Slocan Valley Community Legacy Society displays a love of good works

Love of home place, dedication, and good works were on display at the Slocan Valley Community Legacy Society AGM May 29. 2018.
Valley Legacy Fund balance was $202,344.
This sum reflects major increases through raising $10,000 on Giving Tuesday from generous individuals, an $8,000 gift from the Anderson Family Trust, and an $8,000 gift from the Mount Sentinel School 2016 and 2017 graduating classes. Once again, the Society is grateful for generous contributions  from the Kootenay Savings Community Foundation and CBT.
A highlight of the AGM was the reporting by the 2017 grant recipients. The audience enjoyed learning about the Wild  Days field trips sponsored by the Hills Recreation Society in partnership with the Slocan Lake Stewardship Society, community food events sponsored by the Healthy Community Society of the  North Slocan Valley in partnership with the Zion United Church, the successful repair of the Vallican Whole Community Centre’s basement by the Rural Alternatives Research & Training Society, and the improvements to the very well-used computer lab at the W.E. Graham Community Learning Centre, sponsored by the W.E. Graham Community Services Society.
The six successful 2018 grant recipients include the New Denver Hospice Society for renovation and remodel of its  bereavement centre, the Slocan Lake and the Hidden Garden Gallery societies’  partnering to create a new Hidden Garden Gallery space, RARTS for the Vallican Whole Art Gallery Project, the W.E Graham CSS for the successful  Intergenerational Cooking Program, the Sandon Historical Society for wheelchair access to the Sandon Museum, and  finally the Corporation of the Village of Slocan partnering with the Slocan Valley Heritage Trail Society for purchase of rail trail safety equipment.

by Sharon Butler

Export Navigator Program in the Slocan Valley

Are you a manufacturer?

Do you have a product or service you would like to expand into markets outside of the Slocan Valley region?

this is a free service that will:

FOSTER INNOVATION AND ENHANCE COMPETITIVENESS
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DIVERSIFY YOUR CUSTOMER BASE

Contact Michael Hoher of Community Futures today for more information:

michael@exportnavigator.ca
(250) 354-7857

Sponsored by the Slocan Valley Economic Development Commission, in cooperation with the Slocan & District Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

by Sharon Butler

$1 Million Grant for SIFCo’s Wildfire Protection Plan

SIFCo, the Slocan Integral  Forestry Cooperative based in Winlaw, has received $1 million from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) to continue with its landscape-level Strategic Wildfire Protection Plan.

“This is huge,” says manager Stephan Martineau. “Since 2009, we have steadily gotten  closer to creating a demonstration for the province of how a region can approach, at the landscape scale, climate change adaptation and wildfire preparedness.
With this commitment and support from FESBC, we are making another giant step in that direction.”
To effectively protect rural areas in BC, SIFCo’s plan proposes a landscape-level approach  rather than a piecemeal one. The plan lays out 12 strategic fuel managed zones located across main fire movement corridors identified through computer modeling, amongst  other things.

"The grant will go directly toward the treatment of over 300 hectares of land all located  within our 12 strategic landscape-level fuel breaks. It’s a team effort with FESBC and the ongoing support from the Selkirk Resource District.” said Martineau.

 

by Sharon Butler

Columbia River Treaty Negotiations Underway

 

by Sharon Butler

RDI Focus - Checking in on Life in the Basin-Boundary

Checking in on Life in the Basin-Boundary

Every year, the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute (RDI) at Selkirk College takes stock of well-being in the Columbia Basin-Boundary region. This region wide check-up investigates a number of indicators across economic, social, cultural, and environmental topics.

The 2017 Snapshot report is now available and highlights issues that may be cause for celebration or concern.

For example, the region saw improvements to the business climate over the past year, including an increase in business counts and starts. Student enrollment has improved since the last school year, and levels of educational attainment are also on the rise, as are wages. Spending on parks, recreation, and culture by our municipalities has been gradually increasing over time and is now at an average of about 14% of total spending.

Trends in other areas, however, indicate concern. For example, despite the favourable business climate, the region’s workforce suffered declining employment last year and a corresponding increase in the unemployment rate. Vacancy rates have decreased in many communities to well below the balanced rate of 3%. The recent Census of Agriculture shows that the area of land farmed in our region continues its 15-year decline, and last year more area burned due to wildfire than any other since 1940.

Every day, residents and organizations make decisions that influence our region’s future. Basing these decisions on a comprehensive understanding of related conditions and trends helps ensure they are sound. The primary goal of the State of the Basin Initiative is to provide access to the data communities need to make decisions that lead to greater economic, social, cultural, and environmental well-being. The annual Snapshot Report provides an overview of these conditions and trends, while the Full Report provides details and analysis of the whole suite of indicators.

Check out the region wide check-up for 2017 at the State of the Basin web page. Delve into the latest conditions and trends to learn more about your community, the region as a whole, and how we compare to the rest of the province and country.

Asset-Based Community Development Workshops Coming Soon

The BC Rural Centre is bringing Peter Kenyon, the renowned Director of the Bank of IDEAS, to our region in June. These workshops are designed for community builders and civic leaders who want to discover more about ABCD philosophies and methodologies, and learn how to excite and mobilize residents to map, connect, and celebrate their local assets and discover what they truly care about. Workshops are coming to Cranbrook on June 6 and Nelson June 7. Register in Advance.

Career Internship Program Accepting Applications

Now more than ever businesses and organizations need qualified employees, and post-secondary graduates need a kick start to their careers. Columbia Basin Trust’s new Career Internship program offers up to $25,000 towards an intern’s salary for the first year. Grow your business and hire a new grad! The Career Internship Program is now accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

RDI Logo

 

by Sharon Butler