Are you interested in knowing more about what makes a well-developed restoration project? Looking for ideas on how to build climate resiliency into your projects? Curious about how to develop effective monitoring and evaluation of your project’s results? These types of questions typically come up when designing practical solutions for on-the-ground problems, and preparing funding applications. Building Restoration & Enhancement Projects that Make a Difference is a four-part webinar series offering hands-on, practical solutions to build resilience into your ecosystem restoration and enhancement projects. For details on the individual webinars visit the registration page or check out the Events section below. This year's Winter Webinar Series is hosted by KCP and Columbia Basin Trust with support from the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program.

KCP's “Case for Conservation” trifold brochure details 9 different reasons why conserving private land is so crucial to the health of the region’s ecosystems that support a myriad of plant, fish and animal species — many of which are currently rare or endangered or at risk of becoming so. The brochure opens up into an attractive poster that can be easily posted in offices, public spaces and homes. Printed brochures are available for distribution. If you would like copies, please contact KCP Program Director Juliet Craig at: manager@kootenayconservation.ca.

On December 4, 2021, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, announced federal investments of $14.7 million over the next five years for conservation projects to prevent and manage aquatic invasive species in Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes and Yoho national parks. This investment will help address major threats to aquatic ecosystems by funding programs to prevent and educate against the spread of aquatic invasive species.

In December, a diverse group of parties united by their interest in Elk River watershed health convened to discuss the implementation of an Elk River Watershed Collaborative Monitoring Program. The effort, initiated by the Elk River Alliance (ERA) is an extension of their ongoing watershed stewardship work. Maintaining Elk River watershed health is vital to all who live in the Elk Valley, said George Greene, Chair of the ERA. Many groups are monitoring components of watershed health or hold knowledge about this watershed, but bringing that knowledge together for a full picture is a complicated venture, he said.

The BC Wildlife Federation's Wetlands Education Program presents Wetland Stewardship Virtual Workshop, a free public workshop hosted through Zoom. This 1-day virtual workshop will focus on wetland stewardship, with interviews of landowners in the Kootenays who have created wetland habitat on their personal properties, and guest speakers Neil Fletcher and Tom Biebighauser or Robin Annschild to talk about wetland stewardship funding opportunities and practicalities.

The Invasive Species Council of BC is hosting the 2022 Provincial Youth Summit: “The Power of One”. Join young adults age 15 to 30 from across British Columbia to celebrate youth-led volunteer projects, listen to inspiring speakers and learn valuable skills to become a leader in your community. Hear from several exciting speakers including Simon Jackson, the founder of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, and Katie and Claire, the founders of Friendly Composting. Learn how illustrative nature journaling promotes biodiversity in BC and inspires appreciation of the natural world.

Learn more about best practices and criteria for readiness to participate in land use planning processes in B.C. Researchers Lauren Rethoret and Moe Nadeau of Selkirk Innovates will share more details on the case studies reviewed and lessons from government officials and practitioners advancing this work. Starts at 10 am PT / 11 am MT. Hosted by Y2Y.

In this talk Dr. Brian Menounos will consider the importance of snow and ice, observed changes over the satellite era (mid 1980-present) and projected changes to snow and ice. He will also use a few examples like the heat dome from this past summer to illustrate important interactions between extreme heat events and wildfire that serve to accelerate glacier loss. Presenter: Dr. Brian Menounos, Canadian Research Chair in Glacier Change and University of Northern British Columbia. Starts at 12 pm PT. Hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology.

Learn more about some of the incredible sustainability-focused initiatives and resources available for teachers and learners across Canada. The virtual workshop will offer the opportunity for educators to hear more from our partners at three Canadian non-profit organizations that are leading the way to a more sustainable future. Presented by CBEEN and partners. Starts 4 pm PT / 5 pm MT.

The 11th Annual Crown of the Continent Virtual Symposium will be on the theme Planning for the Future of the Crown. The symposium will include discussions and engagement around: Indigenous experiences with co-management in the Crown; Border spanning large-scale conservation initiatives in Canada and the United States; Understanding 30x30 as it relates to opportunities in the Crown; and the Crown Café. From 1-3 pm MT.

In this Introduction to the Mushrooms and its relationship to Biodiversity, Carmen Dolinsky explains the basic function of mushrooms, how to identify them, eat them or use them as medicine, grow them and how they are integral to forest ecology. Starts at 7 pm MT.

Building Restoration & Enhancement Projects that Make a Difference is a four-part Winter Webinar Series hosted by KCP and Columbia Basin Trust with support from the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program offering hands-on, practical solutions to build resilience into your ecosystem restoration and enhancement projects. This first workshop will explore how to turn an idea into a well-developed project plan by reviewing fundamental components needed to develop a successful project. Presenter: Adrian Leslie, Biologist and Project Manager for the Nature Conservancy of Canada. From 10 am to 11 am PT / 11 am to 12 pm MT.

Building Restoration & Enhancement Projects that Make a Difference is a four-part Winter Webinar Series hosted by KCP and Columbia Basin Trust with support from the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program offering hands-on, practical solutions to build resilience into your ecosystem restoration and enhancement projects. This second workshop focuses on case studies that integrate climate change adaptation and resilience into their on-the-ground terrestrial restoration projects. Presenters: Jessie Grossman, US Program Manager, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; Casey McCormick, Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Sonja Seher, Lands & Resources Project Coordinator, ʔaq̓am. From 10 am to 11 am PT / 11 am to 12 pm MT.

Building Restoration & Enhancement Projects that Make a Difference is a four-part Winter Webinar Series hosted by KCP and Columbia Basin Trust with support from the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program offering hands-on, practical solutions to build resilience into your ecosystem restoration and enhancement projects. This third workshop focuses on case studies that consider climate change in implementing their aquatic restoration projects. Presenters: Julia Shewan, B.S., RPBio, Wildlife Biologist, Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area and Dr. Suzanne Bayley, President, Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners. From 10 am to 11 am PT / 11 am to 12 pm MT.

Building Restoration & Enhancement Projects that Make a Difference is a four-part Winter Webinar Series hosted by KCP and Columbia Basin Trust with support from the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program offering hands-on, practical solutions to build resilience into your ecosystem restoration and enhancement projects. This fourth workshop will explore how to turn an idea into a well-developed project plan by reviewing fundamental components needed to develop a successful project. Presenters: Dr. Michael Miller, Plant Ecologist, LGL Limited and Marc Trudeau, Registered Forest Technician/Coordinator, Rocky Mountain Trench Natural Resources Society. From 10 am to 11 am PT / 11 am to 12 pm MT.

Sinixt Storytellers and Knowledge-keepers Marilyn James and Taress Alexis will share some of the story behind the new edition of their educational resource, Not Extinct: Keeping the Sinixt Way. Their perspectives represent the interest of increasing numbers of people in developing respectful and decolonizing relationships among Indigenous and settler peoples and to inspire the work of reversing the Sinixt extinction. Starts at 4 pm PT / 5 pm MT. Hosted by CBEEN.

The Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) was established in 2000. It provides funding for projects submitted by Canadians that contribute directly to the recovery objectives and population goals of species at risk listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and that prevent others from becoming a conservation concern. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) administers HSP funds that support terrestrial stewardship projects while Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible for administering the HSP for aquatic stewardship projects. The application submission period for projects commencing in 2022-2023 is now open and will close on January 25, 2022 at noon (Pacific Standard Time).

The Regulatory Engagement Coordinator (REC) is responsible to the Team Lead, Strategic Initiatives, for ensuring that Ktunaxa Aboriginal Title, Rights and interests, including stewardship principles, are protected and enhanced in any regulatory decision-making processes. The position is responsible for ensuring coordination between KNC staff, Contractors, community staff and Ktunaxa citizens in reviewing and responding to external land use applications as directed. These responsibilities are to the extent possible within reasonable regulatory decision-making timelines. Coordination includes budgeting, organizing engagement at a technical level, coordination of participation of other KNC sectors, community outreach and communication, and overseeing external consultants on an as-needed basis. Deadline to apply is January 7.

Living Lakes Canada is seeking a Program Coordinator (full-time employee) to start February 15, 2022. The ideal candidate is an individual with experience in the non-profit sector, field work and is Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) certified. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Experience and sound judgment to plan and accomplish goals as well as a wide degree of creativity and rigour are expected. The program coordinator will work independently via remote work space, collaborating with the Living Lakes Canada team, the project team, and external partners on a regular basis. Deadline to apply is January 10.

CVWMA is looking for a driven and passionate Conservations Programs Assistant (maternity/parental leave) to support the Head of Conservation Programs in the delivery of habitat management projects and wildlife monitoring activities. This position will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to apply his/her skills to frequently changing and challenging environments. As well, the position will provide valuable learning and professional development opportunities within a small organizational structure. Deadline to apply is January 14.

EKISC is hiring a full-time, permanent Field Operations Manager for the East Kootenay region.The Field Operations Manager (FOM) will play a key role in overseeing EKISC’s Field Operations program, with a focus on work plan development, contract management, treatment monitoring, data management, and delegation of duties to EKISC staff and sub-contractors. The ideal candidate will have strong administration and communication skills; experience coordinating field programs and managing sub-contractors; proficiency with GIS and database management; ability to work independently at a home office and in the field; and general knowledge of the East Kootenay Region and invasive species management in British Columbia. Deadline to apply is January 17.

Becoming a Board Member is an impactful way to turn your concerns for Kootenay Lake into action. As a board member, you volunteer your time to provide guidance and feedback at FOKLSS meetings, help out at events and workshops, and offer your expertise in all aspects of project planning and implementation. You support staff with making important decisions regarding the organization and play a significant role in moving projects and programs forward.

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.

In this webinar presented by the CRP Domestic Law and Policy Stream and Indigenous Land Trust Sharing Circle, and supported by OKT Law and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, panelists share their insights and expertise on exploring how we can collectively create pathways for respecting Indigenous rights and responsibilities, specifically within private land conservation practice across Turtle Island/Canada.

The Indigenous-led Water Relationships within the Columbia Basin webinar series was organized to make time, space and place for the Ktunaxa, Secwepemc, Syilx-Okanagan/Sinixt Peoples to share values, relationships and responsibilities for and with Water, now and for the future of the water in the Columbia Basin. The series took place over three weeks and the recordings are now available online.

This webinar explores four of the busiest roads in the region near the U.S.-Canadian border: Interstate 90, Highway 93, Highway 1, and Highway 3. Panel discussions share how both countries can work together with Indigenous Peoples, conservation organizations, scientists, and others to make roads safer for all.

The first webinar in the 2021 Wetlands Institute Speaker Series, "Wetlands Hydrology & Climate Vulnerability", is with senior hydrologists at MacHydro and teaches participants about various types of wetlands and their hydrological functions in B.C. and explores the vulnerability of wetlands with the changing climate.

The Kootenay Conservation Program helps partners to coordinate and facilitate conservation efforts on private land, and in an effort to support this, KCP has developed a webpage that compiles some of the best conservation and stewardship resources available for our region.