The application period for Local Conservation Fund projects for 2026 projects is now open! Applications are accepted until October 31, and can be submitted by non-profit organizations and Indigenous nations for projects within the participating areas of both the Columbia Valley and the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
Slocan Valley-based ecologist Tyson Ehlers has always had a fascination with the natural world, beginning with the snakes and lizards that fueled his curiosity as a child growing up in the South Okanagan. His enthusiasm for all living things and their interactions remains evident today – he’s truly someone who is doing exactly what he loves. Tyson became enchanted by fungi early in his career, realizing how much we didn’t know about these organisms.
Michelle Daniel, Kootenay Conservation Land Coordinator with The Nature Trust of BC (NTBC), is excited about opportunities to lead ecosystem enhancement and restoration projects, and about collaborating and working with NTBC’s partner organizations.
In May 2025, KCP hosted a West Kootenay Stewardship Committee meeting in Meadow Creek, and in June 2025, an East Kootenay Stewardship Committee meeting in Radium Hot Springs, with the option of remote attendance via Zoom for both. The morning meetings were followed by a local field tour in the afternoon.
Laurie Carr, Executive Director of the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS), finds her work rewarding because the solutions are often straightforward and tangible, and there is something that everyone can do - no matter how small - to protect our ecosystems. She served as President of the Board of Directors for five years, before joining the staff team six years ago.
