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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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Darcy Wanuk is wearing one of her creations, a jean jacket with swaths of added cloth.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Small Business Darcy Wanuk repurposes old textiles into funky, fun clothes for women

Darcy Wanuk started stitch + cloth Ecodesigns in Kimberley, B.C., to reconstruct old textiles into funky women’s clothing

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As manager of Cominco Gardens, Dan Matheson spends a lot of time in the gardens. Here, he is standing next to tall purple delphiniums.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Tourism Cominco Gardens: A floral work of art

While checking out Kimberley’s visitor attractions, don’t forget the flowerful Cominco Gardens

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Attila Lepsis standing in front of distillery.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Cuisine Elderberry Bros. Farms sells schnapps and more

The Elderberry Bros. Farms in Cranbrook, B.C., sells many elderberry delights, including schnapps

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Paul Denchuk and Meredith Hamstead are standing together in front of a home.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Energy, Environment, Small Business thinkBright Homes: A lighter touch on the planet

thinkBright Homes, based in Invermere, B.C., is at the cutting edge of the green building industry

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The two owners, Petra and Tiffany Ware, are standing in their store with body care products on shelves behind them.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Your nose knows the difference in natural body care products

Petra Naturally in Cranbrook, B.C., expanded to offer even more natural bath and body products and loose teas

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Shown is the interior of a tiny house, showing the kitchen in the foreground with lots of wood everywhere.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Environment, Small Business Nelson Tiny Houses are big on charm

Nelson Tiny Houses in Nelson, B.C., proves that downsizing can mean upgrading

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Two female students are wearing warm layers of clothes and are holding a sign that says
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Nelson, Energy, Environment A Cool Challenge

Selkirk College is participating in the BC Cool Campus Challenge to lower its environmental footprint

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The two owners of The Purist Pantry are shown seated: Todd and Melinda Kopet.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business The Purist Pantry in Rossland offers healthy foods from scratch

Melinda and Todd Kopet create healthy foods from scratch out of The Purist Pantry in Rossland, B.C.

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Alicia and Nicola Herman stand in front of their storefront, Grow Tea & Elixir Corner in Kimberley, B.C.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Growing a sustainable business in Kimberley, B.C.

Grow Tea & Elixir Corner won the Kimberley chamber’s Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award in 2018

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Jill Bentley-Lobban stands in front of her new store in Kimberley.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Fulfill your shopping needs at fullfill in Kimberley

Newly opened fullfill in Kimberley, B.C., is a green alternative to traditional stores

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A bugling bull elk sits in a forest opening.
East Kootenay, Environment, Forestry National Forest Week 2018

National Forest Week (September 23 to 29, 2018) celebrates the research we undertake in our forests, including studies on our Rocky Mountain elk

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Owners Gabriele and Frank Lorenz are standing in front of the Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C.
East Kootenay, Radium Hot Springs, Energy, Entertainment and Hospitality The Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C., has your values at heart

Green travellers are enthusiastically welcomed at the Lido Motel in Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

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Lana Schanzenbach is holding several of her Little Lunches Reusable Wraps.
East Kootenay, Creston, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business Little Lunches Reusable Wraps reduce your plastic use

Little Lunches Reusable Wraps keep food fresh and reduce plastic use in your lunchbox

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Colourful beehives are lined up underneath blooming apple trees.
Agriculture, Environment Bee involved in bee health

The Province of BC has announced the new BeeBC Program

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A headshot of Scott Wilson, owner of Grassroots Environmental Services in Golden, B.C.
West Kootenay, Golden, Environment Aquatic biologist Scott Wilson whistles while he works … most of the time

Owner of Grassroots Environmental Services in Golden, Scott Wilson can encounter anything while out protecting waterways … even wolves

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Ashley Taylor is leaning over a green bin that she collects food waste in.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Agriculture, Environment A step forward for food security in Fernie

Valley Vitals owner Ashley Taylor has a passion to connect people back with their environment and their community through food.

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Natasha Benson (L) and Julie Taylor, owners of The Raw House, are standing in a field of beets.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Drink your plants!

The Raw House in Cranbrook, B.C., offers unique, healthy cold-pressed juices and nut mylks

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A headshot of Forrest Campbell, owner of Freewheeling Energy in Invermere, B.C.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Energy, Environment, Small Business Sun-kissed lemons and buckets of optimism

Based in Invermere, B.C., Forrest Campbell formed Freewheeling Energy

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A headshot of Monica Swagar with snow in the background
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Monica Swagar thrives on growth

The Swag Hair Studio won a green award from the Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce

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A water bomber is flying over Moyie Lake with the sun filtered by smoke.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Environment, Forestry Historic B.C. wildfire season

The unprecedented wildfire season in B.C. will affect the forest industry

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Melanie Buerge is standing outside in a row that is between huge benches of evergreen tree seedlings.
West Kootenay, Forestry Growing our future forests

Harrop, B.C.’s nursery is part of PRT Growing Services Ltd.

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A photo of the moon covering most of the sun during a solar eclipse
Environment Where will you be during Monday’s eclipse?

Watch wild animals during the solar eclipse on Monday, August 21 and become part of the citizen scientist project.

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Sarah Osadetz, WildSafeBC community co-ordinator for Golden, is standing next to a bear-resistant garbage bin.
East Kootenay, Environment Saving bears . . . one garbage bin at a time

Golden, B.C., is distributing bear-resistant garbage bins to decrease bear destruction

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The Bolter family (parents and two kids) stand in a pasture with their beef cows in the background.
East Kootenay, Agriculture, Cuisine, Environment A celebration of citizenship—of Canada and food

It’s a great time to be a food citizen in Canada

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Ornamental kale is in the foreground of a traditional flower garden. The green, purple and pink kale is edible.
Agriculture, Environment Edimentals: edible, ornamental plants

Landscape your yard for beauty and for food with edimentals—edible, ornamental plants

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The author is sitting on top of Mount Brewer near Invermere with a sea of mountains in the background.
Environment, Health & Wellness Time to play . . . on Earth Day!

This year’s theme for Earth Day—April 22nd—is EarthPlay

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A Chevy Bolt is parked next to the newly unveiled DC fast-charging station in Cranbrook, B.C.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Energy, Environment, Tourism, Transportation Accelerating the future of electric vehicles in the Kootenays

Accelerate Kootenay is a two-year $1.5-million project to install over 50 electric vehicle chargers along Highway 3

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The pot is into a plastic bag that is inside the solar collector.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Cuisine, Energy, Environment Faisal Jhandir of Fernie, B.C., has invented a portable solar kitchen

Retired physician Faisal Jhandir is on a mission to save the planet with solar cooking

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A herd of big-horn sheep are running across a road.
East Kootenay, Elkford, Fernie, Sparwood, Environment, Transportation Here’s a wild idea: Grab your phone and report wildlife

Road Watch BC is recruiting citizen scientists to gather data that will reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions

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A woman is one of the many volunteers planting tulip bulbs last October.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Agriculture Fernie is coming up tulips

The EcoGarden in Fernie was awarded 1,000 red and white tulip bulbs to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary

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