The countdown is on for our 10th Wild & Scenic Film Festival and tickets go on sale October 13th! If you are one of the first 50 people to show your enthusiasm and buy your ticket now (and not on “valley time”!), you’ll be entered into a draw for a gift basket from the Trading Post. So, don’t wait! Buy your tickets here.

As a Wildsight member you receive a $5 discount on the ticket price. Be sure to select the member option on the ticket page.

OK, so far, well done. You’ve bought your ticket and marked your calendar for November 18th. Now tell all your friends. We’re showing 10 films from around the world, handpicked specially for our mountain community to enjoy and leave you feeling more inspired than ever before. Not only are we celebrating the 10th year of our film fest fundraiser, but the Columbia Valley Centre now has a BIG new screen and a high-definition projector that will knock your socks off. 

As usual, the evening includes a cash bar, pizza, popcorn, etc. As part of the fundraiser, our online auction goes live on November 4th with coveted items like 2-night stays at the Jumbo Hut and Radius Retreat, massages, wellness treatments, and a specially made quilt from the Valley Piecemakers Guild. Keep checking our Facebook page for further details. And don’t forget to share it.

We want to give a big THANK YOU to our Visionary Sponsors: Cleanline Automotive, Columbia Valley Law, Eagle Eye Tours, and thinkBright Homes, who continue to support the work of Wildsight Invermere. 

Come join us for a fun evening of films, pizza, drinks and supporting our annual fundraiser — Wild & Scenic Film Festival. We need some help pulling everything together before the event and the night of. Lots of different roles to fill from ticket sellers, popcorn makers, pizza servers…and all for a good cause. 

As a volunteer you will receive a ticket to the event, pizza and a drink, and our undying gratitude! Please fill out the volunteer form and let us know what your interests are. If you have any questions or difficulty with the form just email Karen at invermere@wildsight.ca.

Here’s a chance to celebrate the importance of dark skies! Join Tim MacKenzie, the founder of the Kootenay Stardome Foundation, for a night of art, activities and festivities at Pynelogs. Discuss dark sky conservation and our very own dark sky reserve with light painting, telescope viewing, music, door prizes and discussions about light abatement around your home/business.

Why do dark skies matter? Several studies link light pollution to deteriorating health of wildlife, humans, and the planet. Artificial light interferes with our circadian rhythms by messing with melatonin production and interrupts natural processes like breeding and migrating in everything from sea turtles to birds.

 Sponsored by Kootenay Stardome Foundation.

Wildsight Invermere is pleased to help host a Climate Friendly Homes Tour scheduled for October 14th from 11 am to 2 pm. The tour is a chance for owners of energy-efficient homes to open their doors to those curious to learn more. Visitors to the homes will be able to learn about what steps to take to make a home more comfortable and affordable to heat and cool. They can ask questions about the costs, work involved, and hear about the experience of living in an energy efficient home. There will be access to building contractors, HVAC specialists and energy advisors so people can chat about building or renovating homes to maximize energy efficiency and comfort. Some of the benefits that will be highlighted are:

•  Electric Heat Pumps draw heat from the air outside to warm your home and move it back outside when you need to stay cool. 
• Induction Stove Tops eliminate the need for propane and are safer and more precise than traditional electric stoves.
• Proper sealing, insulation, vapour barriers lower the demand on your heating and cooling systems making your home more energy efficient.
•  Wiring your home for the installation of a Level 2 EV charger makes charging at home cheap and convenient. 

See these home improvements and others in action at the Climate Friendly Homes Tour. Find the tour locations online here

The Climate Friendly Homes tour is brought to you by the Community Energy Association in partnership with the East Kootenay Climate Hub and Wildsight Invermere. The program is funded by BC Hydro, City of Vancouver, B2E and Vancity. 

Save the date for a Home Retrofit Fair - November 12th, 2023. Learn more about rebates available and do it yourself tricks to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable, while saving money on utility bills.

Join us for a screening of a Zoom conversation with John Vaillant author of Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast and Fatima Syad, climate reporter at the Narwal. The Zoom event is sponsored by the BC Libraries Federation on November 8 from 7:30–9 pm in the Invermere Library mezzanine.

Fire has changed communities across BC this year. After the most devastating wildfire season in recorded history, many are wondering how these fires got so big, what we can learn from our current responses, and whether we are prepared for an ever-warming future.

John Vaillant’s book Fire Weather has become a de-facto guide on the new dangers posed by these fires supercharged by a warming planet. He’ll discuss his findings on the Fort McMurray fire of 2016, to help us understand what’s at stake for our cities, towns, and ecosystems. Moderated by Fatima Syed, climate reporter at The Narwhal. 

For more information invermere@wildsight.ca or PublicLibrary@invermere.net

A blue sky, picture perfect day was enjoyed by amazing Wildsight volunteers as they helped count and classify the Columbia Lake bighorn sheep herd. The herd has begun moving down from the heights and has brought with them eight new lambs to date — one for each of the volunteers working that day! 

Monitoring the herd helps us better understand their migration patterns, spatial movements and overall health. Come join us next month — we’ll be back out on November 11th, 10am–3 pm, Meet at the Local cafe in Fairmont. Email invermere@wildsight for details.

Bank Swallows are aerial insectivores whose population has declined in Canada by between 93% and 98% in a recent 40 year period.  In order to increase available breeding habitat for this at-risk species, a large substrate pile in Invermere has recently been enhanced by creating a vertical slope with the ideal friable substrate - features required by breeding Bank Swallows. 

Now that the substrate face has been resloped, the enhancement project in Athalmere is near completion. Bank Swallows can be sensitive to disturbance, so fencing and additional interpretive signage will go up and is aimed at keeping pets and people at a safe distance for the swallows, but will also provide information to people who would like to learn more about these amazing little birds. This enhancement project will be monitored for its effectiveness by the UCSHEP over the next few years.  

To learn more about the UCSHEP or to become involved in monitoring swallow nests in 2024, please visit HERE  or contact us at swallows@wildsight.ca.

Many of us have already realized the benefits of owning an electric car. Not only are they zippy and fun to drive, but over their lifespan, they are cheaper than gas-powered cars. 

Many businesses are also looking at the merits of electrifying their fleets. One of the early adopters is Columbia Valley Freight, reducing carbon emissions and serving businesses and homes in the Columbia Valley. 

Have a local business you’d like to nominate as a climate hero? Email us at invermere@wildsight.ca

Long-time Wildsight volunteer Baiba Morrow has stepped down as president of the Invermere Wildsight branch after 14 years of service to the organization. And while she is still involved with several passion projects at the branch, we’d like to pause and acknowledge Baiba for her years of dedication, commitment and service to protect our natural environment.

Want to see Wildsight Invermere's board in action and learn more about the day to day stuff we are working on? We meet every third Monday of the month, at 7:00 pm at the Chamber of Commerce. Would love to see you there, no commitment expected if you attend! Email invermere@Wildsight.ca to confirm location and time.

Are you a team player anxious to make a difference in your community? Are you a whiz at social media, great at grant writing, super organized and efficient? Read the full job description, and please share widely within your friends and networks.

Please apply with CV and cover letter to invermerejobs@wildsight.ca. The posting will stay open until the best candidate is found.