Kootenay Conservation Program is Hiring! 

Program Assistant 

KCP is seeking a highly organized and tech-savvy contractor to provide support services to a broad range of KCP initiatives, including workshops, field tours, and Local Conservation Funds. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent organizational, administrative, and communication skills, as well as an interest in conservation. The Program Assistant reports directly to the KCP Program Director and will work closely with the KCP Communications Coordinator, as well as KCP partners and supporters. This position is a part-time, 12-month contract and is flexible within the Kootenay Region. Applications are accepted until Friday, February 13 at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more details and to apply.

KCP and CMI present 2026 Winter Webinar Series

Webinars begin January 22

Each year KCP offers a webinar series to facilitate the sharing of technical resources among partners and others so that local conservation activities consider the best available information and practices. The 2026 webinar series will once again be hosted in partnership with the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI), on the theme of “Lessons for the Next Chapter of Restoration & Stewardship in the Columbia Basin”. This year’s webinar series is designed to honour the legacy and capture the extensive knowledge of senior restoration and stewardship professionals in the Columbia Basin. As many of these experts approach retirement, this series provides a timely platform for intergenerational knowledge exchange. Presenters will reflect on key lessons from their careers in ecological restoration, land stewardship, and ecosystem monitoring, emphasizing important insights that can and should inform future restoration efforts. The series includes presenters who are both preparing to "pass the torch," and some who have effectively "taken the torch": Dr. Stewart Rood, Audrey Ehman, Randy Harris, Delaney Hall, and Dr. Suzanne Bayley. Thanks to the generous support of our core funders, CMI, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, Teck, LGL Limited, and Ecoscape Environmental Consultants, this series will be offered free of charge.

Click here for more information and to register.

New Conservation Ambassador Training module

Module 7 coming this winter

KCP is pleased to host a new module of Conservation Ambassador Training this January. Module 7: "Stewarding for Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants", with Laurie Frankcom (Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society) and Brittany Eliadis (East Kootenay Invasive Species Council), will be taking place on January 14. This interactive training module will complement Kootenay Conservation Program's existing six-part Conservation Ambassador Training series available on Google Classroom. Please contact Kendal Benesh, KCP Interim Program Director at kendal@kootenayconservation.ca if you would like more information on this upcoming training session or the previous modules (on Google Classroom). This session will be held on Wednesday, January 14 from 2 to 3:30 pm PT / 3 to 4:30 pm MT via Zoom.

Click here to register.

Columbia Basin Climate Source

Giving Nature a Leg Up on Climate Change

Kootenay Connect Priority Places, an initiative of Kootenay Conservation Program and funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, was featured in the Columbia Basin Climate Source November/December Newsletter, to help share inspiring stories of climate action from across the Basin. Columbia Basin Climate Source, a project of Columbia Basin Trust, is developed and managed in partnership with Selkirk Innovates. The newsletter features projects that have taken place in the Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor, as well as the climate change vulnerability assessments completed by West Kootenay conservation ecologist Greg Utzig.

Access the newsletter here.

Slocan River Streamkeepers 

Riparian Restoration Project at Walter Clough Wildlife Sanctuary 

The team at Slocan River Streamkeepers (SRS) have offered a remarkable glimpse into how quickly nature can restore itself with some helping hands. The Walter Clough Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful bird sanctuary located on one of the largest islands in the Slocan River. SRS began implementing riparian restoration projects on the island in 2021, planting over 500 native trees and shrubs including cottonwood, willow, birch, mountain alder, and red osier dogwood. They also installed 16 bird nesting boxes which have been very popular with the local bird populations. This project was implemented with funding from the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, and delivered by the Real Estate Foundation of BC and Watersheds BC, with financial support from the Province of British Columbia. Thanks to the other funders for this project: Columbia Basin Trust, FortisBC, StellerVista Credit Union and The Nature Trust of British Columbia (NTBC). Thanks to the landowner, NTBC, for their support, and to both the NTBC team and the SRS team including Restoration Ecologist Gregoire Lamoureux for helping with the restoration project.  

Click here to see the video. 

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Landmark conservation partnership: 45,000 hectares protected in southeastern BC advances national nature and climate goals

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province of BC, Elk Valley Resources (EVR), a Glencore company, and other public and private partners, officially announced in mid-December the successful conservation of 45,000 hectares of timberland in southeastern BC — one of Canada’s largest private land conservation projects to date. Known as the Kootenay Forest Lands, the project is located within the homelands of the Ktunaxa Nation, which has endorsed the project. Kootenay Forest Lands will now be held under conservation stewardship for generations to come, delivering ecological, cultural and community benefits at a scale rarely seen in Canada. Under NCC’s care, the Kootenay Forest Lands will transition from industrial-scale forestry to a conservation-focused management designed to restore ecosystems, enhance carbon storage and build resilience to wildfire and floods.

Click here to read the full story. 

Regional District of Central Kootenay

RDCK Purchases Land to Create Future Community Regional Park in the Creston Valley

The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is excited to share that it has purchased 3823 Goat Canyon Road in Electoral Area B for $899,000. The 4.4 acre property will become a future regional park and re-open long-term public access to the Goat River, supporting the RDCK, Town of Creston and Electoral Areas A, B & C Parks and Recreation Master Plan’s goal of adding parkland for the community. Securing this land marks an important step in re-establishing a community gathering place cherished by generations.

Click here to read the full story.

BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Two new chronic wasting disease cases confirmed in the Kootenays

In December, the Province received confirmation that two deer harvested in the Kootenay region have tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is an infectious and fatal disease that affects cervids, including deer, elk, moose and caribou. Both of these new cases were detected within B.C.’s existing CWD management zone in the Kootenay region. Once CWD is introduced to an area, it is unlikely that the disease will be eradicated completely. However, if caught early, management efforts can contain the disease to limit infection and the rate of further spread. Understanding what causes CWD and limiting risky activities, such as transporting infected materials, is key to preventing the spread of CWD to new areas. It is a condition of the general hunting licence that all licence holders who harvest a deer, elk or moose in the CWD management zone submit samples to a designated drop-off location. 

Read the full news release here. 

Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society

Whirling disease surveys open for public

The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) has launched a public survey to assess awareness and knowledge of Whirling Disease, an aquatic invasive parasite. Discovered in B.C.’s Yoho National Park in 2023, Whirling Disease poses a serious threat to juvenile populations of salmonids, whitefish, and species at risk such as westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, and kokanee. Once established, the parasite has no available treatment, making prevention and containment the only effective methods of control. The goal with this survey is to better understand the current level of public awareness around Whirling Disease, and information collected will help guide future outreach, prevention, and containment strategies to protect the incredible aquatic ecosystems of the Central Kootenay region. For more information on whirling disease, visit www.gov.bc.ca/whirlingdisease OR email WhirlingDisease@gov.bc.ca. 

Click here for more information and to access the surveys. 

Lunch & Learn: Agriculture & Water Discussion

January 8, Creston

The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and the Kootenay and Boundary Farm Advisors (KBFA) are co-hosting a Lunch and Learn focused on agriculture and water in the Creston Valley. Agricultural producers are invited to join for a conversation about water, agriculture, and planning for long term water sustainability in the Goat River Watershed. Hear from local experts, share your experiences, and help shape the future of the watershed. Lunch is included. Please pre-register. Held on Thursday, January 8 from 11:30 am to 3 pm MT at the Creston Hotel (Jimmy’s Pub). 

Click here for more information and to register. 

Unveiling of 3D Model of Goat River Watershed 

January 8, Creston

All are invited to join the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) at the Creston Valley Visitor Centre for the unveiling of the 3D model of the Goat River watershed. Explore the landscape through this 3D model and see place names in both Ktunaxa and English. Drop in, take a closer look, and chat about the land and water that connect the community. From 5 to 6:30 pm MT. 

Click here for more details. 

KCP Conservation Ambassador Training module 7: Stewarding for Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants

January 14, Online

KCP is pleased to host a new module of Conservation Ambassador Training. Module 7: "Stewarding for Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants", with Laurie Frankcom (Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society) and Brittany Eliadis (East Kootenay Invasive Species Council), will be taking place on January 14. This interactive training module will complement Kootenay Conservation Program's existing six-part Conservation Ambassador Training series available on Google Classroom. Please contact Kendal Benesh, KCP Interim Program Director at kendal@kootenayconservation.ca if you would like more information on this upcoming training session or the previous modules (on Google Classroom). This session will be held on Wednesday, January 14 from 2 to 3:30 pm PT / 3 to 4:30 pm MT via Zoom.

Click here to register.

High-Elevation Five-Needle White Pines: 2025-2026 Science and Management Webinar Series

January 20 • February 17 • March 17 • April 21 • May 19, Online

Join the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation (WPEF) for their “High-Elevation, Five-Needle White Pines: Science and Management Webinar Series”, on the third Tuesday of each month. All webinars are free and open to the public. This year we’ll hear from experts sharing the latest scientific findings and management initiatives on whitebark pine and other high-elevation five-needle pine species across Canada and the USA. Webinar recordings are archived on WPEF’s Whitebark Flix channel. From 11 am to 12 pm PT / 12 to 1 pm MT.

Find more details and the registration link here. 

KCP Winter Webinar Series: Trees of the People: Cottonwoods around the Crown of the Continent

January 22, Online

The Crown of the Continent surrounds the convergence of British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana, with headwaters for rivers that flow to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Cottonwoods are riparian poplar trees, and the Crown provides a global center of their biodiversity, with four species and their hybrids. Join Dr. Stewart Rood, Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Lethbridge, as he introduces cottonwood ecology and adaptations, and describes successful restoration applications that have delivered environmental flows from regional dams. The live webinar is at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

KCP Winter Webinar Series: Management and Restoration of Brushlands and other dry ecosystems of the West Kootenay

January 29, Online

Dry, non-forested brushland ecosystems (Gb) offer unique and important habitat for many rare and at-risk species in the low elevation of the West Kootenays. They often occur in a complex of other dry ecosystems such as rock outcrops and open forests. Classification and restoration approaches related to this topic have been developed collaboratively over the last several years. This presentation will focus on the classification, distribution, and best management practices for these unique ecosystems. Join Audrey Ehman, P.Ag. Consultant, for this webinar. The live webinar is at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

KCP Winter Webinar Series: Restoring Grasslands in the Rocky Mountain Trench

February 5, Online

Join forester, Randy Harris, as he outlines how grassland and fire resilience science aligns with traditional First Nation land stewardship activities and how learnings from this local initiative are being disseminated province-wide. Randy will discuss this work in the context of the Rocky Mountain Trench Ecosystem Restoration program which was created in 1995 as part of the Kootenay Boundary Higher Level Plan as a partial solution to a thirty-year conflict over a forage/grass shortage in the Trench. Ecosystem Restoration (ER) is the process of directing a damaged ecosystem back to a state of health. The live webinar is at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

INVASIVES 2026 Annual Forum

February 9 to 12, New Westminster or Online

Hosted by the Invasive Species Council of BC, this Annual Forum is where invasive species practitioners, researchers, Indigenous and youth leaders, industry partners, and community members come together to tackle invasive species head-on. INVASIVES 2026 is about protecting the places that connect us all through partnership, knowledge, and action, because tomorrow’s landscapes are built by the choices we make today. This year, the theme, ‘One Landscape, One Future’, highlights the connections between working lands, wild spaces, and urban centres and the responsibility we share to steward them. This year, a virtual option will also be available. 

Click here for more information and to register.

Invasive Species Council of BC: 2026 Invasive Species Forum

February 17 to 19, Online

The Invasive Species Centre is pleased to announce the 2026 Annual Invasive Species Forum is now accepting presentation submissions. The event is taking place February 17–19 as a fully virtual and free event. The event theme, Progress Through Partnerships, highlights the vital role of collaboration in achieving successful invasive species prevention and management. They are inviting researchers, practitioners, Indigenous knowledge holders, community leaders, policy makers, educators, and others working in invasive species prevention and management to submit proposals to present at the Forum.

Click here to see the event webpage and to register.

KCP Winter Webinar Series: Using Traditional Knowledge and Science in Restoration using Beaver Mimicry to Revive our Watershed within the Okanagan Nation

February 19, Online

Coteay Creek, a tributary of akskʷəkʷant (Inkaneep Creek), flows into suwiw̓s (Osoyoos Lake). The area surrounding that creek has dried up and, along with the wetlands, the beavers — or stunx in nsyilxcən — have disappeared. Delaney Hall and his team know that wetlands provide critical habitat for aquatic beings such as fish and amphibians, as well as land animals such as moose, deer and elk. They also provide fire protection, and are essential systems to help buffer the impacts of a warming climate. Delaney also knows that the beaver can teach us how to restore these wetlands, and that the elders in his community are able to share the historical location of many beaver dams where you no longer see evidence of their prior existence. In this talk, Delaney Hall will speak to a project partnership with the Osoyoos Indian Band and the B.C. Wildlife Federation involving the introduction of beaver analogues as one tool being used to help recover wetland ecosystems. The live webinar is at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Introductory Ktunaxa Language course

February 23 to May 11, Online

Learn the sounds, words and some history of the Ktunaxa Language. This course is designed for you to garner skills that will enable you to carry Ktunaxa Language forward to your communities, classrooms, and on the Land. Indigenous languages carry connections to lands, ancestors, traditions, and contain ecological knowledge crucial for sustainable living, medicinal practices, and traditional storytelling, enriching our collective wisdom. Hosts Alfred Joseph and Mara Nelson aim to create a welcoming space where learners can begin their journey, build connections, and develop a foundation for future learning opportunities. This course is open to everyone – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. Held on Mondays 6 to 7:30 pm PT / 7 to 8:30 pm MT.

Click here for more details and to register. 

KCP Winter Webinar Series: Wetland Conservation and Restoration in a Warming Climate: the Role of Beaver Dams

February 26, Online

Wetlands are rare ecosystems in southeast BC, providing habitat for numerous species, enhancing biodiversity and increasingly affected by the changing climate, which has been warming for several decades, drying wetlands and changing the water flows in streams and rivers. Ecologists and concerned communities have been trying to restore or create wetlands but face major challenges in building healthy wetlands. Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners have been assessing the hydrogeomorphic characteristics that lead to healthy wetlands, and how we can use constructed beaver dams to mitigate the effects of the warming climate on wetlands and streams. Join Dr. Suzanne Bayley with the Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners for this webinar. The live webinar is at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more information and to register.

Amphibian Identification and Survey Techniques

April 15 to June 18, Online and Revelstoke

This hybrid introductory course offered through the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI), will provide students with an opportunity to improve their amphibian species identification skills, learn about standard survey techniques, permits and disease control, and get a hands-on experience surveying and handling amphibians, in a variety of settings. This course will include two half-days of online training sessions and a full day of outdoor field surveys (offered in Revelstoke or Squamish). Taught by Elke Wind, Registered Professional Biologist, who has more than 30 years experience studying amphibian populations.

Click here for more information and to register.

BC Protected Areas Research Forum

May 19 to 21, Kamloops - open for submissions until February 28 

Since 2006, BCPARF has worked with university and community co-hosts to bring together researchers, advocates, managers, students, and community members who create, share, and use research and knowledge in parks and protected areas across BC and beyond. This year’s forum will be held at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops; note that if you can't join in person, the programming will be streamed online. Submissions for the BC Protected Areas Research Forum (BCPARF) are open until February 28. Submissions that support evidence-based decision-making and needs-based research will be prioritized.

Click here for more details and to register.

Field Ornithology: Improving Bird ID and Survey Skills through Sound

May 25 to 28, Revelstoke

This course is offered through the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI) and taught by Registered Professional Biologists and experienced birders Marc-André Beaucher and Rachel Darvill. 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. However, 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, survey natural soundscapes (and their birds), and provide 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.

Click here for more information and to register.

Field Soil Description & Classification Course

June 10 to 12, Revelstoke 

Offered through the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI), this course covers procedures for observing, measuring, and describing soils in the field. The goal is to produce consistent data for soil inventory, mapping and classification using techniques that improve the consistency of determining soil properties in the field. Students gain experience with describing and classifying forest and wetland soils in the Revelstoke area using soil horizons and properties measured in the field. Students discuss how soil data collected in the field can inform soil management practices relating to conservation, agriculture, forestry, mining, and oil & gas activities.

Click here for more information and to register.

EcoAction Stream 2 Call for Applications 2026

Deadline: January 20

EcoAction Stream 2: Freshwater Sustainability and Innovation is now accepting applications for projects starting summer 2026. Funding supports projects that improve freshwater quality and ecosystem health, pilot innovative solutions, enable circular economy opportunities, and address freshwater data challenges. The deadline to submit an application is January 20 at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT. 

Click here for more details and to apply.

Grants from Outdoor Recreation Council of BC 

Deadline: January 20

The purpose of the Outdoor Recreation Fund of BC is to support grants for community-based initiatives that create and shape meaningful nature-based and outdoor recreational experiences for British Columbians. There are three priorities to the types of grants that will be considered, including Outdoor Enhancement and Stewardship & Education. The deadline to apply is January 20 at 11:59 pm PT / 12:59 pm MT. 

Click here for more information and to apply.

General Grants from the Real Estate Foundation of BC

Deadline: February 5

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) provides grants to support projects that advance sustainability, equity, and social justice in relation to land use and real estate practices in BC. Five focus areas are: land use, freshwater, built environments, food sovereignty, and the real estate profession. These grants can fund projects led by First Nations, non-profits, and other organizations working on projects relating to land use or real estate in BC. Before you apply, you can attend a webinar to learn about REFBC’s funding priorities and the application process, connect with grants program staff, and ask questions. REFBC is hosting webinars on two dates in advance of the application deadline: January 13 for Indigenous-led organizations only, and January 15 for all applicants. The intake opens on January 6 and closes on February 5.

Click here for more information, or register for a REFBC General Grant webinar.

Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund, Nature Trust of BC

Deadline: February 20

The objective of the Brink/McLean Grassland Conservation Fund is to promote research, ecosystem restoration and other stewardship activities that will assist in the management of the land, plants, and animals that rely on BC’s native grasslands. Projects must be located within native grassland ecosystems in BC. Proponents may be individuals, conservation organizations, public agencies, academic, or research entities. Applications must demonstrate how the project meets the evaluation criteria.

Click here for more information. 

Small-scale Ecosystem Grants

Deadline: Ongoing until funding is committed

Do you have a small-scale project, that can be completed in two years or less, that helps improve ecological health and native biodiversity in the Basin? Small-scale Ecosystem grants are available to enhance a terrestrial and/or aquatic ecosystem, such as wetlands, fish habitat, forests or grasslands. Eligible applicants include registered non-profits, local governments and First Nations in the Columbia Basin Trust region. Applications are accepted on a first-received, first-served basis and are assessed as they come in and continue until all funding for the program has been committed. Contact the Trust to enquire about your project, email Melissa Johnson at ecosystems@ourtrust.org.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Climate Change Grants, Peter Gilgan Foundation

Deadline: Ongoing

The Peter Gilgan Foundation's Climate Change Grants support nature-based solutions, low-emission and renewable technologies, green building and living, and community resilience. Understanding that greenhouse gas emissions are the driver of climate change, they prioritize projects with the potential to enable large-scale emission reductions in Canada. For the nature-based solutions category, the Foundation support initiatives that protect and restore priority ecosystems, support Indigenous lands and protected areas, enhance natural infrastructure in our built environment, and/or decarbonize Canada’s agriculture and forestry sectors. The Foundation accepts applications for 3 types of grants: project grants, capacity-building grants, or general operating grants. Climate change grants typically range between $50,000 and $150,000 per year. There are no deadlines for the climate change program; expressions of Interest are accepted on a rolling basis.

Click here for more information and to apply. 

Seed Grants, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program

Deadline: Ongoing

You can now apply for a Seed Grant any time of the year; you don’t need to wait for the FWCP annual grant intake. An FWCP Seed Grant—up to a maximum of $5,000—can be used to fill information gaps, prepare technical information, and explore the feasibility of your project idea. Think of a Seed Grant as a first step toward a future Large Grant application. The FWCP Columbia Region board will review Seed Grant applications and make decisions at its spring, fall, and winter board meetings. Apply early.

Click here for more information. 

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. The Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Program (GREP) aims to promote the stewardship of grassland resources, maintain and enhance biodiversity and long-term fish and wildlife productivity in public grassland ecosystems, and improve compatibility between livestock management and recreation use.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Community Engagement Grants

Deadline: Ongoing

Got an idea for a project to support fish and wildlife in the Columbia region? Community Engagement Grants are typically $500 to $1000 and help stewardship groups and others take action to benefit local fish and wildlife.

Click here for more information and how to apply.

Land Securement Grants from Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program

Deadline: Ongoing

Securing critical ecosystems and habitats for conservation is an important way to help conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams. The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) funds land securement projects and supports a partnership approach in their Coastal, Columbia, and Peace regions. Due to the time-sensitive nature of real-estate transactions, grant applications for land securement purchases can be discussed with the region managers at any time of year. Please contact Columbia Region Manager Jen Walker-Larsen at Jennifer.Walker-Larsen@bchydro.com with your questions.

Click here for more information.

Columbia Basin Trust - Non-Trust Granting Directory

Resource for download

The Columbia Basin Trust recognizes that many projects require collaboration, additional partners and substantial funding. To assist with this, they’ve created a database of granting agencies and government grant programs that you can refer to, and made it available for download on their website.  

Click here for more information and click here to download the directory. 

Kootenay Conservation Program

Program Assistant 

KCP is seeking a highly organized and tech-savvy contractor to provide support services to a broad range of KCP initiatives, including workshops, field tours, and Local Conservation Funds. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent organizational, administrative, and communication skills, as well as an interest in conservation. The Program Assistant reports directly to the KCP Program Director and will work closely with the KCP Communications Coordinator, as well as KCP partners and supporters. This position is a part-time, 12-month contract, and is flexible within the Kootenay Region. Applications are accepted until Friday, February 13 at 12 pm PT / 1 pm MT.

Click here for more details and to apply. 

BC Parks

Seasonal Park Ranger

BC Parks is currently recruiting seasonal park rangers to support conservation, visitor services, and the protection of natural values across the province. Seasonal rangers help maintain park facilities, engage with visitors, and contribute to ecological stewardship throughout BC’s diverse regions. Applications are accepted until January 12. 

Click here for more details and to apply.

BC Ministry of Environment & Parks

Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector 

The Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector plays a key role supporting the BC Invasive Mussel Defence Program by inspecting watercraft at provincial inspection stations to ensure compliance with established protocols and legislation, provide outreach and education to the public, and issue mussel prevention order or perform decontaminations pertaining to high risk watercraft. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to get work experience in the natural resource sector that is delivered in close collaboration with BC's Conservation Officer Service (COS). Staff will receive several days of training by the COS in relevant Compliance and Enforcement techniques, and will also interact with other provincial and federal enforcement agencies in their area. Applications are accepted until January 15. 

Click here for more details and to apply. 

Aligning ENGO financial practices with commitments to Indigenous-led conservation

EcoAnalystics, RAD network, Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership and Environics Research

EcoA worked with the RAD network, Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership and Environics Research on this ground-breaking research into the financial practices of Canadian ENGOs with respect to relationships with Indigenous partners. Many emerging trends and opportunities were identified through the reflexive survey, focus group and learning event. The report provides a summary of the context in which this research was conducted, along with the findings, a literature review and an assessment and reflection tool for organizations to use in progressing towards better practices. A link to the webinar slide deck is also provided.

Access the report here. 

Animal Nation

APTN: An immersive look at wildlife through Indigenous knowledge

A new docuseries on APTN, “Animal Nation” explores the bear, beaver, bison, caribou, eagle, salmon and wolf as ecological and cultural icons in Indigenous communities. The first episode of Animal Nation, launching January 8, was shot in Cranbrook, Elkford and other regional places.

Read more here and watch the series here. 

Alterations to the Hydrology of Kootenay Lake: A Short Chronology

Greg Utzig, P. Ag. 

Kootenay Lake and the Kootenay River watershed are largely shaped by the complex geologic and glacial history of the region. Although Kootenay Lake is in the West Kootenay, the Kootenay River, the largest source of water feeding Kootenay Lake, originates in the East Kootenay, an area with a different geology, climate and vegetation. Written by founding Board member of Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FoKLSS), Greg Utzig, this report outlines the hydrology of Kootenay Lake, specifically how the seasonal patterns of lake hydrology have been altered due to the presence of various dams.

Click here to access the report. 

CMI Researchers Forum 2025 Proceedings

Columbia Mountains Institute for Advanced Ecology

The Proceedings from CMI’s Researchers’ Forum & 30-Year Celebration are now available online. This inspiring event in September of 2025 brought together engaging presentations, field trips, and lively discussions celebrating three decades of applied ecology. CMI would like to thank all presenters, field tour leaders, attendees, volunteers, and sponsors for making it such a memorable and successful gathering. 

Explore the full proceedings here. 

Whole-Earth: A Conservation-Planning Paradigm for a Changing Climate

Joshua J. Lawler, John E. Gross, Wendy B. Foden, and Guy F. Midgley 

Conservationists have called for conserving 30 to 50% of the earth's surface to address the ongoing biodiversity and climate crises. To be successful, such an expansion of the global reserve network must meet climate-intensified challenges of species movements, ecological transformations, increasing human needs, and environmental injustices. These challenges will not be overcome by simply doubling or tripling the footprint of protected areas. Instead, successful biodiversity conservation will require planning for conservation mosaics - large, integrated landscapes, and seascapes composed of areas with different levels of protection and types of management - that cover the entire earth. The researchers describe this more holistic spatial conservation paradigm and provide a framework for planning for conservation mosaics that addresses growing biodiversity conservation and human needs.

Click here to read the report featured in Global Change Biology journal. 

Video - Return of the Grizzlies: Conservation in Action

Nature Conservancy of Canada

When the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) conserved the vast forested refuge of Darkwoods in 2008, the grizzly bear population that roamed these lands needed help. They were isolated from other bears and their numbers were dwindling. Now, through careful land management and collaboration with research scientists, NCC has been able to achieve a major conservation success: fully reversing the population decline of these grizzly bears. In this video, Grizzly bear researcher Dr. Michael Proctor and NCC’s Adrian Leslie discuss how they worked together to completely flip the story for these bears.

Click here for the video. 

Launch of the Canadian Nature-Based Education Centre

Canadian Wildlife Federation 

The Canadian Centre for Nature-based Education (CCNbE) brings together partners across the country to help people of all ages deepen their connection to nature. Whether you’re an educator, community leader, or exploring on your own, CCNbE offers resources and opportunities to support learning and engagement with the natural world. 

Learn more here.  

Workbook to Create a Cultural Burn Pathway

First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) and the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI)

The Create a Cultural Burn Pathway workbook, released by the First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) and the Indigenous Leadership Initiative (ILI), aims to help Indigenous Nations create cultural burn programs that reduce wildfire risk and revitalize a core part of our relationship with the land. Indigenous Nations bring a range of current experience with cultural fire. To meet Nations where they are, FNESS and ILI launched a multi-year community-based research project, involving over 50 Elders and knowledge holders, numerous gatherings and workshops, extensive peer reviews, and multiple edits to the workbook to reflect all the input. The result is a workbook containing seven worksheets that walk communities through the development of a strong cultural fire program—no matter what stage they are in. 

KCP Stewardship Solutions Toolkit

Resource updated with growing number of stewardship listings

Since 2019, KCP's Stewardship Solutions Toolkit, an easy-to-access stewardship resource for landowners and land managers in the Kootenays, has been available both in print and online. We keep this resource up to date, and encourage you to access 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.