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Sustainability Scene

by Virginia Rasch

A blog featuring some of the successful sustainable initiatives by Kootenay and Columbia businesses.

Welcome to Sustainability Scene—a blog featuring environmentally friendly or sustainable initiatives. The Kootenay and Columbia are special regions in British Columbia with amazing natural beauty. We are looking for stories about people, organizations or businesses that show a fresh, green approach to sustaining this precious environment. Please submit your idea, and we will follow up with you for a possible entry on this page.

Virginia Rasch

Virginia is a writer and editor with KPI Media. She is an avid outdoor recreationist in all seasons and has lived in the Kootenays for over 15 years. With degrees in the natural sciences, she has worked as a tour guide, an environmentalist, a writer, and an editor of books and scientific publications. Virginia now brings her passion for everything green to KootenayBiz. View all of Virginia Rasch’s articles

Recent Sustainability Scene articles

Cranbrook Farmers Market sign
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Agriculture, Entertainment and Hospitality, Environment, Tourism A love for local: Farmers market season across the Kootenays brings communities together

Local farmers markets help to increase food security and create sustainable communities—check out our list of markets across the Kootenays.

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Store co-ordinator Jennifer Lennon (in front) standing by cash register in interior of store. Another woman is standing behind the till.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Agriculture, Cuisine, Environment, Health & Wellness In Fernie, B.C., there’s a new model for getting local food from farmers to consumers

Community-powered local food is at the heart of the Local Store in Fernie, B.C.

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The Golden Council voted to support the transition to 100% renewable energy, thus taking meaningful action for a healthier, safer and more secure community.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Environment These Kootenay local governments have voted for 100% renewable energy by 2050

The 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign for clean energy, led by the West Kootenay EcoSociety, continues to grow, adding No. 12: Golden

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Individuals and businesses alike need to actively work to be more green, and businesses can benefit from promoting their sustainability practices.
Environment Is your Kootenay business green? Do your potential customers know about your sustainability practice

Are you a green business? KootenayBiz is looking for sustainable business stories.

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Fruitvale City Council
West Kootenay, Environment 10 West Kootenay governments have voted for 100% renewable energy by 2050

The 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign for clean energy, led by the West Kootenay EcoSociety, continues to grow, adding No. 10: Fruitvale

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Evan Berry, energy conservationist for the City of Cranbrook, takes a ride in the City’s first electric vehicle.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Technology, Transportation The City of Cranbrook gives the green light to its first electric vehicle

The City of Cranbrook begins its fleet transition to EVs with the purchase of its first electric vehicle

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Michael Keefer owns three Kootenay companies, one in Rossland and two based in Cranbrook.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, West Kootenay, Rossland, Environment, Real Estate Michael Keefer: The story of a serial entrepreneur in the Kootenays

Michael Keefer, an exemplary entrepreneur, owns three green businesses in the Kootenays

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Heather Bodnarchuk, vice president of operations for Prestige Hotels and Resorts, has overseen the assessment process for Sustainable Tourism 2030 from corporate headquarters in Kelowna, B.C.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Entertainment and Hospitality, Environment, Tourism Part 2: Sustainable Tourism 2030 has been embraced by the Prestige hotels in the Kootenays

Prestige Hotels and Resorts are business leaders with 7 “green” certifications from Sustainable Tourism 2030

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Angela Nagy, president and CEO of GreenStep, started the initiative Sustainable Tourism 2030.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Entertainment and Hospitality, Environment, Tourism Part 1: Sustainable Tourism 2030 can benefit all tourism businesses and organizations in Canada

A certification from Sustainable Tourism 2030 is good for people, the planet and profits

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Logging truck loading logs.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Forestry Oversight board recommends less clearcutting in the Kootenays

The Forest Practices Board released a report that recommends better reforestation practices in B.C.’s dry fir forests, including less clearcutting

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Exterior of BC Interior Forestry Museum.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Forestry B.C.’s Forest Basket—these forests are OURS

B.C.’s Forest Basket is featured in a new podcast series by the BC Interior Forestry Museum in Revelstoke, B.C.

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Cailey Chase feeds one of her goats
East Kootenay, Canal Flats, Kimberley, Agriculture, Animal Care, Environment, Small Business Hire goats for environmentally friendly weed control from Vahana Nature Rehabilitation

A trip of goats are trained as targeted grazers for a unique business: Vahana Nature Rehabilitation in Ta Ta Creek, B.C.

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Virginia Rasch sitting in garden with dog.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Agriculture, Environment, Health & Wellness 14 benefits of a Pandemic Garden

This year plant a Pandemic Garden to help the dual crises of coronavirus and climate change

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A mother is reading a book to her young son.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Energy, Environment Celebrate Earth Hour by reading aloud by candlelight

Revive the lost art of reading aloud during Earth Hour—Saturday, March 28th starting at 8:30 p.m.

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Students studying an observation bee hive in class.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Environment, Financial Funding available for bee projects

The Bee BC Program has funding available to support bee health throughout the province.

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Parents are standing with their three kids on their farm.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Agriculture, Environment Macro-success with microgreens on the Happy Hills Farm

The Happy Hills Farm in Rossland is growing super healthy food year-round

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Group of people smiling and celebrating.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Kaslo Three more West Kootenay communities vote to go green

Three more West Kootenay communities have signed on to the EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign: Castlegar, Warfield and Kaslo

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Shade Sails Canada staff is passing out bags from their second company at their Dragons’ Den appearance in October.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Environment, Retail, Small Business Vibrant and stylish bags are created by the Green Bag Company in Revelstoke, B.C.

The Green Bag Company in Revelstoke, B.C., is creating upscale, upcycled bags of all sizes and shapes

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CFO Krystle Seed, CEO and president Ken Kalesnikoff, and COO Chris Kalesnikoff visit Kallesoe Machinery in Denmark to see their new state-of-the-art glulam line in action.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Environment, Forestry Kudos to the Kalesnikoff Lumber Company

The fourth generation keeps Kalesnikoff Lumber Company a proud and successful enterprise with its forward-thinking approach to forestry

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A group of Silverton citizens hold up signs in support of the 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign.
West Kootenay, Nelson, New Denver, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan, Energy, Environment Five West Kootenay communities are leading the way in renewable energy

Five West Kootenay communities have signed on to the EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign. Meet the early adopters of change.

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View all Sustainability Scene articles