The West Kootenay EcoSociety is committed to working with communities to protect the natural environment while building a just and sustainable post-carbon world.

News & Events

EcoSociety OPEN HOUSE
Thursday Feb 11, 3 - 6pm

Come see our new office and meet Executive Director Hillary Vipond.
Updates on environmental campaigns and events, volunteer positions available, input and ideas welcome!

#206, 507 Baker St.

Whitewater Resort is wanting to expand into Qua Basin, a “protected” caribou habitat. Withdrawing these plans is a vital first step towards developing the resort in a sustainable manner. Contact Whitewater, encourage them to do the right thing – stay out of Qua Basin.


Mountain caribou are one of the most critically endangered animals in North America. In February 2009, after years of work by local and provincial environmental groups, the BC government legalized critical new caribou habitat protection. The Qua Basin area is currently protected under this Caribou Habitat Legal Order, Ungulate Winter Range #U-4-012.

The Whitewater Ski Resort has requested that the Deputy Minister of the Environment and the Ministry of Forests and Range exclude the Whitewater Commercial Recreation Area license from the Caribou Habitat Legal Order so that Qua Basin can be developed. There are only around 1900 Mountain Caribou left in the world today. Given that the Qua Basin provides critical early and late winter habitat for the globally endangered mountain caribou, the EcoSociety sees withdrawing proposed expansion plans for the Qua Basin as a vital first step towards developing Whitewater Resort in a sustainable manner.

Please contact the Whitewater manager and owners to express
your concerns before February 22, 2010.

Manager: Brian Cusack, brian@skiwhitewater.com
Whitewater owners:
Mitch Putnam, mputnam@32degrees.ca
Andrew Kyle, andrew@sbtechventures.com

Copy emails to the Ministry of Tourism at tori.meeks@gov.bc.ca

Seedy Saturday events: the heart of local food security starts with having a collection of seed that people can save, exchange, and grow year after year.

Feb 21 - Doukhobor Discovery Centre (across from Castlegar's airport)
Sale 1pm - 3pm, seedsaving workshop 3pm - 4pm
More info: Netta Zuberoff 250-365-3512

March 7 - Slocan Park Hall
1pm - 5pm, Admission: A donation to the Slocan Foodbank
To reserve a table call: Slocan Valley Recreation Commission. Phone 250-226-0008

March 20 - Nelson Library Basement
EcoSociety Seedy Saturday 9am - 1pm, seed saving workshop 12pm - 1pm
Reserve tables (by donation), please contact Suzy 825-9372

9th ANNUAL NELSON GARDEN FESTIVAL

MOTHER’S DAY
Saturday, May 8, 2010
10 am to 3 pm

Download registration form here.