Group Photo_KCP Fall Gathering 2026.CROP

KCP’s 2026 Fall Gathering focused on the theme of “Passing the Torch: Lessons for the Next Chapter of Restoration and Stewardship”.

The event on October 15 & 16 in Nelson and Castlegar honoured the legacy and captured the extensive knowledge of senior restoration and stewardship professionals in the region. With some conservation practitioners nearing retirement, the gathering provided an opportunity for intergenerational knowledge exchange. We were joined by second-year Selkirk College students in the Recreation, Fish and Wildlife program, adding energy and opportunities for more connection to the day.

Thursday’s conference was held at the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson. To kick off Day 1, KCP Board Chair Derek Petersen and KCP Program Director Juliet Craig welcomed everyone to the Gathering and set the stage for the event.

Doris Hausleitner, Selkirk College instructor, shared some words of wisdom about conservation being a social discipline and the importance of building trust and learning from people who have different values. Five Selkirk College students: Emmy Anderson, Maryann Herring, Jett Dunic, Zachary Watson, and Curtis Lesnika, shared their perspectives on conservation priorities. These included Indigenous collaboration, excessive resource use including the overuse of water, invasive species, and ecological connectivity.

Marcy Mahr (Kootenay Connect Society, formerly KCP) shared lessons learned and impacts delivered from seven years of Kootenay Connect Priority Places projects, and Greg Utzig (Kutenai Nature Investigations) shared a first reveal of a new process using Biogeoclimatic (BEC) zone-based priorities for conservation planning.

Suzanne Bayley with Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners and Gerry Nellestijn with Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers both shared knowledge and wisdom from their experience with stream, riparian, and wetland restoration.

Thank you to all the presenters for sharing their knowledge and preparing these engaging presentations.

The Conservation Café facilitated by Lynn Betts included many thoughtful discussions on topics ranging from water conservation to ecological connectivity, followed by a stunning photographic journey celebrating Kootenay Connect Priority Places.

To close the day, the winners of KCP’s Annual Conservation Leadership Awards were announced. The 2026 recipients were Dr. Suzanne Bayley with Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners for the East Kootenay, and Brenda Beckwith for the West Kootenay, nominated for her work with the Kootenay Native Plant Society. Marcy Mahr was honoured with an award for her outstanding contribution to KCP over the years. Congratulations to all of the award winners!

Friday’s field tour began in Ootishenia at Waterloo Eddy Regional Park. Geneviève Bergeron with the Regional District of Central Kootenay provided some background on the RDCK’s management of the park. Lindy Lin and Alysia Dobie with Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) shared successes, challenges, and wisdom gained from their dryland forest and riparian restoration project. Elliott Tonasket with ONA shared stories and insights to put the restoration into a wider context of stewardship and traditional values. Laurie Frankcom with CKISS described how the community came together to contribute to invasive species pulls and native plant restoration projects at Waterloo Eddy.

After lunch in Millenium Park in Castlegar the tour continued at a site on the Columbia River near the Norns Creek fan. Elliott Tonasket shared drumming and a song. James Baxter with the Sinixt Confederacy gave an overview of the history and recovery efforts to bring salmon back to the Columbia and Arrow Lakes. Patrick Zubick with ONA provided updates on the salmon recovery and monitoring efforts. Juliet Craig facilitated a closing circle to wrap up this inspiring day.

Thank you to everyone who helped make KCP’s 2026 Fall Gathering and Field Tour a success!