As we head into the new year, we’re excited to share that Spark has upgraded from our 2019 Chevy Bolt to a 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric. The new vehicle will continue to be equipped with both a bike rack and ski rack, ensuring it remains practical for local residents, workers without access to a vehicle, visitors, and anyone curious about life with an EV. 

Spark is the Columbia Valley’s only carshare program and rural Canada’s first electric car-share program—an initiative run by Wildsight Invermere and one that’s quietly transforming how people move around the Columbia Valley. 

Since launching in 2020, Spark has grown to 189 registered users, with the vehicle in use roughly about 65% of the time, reflecting steady, year-round demand. To date, the program has helped avoid an estimated 46,762 kg of CO₂ emissions — roughly the equivalent of removing 10 gasoline vehicles from the road for an entire year. For a small community, that’s a meaningful impact.

For just $75/day – this includes everything – your rental charge, mileage and no cost for fuel, Spark is available to rent for a day, or even up to 2 weeks. Spark has provided accessible, low-carbon transportation in the Columbia Valley and become a vital connection point for people who need reliable transportation while living and working in the valley.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our newest program Columbia Valley Shift, a circular economy program that involves moving away from the traditional "take-make-use-dispose" linear model toward a system where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, waste is eliminated, and natural systems are regenerated. A circular economy aims to use all our resources in the most efficient way possible. Columbia Valley Shift aims to shift our community socially, economically and environmentally toward, creating a cultural shift within our valley. 

Learn more about Columbia Valley Shift

Upcoming event:

Join us on February 26th for the first Columbia Valley Shift Repair Café facilitated by the valley’s own Sally Johnson from ReStyling Hemming and Alterations and Heather Rennebohm who will be sharing their knowledge and experience in basic textile repairs so we can prioritize repairing over repurchasing when our items break. This interactive workshop is a place for you to bring your clothing items to learn how to make minor repairs yourself and reduce textile waste going into landfill. This workshop is open to all skill levels; if you’d like some guidance or a space to work on your projects, come along. Entry is by donation which will go to Sally and Heather to thank them for sharing their knowledge and skills. Please register below as spaces are limited. Wildsight Invermere will provide supplies and cover all other costs, however if you have sewing materials you’d like to bring you are most welcome.

Bring along the textiles you’d like to get some guidance on. If you have a sewing machine, you are more than welcome to bring it and get some assistance.

This is the first of our Repair Café workshop series, a core element of the new Columbia Valley Shift program.

Kiʔsuk kyukyit q̓api niskiⱡ

On behalf of CBEEN, we are excited to announce the Ktunaxa Introductory Language Course has been confirmed and will be starting on February 23rd.

This course is open to everyone — both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who wish to support language revitalization. Learn the sounds, words and some history of the Ktunaxa Language.

It is facilitated by Ktunaxa Elder, Alfred Joseph, and Ktunaxa Language Instructor, Mara Nelson. This will be the 6th time this online course has been offered, and some fantastic feedback has been received over the years.

We invite you to join, and to share with friends, family & colleagues! 

Suʔkni. ʔan wunikit

For more information on this, and other Ktunaxa learning resources, visit: 

Mark your calendars: March 26th. Have clothes to sell? Clear out your wardrobe and register to become a stall holder or come along to keep good quality textiles in circulation.

We’re excited to announce a new program in the works called Junior Ambassador. Beginning in Spring 2026, youth participants will receive classroom learning and hands-on training in responsible recreation, ecological monitoring, and community outreach, to then serve as ambassadors for responsible recreation within their communities. Junior Ambassador is a unique collaboration with First Nations, schools, recreation groups, NGOs, tourism organizations, local businesses, and many levels of government. This includes three learning phases: in-class education, experiential field days, reflection & celebration; focused on environmental, educational, social & cultural outcomes. 

The Junior Ambassadors will support the enhancement of public recreation sites across the Columbia Valley, including Lake Enid, Lake Lillian, Windermere Wells, Lower Bugaboo Falls, and Dogleg Lake, helping ensure these sites remain safe, accessible, and welcoming. 

Volunteer opportunity:

Are you eager to support youth learning outdoors about how to connect with and care for themselves, the environment and their community? Do you have admin skills and like to keep everything organized? If you have a background in safety or outdoor leadership that’s helpful too, but not required. 

This program is brand new to the Columbia Valley so we are looking for a little extra assistance to work alongside us and help put together a couple of policy & record keeping binders over the next 2-3 weeks.

If you are interested, please email invermere@wildsight.ca