species. It’s a new community science monitoring initiative hosted by CKISS with support from Living Lakes Canada's National Lake Blitz program and funded by the Regional District of Central Kootenay through the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund. (1) Invasive Mussel Monitoring – CKISS is seeking community members who own private docks in Area A, D and E of Kootenay Lake to help monitor for invasive mussels. Volunteers will receive two assembled mussel monitors to attach to their docks and be required to check them every two weeks in the summer and fall. (2) Shoreline Surveys for Invasive Clams and Plants – CKISS is seeking community members who are interested in conducting shoreline surveys for invasive clams and removing invasive plants on selected shorelines on Kootenay Lake. Positions will run during the fall.

Click here to learn more and register.

From May to September, Living Lakes Canada is hosting the National Lake Blitz, an entry-level citizen science program whereby volunteers are sent easy-to-use kits to monitor the lake of their choice. All data collected will be shared online in a Lake Observation Map. Concurrently, from May to July, the Lake Biodiversity Photo Challenge will be accepting photo submissions of lakes across Canada with prizes awarded in four categories. The challenge is open to the public and anyone can participate by submitting photos online either via the website or on social media.

May 4-September 7, Online (full - waitlist available)

This highly acclaimed course is for project managers who have to interpret the results of statistical analyses and make decisions about how much data to collect and which management actions to undertake. The course focuses on the fundamentals of uncertainty, effect sizes, significance, decision theory and the value of information. It does not require a statistical background and doesn’t involve any modeling, although different types of results are presented and discussed. Registration opening soon. Hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology.

Click here for more information.

Join the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society for a free speaker series featuring presentations by Angie Kane, Secwepemcúl’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society on ecosystem recovery and wildfire mitigation work following the Elephant Hill wildfire of 2017, and by Adrian Leslie, Nature Conservancy of Canada on proactive approaches and wildfire recovery in the Darkwoods Conservation Area. From 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PT. The AGM will follow and is open to CKISS members only.

Join Wildsight Golden in a BioBlitz on Biodiversity Day and learn how to identify plants and help with their West Bench Ecological Study. In order to participate, please download iNaturalist on your device and meet at Cedar Lake Recreation Site boat launch at 10:00 a.m. MT. The group will spread out and identify different plants to go into a database to help understand West Bench ecology and biodiversity. Bring your lunch and socialize with other citizen scientists. There will be local naturalists on site to assist.

May 30-June 2, Revelstoke (full - waitlist available)

For many field ornithology surveys, the ability to identify bird species by their calls and songs is an essential skill. It is also one of the hardest aspects of field work to master. Technological advances in sound capture and visualization are pushing the ornithological frontiers with tools that make it easier than ever to learn field-identification by sound and to survey natural soundscapes (and their birds). In addition, modern sound recordings are providing high-quality acoustical specimens for analysis and independent review. This course will combine field-experience listening to bird calls and songs during three mornings at the height of the breeding season, with hands-on recording practice to generate sound files. Each afternoon, the class will learn to edit and review their recordings using sound visualization software on their personal laptop computers. Registration opening soon. Hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology.

June 15-17, Revelstoke (full - waitlist available)

October 26-28, Revelstoke (full - waitlist available)

Basin residents confirmed that on-the-ground ecosystem enhancement remains an important priority and the Columbia Basin Trust is committed to maintaining and improving the ecological health and native biodiversity in a variety of ecosystems. The Trust is continuing to fund landscape-scale restoration and enhancement projects through its Ecosystem Enhancement Program and is now seeking ideas for eligible projects from across the Basin. Input will help inform what projects from across the Basin are supported through the program.

Contact Ecosystem Enhancement Program Coordinator Lisa Pavelich at ecosystems@ourtrust.org.

Youth Climate Corps is an expanding organization that focuses on working with communities to provide youth with meaningful and dignified work in climate action projects. The Outreach Coordinator will identify potential partnerships and affiliations with existing organizations to enhance the expansion of Youth Climate Corps nationally. The Outreach Coordinator will grow and maintain a strong network among aligned organizations and communities and work with a team to design and fundraise climate action projects with community partners. This is a remote position, can be based anywhere in Canada. Deadline to apply is May 5.

Wildsight Golden is seeking one qualified person to coordinate ‘Golden’s Community Invasive Plant Program’ and to develop and deliver public education on invasive plants. This program is jointly supported by Wildsight Golden and the Town of Golden. The majority of time (~65%) will be spent hand pulling invasive plants that have been identified at pre-determined sites throughout the Town of Golden. Deadline to apply is May 9 at midnight MT.

Wildsight Golden Branch is looking for an outgoing, well-organized, and dynamic person to assist the Outreach Coordinator and Wildsight Golden with community programs, projects, and events. This is a 30-hour per week, 8-week position that will start on or before July 4, depending on the applicant’s availability. As this job is funded through the Canada Summer Jobs funding, all applicants must be under 30 years of age. The ideal candidate will be enrolled in a recognized post-secondary institution in Environmental Studies, Geography, Biology, Education or another diploma that has demonstrated relevance. Deadline to apply is June 10.

The purpose of The Outdoor Learning Store is to provide easy access to excellent outdoor learning equipment and resources to schools and organizations, while providing financial support for our host charity, the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) and added capacity for our numerous Outdoor Learning Partners. This role will take the lead on getting orders out the door. Drawing from our supply of over 100 different resource & equipment options, this position will ensure that orders are boxed and bagged to ensure they arrive in great condition. Position open until filled.

The WildSafeBC Community Coordinator position is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in reducing human-wildlife conflicts where you live. Professionalism, commitment and good communication skills are essential for success with this position. Additionally candidates should be able to work independently with minimal supervision. Community coordinators will be trained in the use of proven education and delivery techniques, which they will then implement within their communities regarding conflict-reduction information about all species of wildlife as part of BCCF’s WildSafeBC program. Positions open until filled.

Groundswell Community Greenhouse and Gardens is looking to fill Intern positions for the 2022 garden season. Youth, students and adults are invited to apply for the different positions. If you like working outside, have interest or experience in gardening and people or want to learn new skills, please send your resume ASAP to Deborah Griffith, Partnership Director at groundswellnetworksociety@gmail.com.

The Invasive Species Council of BC is hiring Action Team Members in Cranbrook and Nelson. 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. Tentative start date is May 16. ISCBC is also hiring for several remote positions including Manager of Fundraising and Partnerships, Learning Coordinator, Learning Support, Outreach Support and Science Support.

Wildsight Creston Valley Branch is sourcing expressions of interest from potential contractors in the areas of: 1. Part-time Administrative services, grant writing, and managing fundraising. 2. Part-time organizing events, community outreach and communications. 3. Part-time Volunteer Management. 4. Part-time GIS services. 5. Part-time environmental advocacy work in the Creston Valley. 6. Part-time conservation planning in the Creston Valley 7. Part-time environmental monitoring/planning in the Creston Valley. Interested contractors are requested to submit in confidence a short outline of experience, education, skills and strengths. (300 words maximum) via email to crestonvalley@wildsight.ca. Contractors will work with the Board of Directors and other Wildsight Creston Valley contractors to accomplish the work.

The Declaration Act Action Plan collectively identifies goals and outcomes that form the long-term vision to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) in B.C. It has 89 priority actions, tangible steps that will advance this work in key areas over the next five years.

Season 6 of CREDtalks recordings now available in full, easily accessed for free. In this series, 8 leading climate scientists addressed the projected impacts, potential for adaptation, and what we can do with ecosystems that may in fact contribute to climate mitigation.

Click here for the recordings.

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.