The countdown is on, and our film fest committee is working hard to pull the final details together. Now, friends, it’s up to you to act now and buy your tickets before they sell out. If you have issues with buying online, email invermere@wildsight.ca and we can hold tickets at the door.

While for most of the year our feet are firmly on the ground and we focus on local issues like forestry, wildlife and habitat conservation (eg. our Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep project), and climate change resiliency, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a chance to stretch our imaginations and reach out beyond our mountain boundaries and tap into the global community. 

Whether it’s a documentary about water issues in Chile, a deep reflection on bees or a gutsy adventure on Baffin Island, we know that the films will resonate with you and that they relate to your life here in the Columbia Valley or wherever you live. There are many passionate people amongst us, as well as all over the world, and we need to draw inspiration from each other. We hope that the film festival’s byline—where activism is inspired – resonates with you. You can check out the evening program here.

Being a member of Wildsight means valuing wilderness, wildlife and healthy communities. Believing that by taking care of the things we love, collectively, through action, we can change the world. As a small incentive, all new memberships bought up until the intermission at the film festival will get entered into a special prize draw. Add your voice by buying a membership here.

As you know, it’s our annual fundraiser and so, however you decide to get involved, please know we appreciate your support. See you on November 18th at our 10th Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

Greening the festival. Help us reduce waste at the festival and bring your own plate and cutlery and receive an extra door prize slip. The Wilkers from The Old Blue Truck Farm will be composting all the paper plates and leftover food scraps for their year-round vermicomposting.

Our festival relies on volunteers helping out and many of you have already stepped forward. Thanks! We still have a few volunteer opportunities that need to be filled. Come, join the fun and receive a ticket to the films and a slice of pizza to keep you powered up. Just fill out this form and we will be in touch about the details. Thanks so much to all those who have already signed up — we couldn't do this without you!

What do the following have in common? A lawyer, dentist, brewer, physiotherapist, naturopath, house builder, car fixer-upper, mountain guide, coffee roaster, bird nerd (aka ornithologist), wilderness lodge owner, solar energy fanatics …. They are all sponsors for our 10th Wild & Scenic Film Festival. They are our community. And we love them all!

We are always honoured and humbled by the “Yes, of course!” response we get when we approach our past Visionary sponsors. This year, they are once again Steph and Aaron VandeKemp from Cleanline Automotive, Morgan Blakley with Columbia Valley Law, Cam Gillies and Renee Franken with Eagle Eye Tours, and Meredith Hamstead and Paul Denchuk from thinkBright Homes.

Thank you also goes to our Catalyst sponsors: Collective Carpentry, Columbia Basin Trust, Energy Economics, Juniper Bistro & Hotel, Premier Physio & Purcell Orthotics, Radium Brewing, and Veritas Integrative Healing. The seven sponsors in the Leader category are Basecamp Innovations, Copper City Dental, Diana Lake Lodge, Kicking Horse Coffee, Kootenay Savings & Credit Unions, The Brick, and Turning Point Advisory.

A special shout out also goes to Wilmer-born mountain guide, Kirk Mauthner and his company Basecamp Innovations! He has supported the festival the longest, ever since we began our sponsorship program in 2016. 

So when you see any of these people or visit their businesses, give them your gratitude, too!

What’s priceless? (And no, it’s not something from a Mastercard ad.) Our answer: a thriving ecosystem with abundant wildlife, fresh flowing water, clean air, and healthy communities.

What has a monetary value? 45 unique items in our AUCTION FOR THE WILD! The auction goes live today and ends at 8:15 pm on the night of our 10th Wild & Scenic Film Fest on November 18th. We’re hoping that you’ll be inspired to give generously during this, our annual Wildsight Invermere fundraiser. Your support helps keep our environmental and educational initiatives going, including the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep conservation & biodiversity program, responsible outdoor recreation, climate change resiliency, and restoration at Lake Enid. 

We are grateful to all our friends and the businesses that have donated services and items. But as you check them out, please know that they are more than just “things”; many come filled with rich stories and a love for the wild. 

How about Mt. Everest? (No, we’re not offering a trip to Nepal.) But you can tap into the experiences of Pat Morrow, successful summiteer on the first Canadian Everest Expedition in 1982 and Wilmer resident, by bidding on his photo workshop. Following on the mountain theme is a quilt made specially for the auction by the Valley Piecemakers. This awesome group of women like to pool their creativity for special causes, like supporting environmental issues. And do you love Jumbo Wild? The Columbia Valley Hut Society is once again donating a two-night stay at the Jumbo Cabin. Talk about a place that comes with history! 

This is just a small sampling of what you’ll find in our online auction that reflects the Columbia Valley’s wellness, artistic and outdoor community. The auction items will be on display at the Columbia Valley Centre on the night of the festival. If you’re not computer savvy and want to bid on something, there will be someone there to help you set up an account with your credit card. 

 So, back to the initial question. What’s priceless to you?

We are holding a monthly Bighorn sheep monitoring event for the next 10 months (November 2023–August 2024). No experience is needed to be a citizen science sheep monitor, just the ability to walk and be outside for 3–4 hours. We will provide you with orientation and tools to do the monitoring. This is in support of our Bighorn Sheep Conservation and Biodiversity project. By participating in the program, volunteers actively contribute to the project’s objectives by assisting in monitoring activities such as observing and documenting bighorn sheep sightings, recording behavioural observations, and collecting data on habitat use. 

Please register if you are interested.

The November event will be on November 11. Time 10am – 3pm. The sheep herd is located near Canal Flats. We will meet at the Local cafe in Fairmont.

Living in a house that’s cold and drafty in the winter, hot and stuffy in the summer? Learn how to renovate (retrofit) your home so that it is more energy efficient and comfortable, while saving money on utility bills. We’ll have tradespeople, building suppliers, energy advisors and others available to answer your questions. Or attend a workshop to gain more in-depth information on Provincial and Federal rebates/loans, DIY air filtration (think forest fire smoke), heat pumps and other subjects. Refreshments and lots of door prizes available! Join us at the CV Chamber of Commerce, Invermere 1-5 pm November 12th. Sponsored by Wildsight Invermere, Columbia Valley Economic Development, and East Kootenay Climate Hub.

As we head towards a new year, do you want to make more of a difference in your community? Join us on Sunday, November 26, from 3–5pm, for a fun and informal gathering to put our hearts and minds together (= brainstorm). Help us create some ideas around our three areas of strategic focus: Community, Conservation and Climate Change.

Check out our Branch page to read about our current programs and our vision and mission statements.

Add your voice and turn your passion into a powerful force of action for 2024. Please let us know if you will be attending by emailing Invermere@wildsight.ca

Join us November 20th at 7 pm, CV Chamber of Commerce Office. Get to know us and hear firsthand about our projects. Welcome to just come check us out, no pressure, no commitment! If you have any questions please email Invermere@wildsight.ca.

The RDEK is in the process of developing a Climate Action Plan that will cover our six electoral areas. The plan is intended to increase resilience and reduce emissions in both the region and our corporate operations and we are looking for public input. If you live in, own property, or have a business in an RDEK electoral area, we are seeking your feedback.

You can share your thoughts and ideas in the Climate Action Survey found HERE.

In addition to the survey, we have created a new project page where additional information and resources will be posted. You can check it out HERE.

The Climate Action Plan will focus on mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation includes any actions that work to reduce or prevent the emission of GHGs (greenhouse gases) and is an important part of responding to climate change. The plan will set targets to reduce community and corporate greenhouse gas emissions, identify actions in key areas that will set out how the RDEK will help meet these targets, and provide meaningful guidance on the expenditure of the RDEK’s Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) funds.

Changes in our climate include more extreme wildfires, flooding, hotter summers, and poor air quality from wildfire smoke. These events have a direct impact on the health of residents, including the direct threat of rising temperatures, increased exposure to poor air quality, and challenges to mental, emotional, and community health.

The survey will be open until November 30, 2023.

If you have questions about the project, please contact Project Coordinator Rodrigo Baston at rodrigo@pinna.ca or RDEK Planner Krista Gilbert at kgilbert@rdek.bc.ca. Krista can also be reached by phone at our Cranbrook office at 1-888-478-7335.

The Province is now accepting applications for members on the East Kootenay Wildlife & Habitat Advisory Committee. The committee is responsible for providing advice on the regional implementation of the Together for Wildlife Strategy.

Members must have a demonstrated commitment to wildlife and habitat conservation, skills for respectfully and effectively collaborating with others, and have the time to be an active and engaged member of the newly formed committee. 

If you’re interested, email fishandwildlife@gov.bc.ca with the subject line “East Kootenay Wildlife & Habitat Advisory Committee membership” to learn more. Apply by December 4, 2023.

Last month’s Climate Friendly Homes Tour showcased inspiring examples of how homes can be built or retrofitted to be more comfortable and healthy for people and the planet.

A lot of the climate pollution in our area comes from heating and cooling buildings. In order to meet climate targets, we will need to embrace electrification and energy efficiency. Homes on this tour showed specific examples of how this can be done.

Participants learned first hand about heat pumps, high efficiency building envelopes and renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.

The tour was organized by the Community Energy Association with local support from the East Kootenay Climate Hub and Wildsight Invermere. We look forward to taking what was learned this first year and making it even better next year.

Deep gratitude to all the homeowners who opened up their homes to us!

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.