Join us for an unforgettable evening of adventure, inspiration, and community. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival brings stories of wild places, bold expeditions, and grassroots solutions to the Columbia Valley. On November 15th the Columbia Valley Centre will be filled with friends, food, fun and films for our big annual fundraising event, now in its 12th year running! Get your tickets early and be in for a chance to win a sweet gift basket from Rocky Mountain Honey (first 50 tickets sold are entered in the draw). 

Do baby elephants, seaweed adventures, and a feisty Mexican grandmother pique your interest? With 10 short documentary films to fill the evening, you’ll laugh, sigh, be inspired, provoked and entertained by a cast of characters — human and otherwise – from all over the world. The festival is about so much more than films, too. It’s a lively, cozy gathering of people in our community who care: people who care about the world, Mother Nature, each other, and our mountain home. 

There are opportunities to bid in a live silent auction and buy raffle tickets for awesome outdoor adventures, and you can enjoy pizza, movie treats and a range of beverages, while chatting with friends new and old.

Wildsight Invermere has an exciting and impactful range of conservation and climate action programs planned for next year, from repair cafes to ambassadors for the wild, from swallow nest conservation to water recreation stewardship. ALL proceeds from the festival directly fund these programs and keep Wildsight Invermere’s work thriving throughout the Columbia Valley. A huge thanks goes to the festival’s presenting sponsor Eagle Eye Tours and our Summit sponsors ThinkBright Homes and Dr Suzanne Bayley, to our Headwaters and Wetlands Sponsors (check them out below) and to all our Festival Friends and supporters - we could not do this work without you.

Not able to join us in Invermere on November 15th? Don’t worry, you can watch all 10 films from the comfort of your own home or wherever you happen to be (within North America) any time between November 15–21, with an Online Film Access ticket. And if you’re in Golden area next Friday October 17th, you can support our friends at Wildsight Golden with their own film fest and enjoy a whole different selection of films!

This year’s Raffle for the Wild will get you out into the wild, with the chance to score one of three awesome prizes from our wonderful donors. Every ticket supports Wildsight Invermere’s conservation and climate action programs, keeping our lakes, wetlands, and wildlife thriving for future generations.

A two-night stay at Shadow Lake Lodge or a two-night stay at Nipika Mountain Resort? Yes please! Have a taste of luxury in your own cozy backcountry cabin while exploring these wilderness areas in summer or winter. The third prize on offer is a wilderness summer day hike at Lake O’Hara, guided by Follow Your Feet.

Tickets are only $10 for a single, or $25 for three. Get yours now! (and play responsibly :-)

Each year a small army of volunteers comes together to help make the Wild & Scenic Film Festival come to life. Be part of this team on November 15th to help with setup (and cleanup on the 16th), selling tickets, serving food or drinks and a myriad of other essential tasks. We are particularly looking for someone to organize the concession booth; if you love that buttery popcorn smell this one’s for you! Volunteers get free entry to the festival, as well as a pizza slice and soft drink, thanks to sponsorship from Turning Point Business Advisory. If you’d like to volunteer but can’t help on the day, please get in touch as there is other behind-the-scenes work to be done as well.

Callout to homegrown foodies: contribute to a special hamper in our silent auction this year: The Community Jam! If you have any homemade jams or preserves of any kind that you’d like to contribute, please email invermere@wildsight.ca or call 250-409-5708 to coordinate drop-off. 

Many of you know Baiba Morrow — she served as Wildsight Invermere’s president for 11 years and continues to be a passionate force for protecting the wild places we love. On October 13th, she’s celebrating her 70th birthday, a milestone her friends — and her 100-year-old mother, Vera — say deserves recognition. While Baiba has never expected nor wanted birthday gifts, this year she’s making an exception. Her birthday wish is to the mountains and wild spaces of southeastern BC. She invites friends and Wildsight supporters to join her in keeping these landscapes vibrant, peaceful, and alive for generations to come.

Baiba hopes you might consider sending a small donation via the button below (or by e-transfer to invermere@wildsight.ca). Every dollar will be matched by Pat, her doting husband and partner in “climb”. And with Canada Post on strike, you can’t send her a card, so why not send your love straight to the land instead?

This summer, British Columbians shared their priorities through the annual consultation for the upcoming provincial budget, and Wildsight was one of the groups that provided input. The resulting report provides a comprehensive summary of the ideas and priorities raised during the consultation, along with the committee’s recommendations.

It was encouraging to see the executive summary acknowledge the need for strategic investments to address climate change and support a transition to a green economy. The committee also emphasized environmental conservation and stewardship as key priorities.

Several of the recommendations align closely with initiatives Wildsight has championed in recent years, including:

• Reviewing and enhancing heat pump rebates and energy-efficiency programs
• Rebates to cover transition costs related to the Zero Carbon Step Code
• Reviewing the public transit service model and exploring alternative, long-term funding approaches

Other recommendations reflect the need for stronger protection and management of natural resources:

• Dedicating additional funding to prevent the introduction of invasive mussels in the province
• Implementing hunting and fishing licence surcharges, with a portion of fees directed to fish and wildlife conservation initiatives
• Adjusting BC Parks campsite fees and dedicating revenue to campsite maintenance and improvements
• Allocating a portion of water rental rates to drinking water protection, watershed monitoring, and improved water management

It’s reassuring to know that Wildsight’s efforts align with the priorities expressed by British Columbians. Thank you for supporting this vital work.

As we nestle into fall routines, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the busy summer season we’ve had, hosting and participating in so many events, workshops and activities—made possible thanks to our amazing supporters and partners!

Water Celebrations & Learning
• Watershed Whodunnit social
• Everyone is a River Steward webinar
• Tour of the Radium water treatment facilities
• River paddle from Invermere to Radium

Sustainable Community Events
• Pre-loved clothing market
• Plastic-free July activities
• Local food resilience events
• Tiny homes webinar
• Support for energy-efficiency housing upgrades

Caring for Our Place
• Three cleanups at Lake Enid
• Two invasive weed pulls
• Bat counts (itty bitty and flitty!) and swallow counts
• Support for water stewardship work
• Waste diversion at Redstreak Campground
• Guided educational hikes

Bike Valet
• 200 bikes parked at 13 local events — helping make active transportation easy and fun!

Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun, volunteered, and supported us and all our partner organizations who bring this important work to our communities.