The KCP Fall Gathering & AGM serves as one of the primary venues to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region. This year the Fall Gathering will be a one-day virtual conference due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the Kootenays. Rather than planning small field tours in this time of uncertainty, we will aim for large spring tours as part of the 2022 Stewardship Committee meetings. The organizing theme for this year’s Fall Gathering is “Partnerships in Conservation”. We will showcase examples of Indigenous-led restoration and conservation projects, and explore considerations for planning and implementing restoration projects. We’ll take advantage of this opportunity to have a short (1 hour) Annual General Meeting for KCP Partners as well. Highlights will include the following presentations:

The deadline to register is October 12.

Deadline: October 29, 2021  

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 on October 29, 2021.

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 PT on October 29, 2021.

This article is the second in a series featuring three conservation properties in the Columbia Valley that were purchased with support from the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund. The series is being published by the Columbia Valley Pioneer newspaper.

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN) would like to invite your school, organization or business to take part in the inaugural 2021-2022 Every Child Matters Year-long Learning Challenge. The purpose of this challenge is help encourage learning going beyond just one day on September 30, and to provide support, resources and encouragement to make learning about Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, history and culture a deeper part of our lives in order to help to enable real change over time. And we know that without this, we cannot make deeper connections to our local land to ensure stewardship of it for generations to come. See the link below for what the challenge entails and what you commit to when signing up. 

The KCP Fall Gathering & AGM serves as one of the primary venues to connect and re-connect KCP partners from across the region. This year the Fall Gathering will be a one-day virtual conference due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the Kootenays. Rather than planning small field tours in this time of uncertainty, we will aim for large spring tours as part of the 2022 Stewardship Committee meetings. The organizing theme for this year’s Fall Gathering is “Partnerships in Conservation”. We will showcase examples of Indigenous-led restoration and conservation projects, and explore considerations for planning and implementing restoration projects. We’ll take advantage of this opportunity to have a short (1 hour) Annual General Meeting for KCP Partners as well.

This information session will cover the main elements to consider when applying to the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction Program – Columbia Basin Economic Recovery Initiative (CBERI). Speakers will include representatives of the BC Wildfire Service and Columbia Basin Trust. More information about this program is available here. Session starts at 10 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. MT.

Once you start learning R, there is so much more you can learn in order to take your R skills to the next level. This 3-day course will help you expand your current R skills so they include the ability to perform a range of data preparation, R programming and automated reporting tasks. This course may be taken on its own or in conjunction with the preceding Introductory R Course. Registration is now open.

C2C 2021 will explore stories of hope and resiliency connected to the land and sea, from classrooms to communities, The conference will feature a variety of online sessions, workshops, gatherings and other opportunities for professional learning, collaboration and dialogue. A Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network-supported event.

The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society 2021 AGM will include updates from partners, including highlights from the Yellow Flag Iris Shuswap collaboration and Blanket Creek BC Parks project. Guest speaker presentations include: Chandra Moffat from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada to discuss regional biocontrol topics and Frank Joe, Territorial Lands Manager from Splatsin Title and Rights to discuss collaboration on invasive species projects. The meeting will take place from 9am to 12pm PT on Zoom.

New to R? The purpose of this 1/2 day workshop is to give participants an introduction to R/RStudio so that you can take full advantage of the subsequent 3-day course: Stats Refresher for Biologists in “R”. This course may also be taken on its own.

Environmental impact assessments want to know if trends over time differ between control and impact sites. Statistical methods for the analysis of trends over time use many of the same methods as the analysis of experimental data (e.g. ANOVA, regression) but must now deal with problems such as autocorrelation and process error. This course is primarily for students using R software. If you are using JMP software and have interest in this course contact Hailey to discuss: office@cmiae.org.

Deadline: October 29, 2021  

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 on October 29, 2021.

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 PT on October 29, 2021.

Does your organization or community have a project idea that reduces wildfire risk while creating jobs? The Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction Program – Columbia Basin Economic Recovery Initiative supports Basin communities to build local wildfire resiliency while recovering from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is a partnership between the Province of BC and Columbia Basin Trust, developed with the BC Wildfire Service. The Trust is administering this program on behalf of the partners.

The Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts (ACLT) is a new non-profit organization that builds excellence in the land trust community throughout Canada. ACLT is currently looking for a leader who has a passion for conservation and the environment and possesses the ability to display that passion in a constructive and innovative way. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working closely with volunteers and members, the Executive Director will provide dynamic, creative and strategic leadership to achieve the goals of ACLT with laser focus on service to land trusts. Deadline to apply is October 10.

A program delivered by BCCF, WildSafeBC is the provincial leader in preventing conflict with wildlife through collaboration, education and community solutions. The role of the Program Coordinator is to support the Provincial team and network of community coordinators in successfully delivering the Program. The ideal candidate is one that flourishes in a collaborative, team atmosphere, but can also work independently and demonstrate initiative and sound judgement, and has the ability to travel to BCCF locations in Kamloops or Surrey. Deadline to apply is October 11.

Y2Y is seeking an Indigenous Conservation Communications Coordinator (“ICCC”) to support and celebrate First Nations’ leadership in conserving habitat and protecting biodiversity within British Columbia (B.C.). This is a unique opportunity to bring digital engagement and media expertise to bear in support of Indigenous-led ecological and cultural stewardship and self-determination. The ideal candidate is a passionate advocate and skilled communicator who can effectively engage diverse audiences and drive positive change through storytelling and media, and should ideally also carry knowledge of the history, cultures, and/or lived experiences of First Nations whose territories span the Y2Y region of B.C. Deadline to apply is October 15.

The Assistant position provides an exciting opportunity to help foster community-based water stewardship work through grassroots initiatives aimed at watershed monitoring, planning, and community engagement. Reporting to the Program Coordinator, the Assistant is responsible for supporting all aspects of the program, including water quality and quantity monitoring, public outreach and education, restoration and maintenance, and program administration. Deadline to apply is October 15.

The British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF) is seeking an energetic, organized and adaptable person to fill the fast-paced role of a Project Coordinator to manage projects and join their team. The ideal candidate will possess both work and life experiences in the natural environment, and have the ability to travel to BCCF locations in Kamloops or Surrey. This position may be filled before the closing date; therefore, it is strongly recommended that applicants do not delay in submitting their application. Deadline to apply is October 18.

As part of this initiative, the Biosphere Institute and CRYN are creating a mentor bank of inspiring and knowledgeable mountain people who want to help our youth-led environmental initiative! For more info on CRYN, click here.

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.

Learn about ongoing efforts led by Indigenous Peoples working across what is today the U.S. and Canada border on conservation and connectivity of nature and culture.

Indigenous-led Natural Climate Solutions in Action: The Confederated Tribes of Colville 

This webinar features the resource management approach of the Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation in the United States, and explored what could be possible in Canada if current barriers are removed and community aspirations of stewardship and prosperity are realized.

Bolstering Indigenous-led conservation will be critical if Canada wants to follow through on its climate, biodiversity and reconciliation promises. So what are the best practices? How can we get this right? And what we can learn from similar, longer-running efforts in Australia. Four brilliant experts helped answer these questions and more during this webinar.