Kimberley/Cranbrook Branch
Branch Contact Info
2 - 495 Wallinger Ave.Kimberley, BC V1A 1Z6 Phone: 250.427.2535
Fax: 1.866.595.1549
Email: kimcran@wildsight.ca
At Wildsight Kimberley/Cranbrook our work focuses on promoting ecological sustainability in our own communities. Over the past year we ran projects to enhance local air and water quality, restore habitat for species at risk ,decrease our communities carbon footprints, reduce the amount of waste going into our landfills, promote sustainable growth, encourage the use of alternatives to pesticides, reduce human-bear conflict and deliver environmental educational programs to school classes.
Our Clean Air Project was successful in creating idle-free zones at twelve local schools as well as numerous businesses, delivering clean air and climate change presentations to over 900 students and providing information on clean wood burning to local residents. In February Ingrid Liepa stepped into the role of project coordinator bringing a strong background in air quality and climate change. Project advocacy has since lead to a renewed interest and preliminary investigations into improved public transit services between Kimberley and Cranbrook.
Our Pesticide Reduction Initiative was instrumental in forming a Pesticide Free Kimberley coalition consisting of local businesses, physicians, the Canadian Cancer Society, sports teams, and other organizations. In Febraury 2010, after a three- year campaign, the coalition was successful in lobbying the City to enact a cosmetic pesticide bylaw. We are an active member of the Pesticide Free Columbia Basin Coalition, working towards the phase-out of cosmetic chemical pesticides across the Columbia Basin. For information on pesticide campaigns,health concerns and pesticide-free gardening, visit www.
The Mark Creek Recovery Program continued to restore habitat in Kimberley’s Mark Creek. We ran a weekly “Tuesday Evenings in the Eco Park” volunteer sessions over the summer to maintain the native plant demonstration gardens in the Marysville Falls Eco Park. Program coordinator, Helen Sander, led elementary and middle school classes on stream ecology field trips and high school classes in stream restoration projects. To assure the long-term availability of sufficient flows to sustain Westslope cutthroat trout populations and aquatic ecosystems we began a Kimberley water use study to compare flow and current water use information.
Our Bear Aware Program continued to work towards the goal of reducing bear/human conflict. This year we produced a variety of new outreach materials including a children’s Bear Dylan CD, information for new residents, and a weekly Bear Bulletin. Our volunteers picked fruit for people unable to do so and donated the harvest to Selkirk Secondary to be baked into pies. Bear Aware coordinator, Rob Newell, delivered programs on bear biology and safety to schools, campgrounds, and community groups.
Our Forest Management Committee continued to push for a greater consideration of ecological, recreational and aesthetic values in logging in our interface areas while our Mining Committee assessed the Sullivan Mine Closure Ecological Risk Assessment and worked to insure that Kimberley is left with the highest environmental quality possible when the company’s reclamation work is completed. Our Sustainability Committee reviewed key development applications and made recommendations to enhance environmental sustainability.
The Real Diaper Campaign spearheaded by Emma Baker, promoted the use of cloth diapers in our communities.
Our Environmental Education and Awareness Committee organized public events monthly. The Wildsight Resource Centre, located at 2-495 Wallinger St. Kimberley, is operated by Wildsight Kimberley/Cranbrook.
Branch Directors:
Kent Goodwin | President
Margie Jamieson | Vice-President
Kathi Chorneyko | Secretary / Treasurer
Daryl Calder | Director
Carla Demyen | Director
Stefanie Falz | Director
Ilona Hale | Director
Sebastien Martinez | Director
Becky Phillips | Director
