Board of Directors Meeting

January 9, 2015 9:00 am

AMENDED AGENDA VOTING: Unless otherwise indicated on this agenda, all Directors have one vote and a simple majority is required for a motion to pass.

Who Votes Count 1. Call to Order 1.1 Presentation: 10-Year Employee Service Award, Jean Terpsma

2. Addition of Late Items

3. Adoption of the Agenda

4. Adoption of the Minutes 4.1 December 12, 2014 Meeting

5. Delegations Addendum 5.1 Mark Halwa, Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance and Richard Haworth, Haworth Development Consulting Ltd. – re: Lake Windermere Westside Legacy Trail

6. Correspondence 6.1 Lois Halko – Letter of Thanks 6.2 E-Comm 9-1-1 – Letter of Thanks 6.3 Lake Windermere Ambassadors – Lake Windermere 2014 Water Quality Monitoring Results 6.4 Lake Windermere Ambassadors – Fee for Service Report 6.5 BC Conservation Officer Service – Access Management Compliance and Enforcement Program October/November Report 6.6 Nature Conservancy Canada – President’s Report 6.7 BC Transit – New Mobile-Friendly Website Launch 6.8 Minister of Industry – Policy Changes in the 3500 MHz Band 6.9 Environment Canada – Re-licensing of Mica, Arrow Lakes, and Duncan Dams under the International River Improvements Act 6.10 Environment Canada – Additions to the Species at Risk Act 6.11 Metro Vancouver – Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Municipal Solid Waste and Recyclable Material Regulatory Bylaw No. 280 6.12 City of Cranbrook – 9-1-1 Fire Dispatch Report – November 2014 Amended Agenda Page 2 Board of Directors January 9, 2015

6.13 Ministry of Justice – Services to Victims of Crime Project Update Correspondence (continued) Addendum 6.14 City of Kimberley – Letter of Thanks Addendum 6.15 Ministry of Justice – $50,000 to Support Local Government Administration of Fire Departments

7. Unfinished Business

8. New Business

9. Committee Recommendations • Planning & Development Services Committee • Governance & Regional Services Committee • Electoral Area Services Committee • Central Services Committee • Columbia Valley Service Committee 10. Bylaws Addendum 10.1 Bylaw No. 2553 – Public Hearing Report 10.2 Bylaw No. 2553 – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Edgewater / Lautrup) – Third Reading 10.3 Bylaw No. 2554 – Public Hearing Report 10.4 Bylaw No. 2554 – Electoral Area E Zoning & Floodplain Management Amendment Bylaw (Wasa / Roberts) – Third Reading 10.5 Bylaw No. 2559 – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Density Averaging / RDEK) – Two Readings Revised 10.6 Bylaw No. 2559 – Public Hearing 10.7 Bylaw No. 2579 – Lake Windermere Official Community Plan Amendment (Windermere / Goertzen Holdings Ltd.) – Two Readings 10.8 Bylaw No. 2580 – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Windermere / Goertzen Holdings Ltd.) – Two Readings Revised 10.9 Bylaws No. 2579 and No. 2580 – Public Hearing 10.10 Bylaw No. 2582 – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Windermere / Sinneave) – Two Readings Revised 10.11 Bylaw No. 2582 – Public Hearing 10.12 Bylaw No. 2583 – Fire Department Mutual Aid Amendment Bylaw – Three Readings and Adoption 10.13 Bylaw No. 2584 – Security Issuing Bylaw – All Directors Weighted Three Readings and Adoption 10.14 Bylaw No. 2587 – Revenue Anticipation Borrowing All Directors Weighted Bylaw – Three Readings and Adoption

11. Late Agenda Items Amended Agenda Page 3 Board of Directors January 9, 2015

12. Reports from Directors

Addendum 13. Adjourn to Closed

COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE Thursday, January 8, 2015

2:15 pm Planning & Development Services Committee 4:00 pm Governance & Regional Services Committee 4:30 pm Electoral Area Services Committee 6:15 pm Central Services Committee 6:25 pm Columbia Valley Services Committee

NEXT MEETINGS Columbia Valley Community Directed Funds Committee Meeting – January 19, 2015 Central East Kootenay Community Directed Funds Committee Meeting – February 12, 2015 Elk Valley Community Directed Funds Committee – March 13, 2015

Committee Meetings RDEK Board of Directors Thursday, February 5, 2015 Friday, February 6, 2015 Time: TBA Time: 9:00 am

4.1

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE REGIONAL DISTRICT OF EAST KOOTENAY HELD AT THE REGIONAL DISTRICT OFFICE IN CRANBROOK BC ON DECEMBER 12, 2014

PRESENT Chair Rob Gay Electoral Area C Director Mike Sosnowski Electoral Area A Director Stan Doehle Electoral Area B Director Jane Walter Electoral Area E Director Wendy Booth Electoral Area F Director Gerry Wilkie Electoral Area G Director Lee Pratt City of Cranbrook Director Tom Shypitka City of Cranbrook Director Mary Giuliano City of Fernie Director Don McCormick City of Kimberley Director Dean McKerracher District of Elkford Director Gerry Taft District of Invermere Director Cal McDougall District of Sparwood Director Ute Juras Village of Canal Flats Director Clara Reinhardt Village of Radium Hot Springs

STAFF Lee-Ann Crane Chief Administrative Officer Shannon Moskal Corporate Officer Connie Thom Executive Assistant (Recording Secretary)

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am.

ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR 2015

Shannon Moskal, Corporate Officer, called for nominations for the position of RDEK Chair for 2015.

44974 MOVED by Director Sosnowski Nomination of Chair SECONDED by Director Giuliano

THAT Rob Gay be nominated for the position of Chair of the Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors. CARRIED

There being no further nominations, Rob Gay was declared elected Chair of the Regional District of East Kootenay for 2015.

44975 MOVED by Director Giuliano Nomination of Vice Chair SECONDED by Director Wilkie

THAT Wendy Booth be nominated for the position of Vice Chair of the Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors. CARRIED

There being no further nominations, Wendy Booth was declared elected Vice Chair of the Regional District of East Kootenay for 2015.

Chair Rob Gay thanked departing Director Wayne Stetski for his years of service on the RDEK Board of Directors. RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 2

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

44976 MOVED by Director McKerracher Agenda SECONDED by Director McDougall

THAT the agenda for the RDEK Board of Directors meeting be adopted. CARRIED

ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES

44977 MOVED by Director Pratt Minutes SECONDED by Director Shypitka

THAT the Minutes of the RDEK Board of Directors meeting held on November 7, 2014 be adopted as circulated. CARRIED

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

44978 MOVED by Director Wilkie Bylaw No. 2553 SECONDED by Director Sosnowski Introduction

THAT Bylaw No. 2553 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 295, 2014 (Edgewater / Lautrup)” be introduced for first reading. CARRIED

44979 MOVED by Director Sosnowski Bylaw No. 2554 SECONDED by Director McKerracher Introduction

THAT Bylaw No. 2554 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Electoral Area E Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 4, 2014 (Wasa / Roberts)” be introduced for first reading. CARRIED OPPOSED: Director Walter Director Juras Director Wilkie Director Doehle Director Gay

44980 MOVED by Director Gay DVP No. 29-14 SECONDED by Director Sosnowski Granted

THAT Development Variance Permit No. 29-14 to waive the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw requirements of onsite sewage disposal for a proposed 14 parcel subdivision on the 1129759 Alberta Ltd. property at Toby Cutoff Road, Johnston Road and Westside Road be granted. CARRIED

44981 MOVED by Director McKerracher Liquor Licensing SECONDED by Director Wilkie Panorama / Cliffhanger Golf Ltd.

THAT a public hearing be held regarding the application by Cliffhanger Golf Ltd. for an amended food primary license. CARRIED RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 3

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS (continued)

44982 MOVED by Director Gay Bylaw No. 2559 SECONDED by Director Sosnowski Postponed

THAT consideration of Bylaw No. 2559 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 296, 2014 (Density Averaging / RDEK)” be postponed one month and that staff present an overview of the proposed bylaw at the January Planning & Development Services Committee meeting. CARRIED OPPOSED: Director Juras Director Walter Director Wilkie

44983 MOVED by Director Walter Ta Ta Creek / McIntyre and Gillespie SECONDED by Director Gay ALR Subdivision

THAT the Agricultural Land Commission be advised the RDEK supports the McIntyre and Gillespie ALR subdivision application for property at 6099 Highway 95A in Ta Ta Creek. CARRIED

44984 MOVED by Director Wilkie DVP No. 27-14 SECONDED by Director Walter Granted

THAT Development Variance Permit No. 27-14 to reduce the front yard setback from 7.5 m to 3.8 m for a garage addition to a single family dwelling on the Lever property at 4616 Columere Road be granted. CARRIED

44985 MOVED by Director Gay Jim Smith Lake / Sanderson SECONDED by Director McKerracher MFLNRO Referral

THAT the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations be advised the RDEK does not support the Sanderson application for a licence of occupation for a walkway and dock on Jim Smith Lake. CARRIED

Director Pratt and Director Shypitka declared a conflict of interest with the next item noting that they are personal friends with the applicants and left the meeting at 9:26 am.

44986 MOVED by Director Gay Jim Smith Lake / Thompson SECONDED by Director Walter MFLNRO Referral

THAT the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations be advised the RDEK does not support the Thompson application for a licence of occupation for a walkway and dock on Jim Smith Lake. CARRIED

Director Pratt and Director Shypitka returned to the meeting at 9:27 am.

RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 4

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS (continued)

44987 MOVED by Director Gay Bull River Area / BC Hydro SECONDED by Director Walter MFLNRO Referral

THAT the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations be advised the RDEK supports the BC Hydro and Power Authority application for a licence of occupation for an existing electrical power line over the foreshore and bed of Bull River adjacent to Bull River Road. CARRIED

44988 MOVED by Director Doehle Grasmere / Williams SECONDED by Director Sosnowski Site Specific Floodplain Exemption

THAT a Site Specific Floodplain Exemption to reduce the required 7.5 m setback from Miller Creek to a 3.0 m setback from the bank of Miller Creek, and to vary the 1.5 m flood construction level above Miller Creek to 0.3 m above the natural ground elevation, to accommodate an addition to a single family dwelling on the Williams property at 6523 MacDonald Loop Road in Grasmere be granted subject to the registration of a restrictive covenant containing the recommendations made in the geohazard report and addendum prepared by Groundtech Engineering Ltd. CARRIED

GOVERNANCE & REGIONAL SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

44989 MOVED by Director McKerracher Cheque Register SECONDED by Director McDougall

THAT the cheque register for the RDEK General Account for November 2014 in the amount of $1,438,763.99 be approved as paid. CARRIED

44990 MOVED by Director Wilkie National Household Survey SECONDED by Director Giuliano Mandatory Completion

THAT a letter be sent to the Federal Government requesting reinstatement of the requirement for mandatory completion of the National Household Survey (census). CARRIED

44991 MOVED by Director Walter CBT Community Initiatives / SECONDED by Director McKerracher Affected Areas Programs Administration Fee

THAT the administration fee of $39,000 for the 2015/2016 Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs be approved. CARRIED

44992 MOVED by Director Sosnowski Site C Dam Project SECONDED by Director Pratt Moratorium Not Supported

THAT the suggestion of a one year moratorium on the proposed Site C Dam Project decision not be supported. CARRIED RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 5

GOVERNANCE & REGIONAL SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS (continued)

44993 MOVED by Director Wilkie Shuswap Indian Band SECONDED by Director Booth Native Use Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with the Shuswap Indian Band for RDEK and KERHD Services to the Reserve for Native Use for the term January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018. CARRIED

44994 MOVED by Director Booth Shuswap Indian Band SECONDED by Director McKerracher Non-Native Use Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with the Shuswap Indian Band for RDEK and KERHD Services to the Reserve for Non-Native Use for the term January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018. CARRIED

44995 MOVED by Director Wilkie South Sky Recycling Ltd. SECONDED by Director McKerracher Amendment Agreement

THAT the contract with South Sky Recycling Ltd., for the collection and processing of recyclable materials be extended for five years at a cost of $275/tonne, plus a fuel surcharge, and the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement Amendment. CARRIED

44996 MOVED by Director McKerracher Bylaw No. 2581 SECONDED by Director Shypitka Introduction

THAT Bylaw No. 2581 cited as "Regional District of East Kootenay – 2014 – 2018 Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 2514, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 1, 2014" be introduced for first reading. CARRIED

COLUMBIA VALLEY SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

44997 MOVED by Director Juras CV Emergency Program Coordinator SECONDED by Director Booth Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with Gary Burford for coordination of the Columbia Valley Emergency Program for the term of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. CARRIED

44998 MOVED by Director Wilkie CV Emergency Program SECONDED by Director Juras Deputy / ESS Coordinator Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with Sharon Pasowisty to assist the Coordinator of the Columbia Valley Emergency Program as Deputy / ESS Coordinator for the term of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. CARRIED RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 6

CENTRAL SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

44999 MOVED by Director Walter Central Emergency Program Coordinator SECONDED by Director McCormick Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with Gerry Smith for coordination of the Central Subregion Emergency Program for the term of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. CARRIED

ELECTORAL AREA SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

45000 MOVED by Director Gay Discretionary Grants in Aid SECONDED by Director Walter Approved

THAT the following discretionary grants in aid be approved: Recipient Area A Area B Area C Area E Area F Area G Total

Fernie Alpine Ski Team – Fernie Alpine $1,000 $1,000 Resort’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Triangle Women’s Institute – Pioneer Wall 2014 Grant $865 $865 2015 Grant $635 $635 Gordon Terrace Elementary School – Libby $1,600 $1,600 Dam Field Trip Summit Community Services Society – $1,000 $1,000 $2,000 Police Based Victim Services Program Wasa & District Lions Club – Medichair $500 $500 Walker Wasa & District Lions Club – Family Winter $2,500 $2,500 Festival Day Family Resource Centre – Prescription $1,000 $500 $1,500 Contraceptive Subsidization Proposal Panorama Mountain Freeride Club – $4,000 $500 $4,500 Administration Laptop and Race Equipment for the Kootenay Freestyle Classic Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce – $3,000 $500 $3,500 Building Renovation SQx Danza – Interactive Dance Awareness $500 $500 Program CARRIED

45001 MOVED by Director Booth Discretionary Grant in Aid SECONDED by Director Gay Denied

THAT the following discretionary grant in aid be denied: Elkford Secondary School – Fitness Gym Equipment CARRIED

45002 MOVED by Director Booth Fairmont Hot Springs Resort SECONDED by Director Walter Christmas Eve Fireworks Special Event Licence

THAT the Special Event Licence for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for the Christmas Eve fireworks event to be held on December 24, 2014 at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort be granted subject to the applicant ensuring all necessary precautions are taken to prevent fires. CARRIED RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 7

ELECTORAL AREA SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS (continued)

45003 MOVED by Director Booth Fairmont Hot Springs Resort SECONDED by Director Walter New Year’s Eve Fireworks Special Event Licence

THAT the Special Event Licence for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for the New Year’s Eve fireworks event to be held on December 31, 2014 at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort be granted subject to the applicant ensuring all necessary precautions are taken to prevent fires. CARRIED

45004 MOVED by Director Wilkie LGLA Elected Officials SECONDED by Director Booth Seminar for AKBLG Communities

THAT the Electoral Area Directors be authorized to attend the Local Government Leadership Academy Elected Officials Seminar for Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Government Communities held on February 18 – 20, 2015 in Kimberley with expenses paid from Electoral Area Administration. CARRIED

45005 MOVED by Director Gay BC Broadband Conference SECONDED by Director Walter

THAT the Electoral Area Directors be authorized to attend the British Columbia Broadband Conference held on April 28 – 29, 2015 in Richmond, BC with expenses paid from Electoral Area Administration. CARRIED

45006 MOVED by Director Booth Windermere Bottle Depot Group & SECONDED by Director Walter Copper Point Golf Course Letter of Thanks

THAT a letter of thanks be written to both the Windermere Bottle Depot Group and Copper Point Golf Course for their respective contributions to the Windermere Beach and Crossroads Ballpark. CARRIED

45007 MOVED by Director Walter District of Sparwood SECONDED by Director Gay Upper EV Fire Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with the District of Sparwood for provision of fire protection service to the Upper Elk Valley Fire Protection Service Area for a term of January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2019. CARRIED

ELK VALLEY SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

45008 MOVED by Director Sosnowski Fernie Transfer Station SECONDED by Director Giuliano Beverage Container Collection

THAT an advertisement to solicit interest from charities or non-profit organizations to operate a beverage container collection site at the Fernie Transfer Station be approved; and further, that the collection site be established adjacent to the Reuse building at the Fernie Transfer Station. CARRIED

RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 8

ELK VALLEY SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS (continued)

45009 MOVED by Director Sosnowski Fernie Ghostriders SECONDED by Director Giuliano Beverage Container Collection

THAT the Fernie Ghostriders be offered the opportunity to set up a beverage container collection site at the Fernie Transfer Station until the end of January 2015. CARRIED

45010 MOVED by Director Giuliano EV / South Country Emergency SECONDED by Director Doehle Program Coordinator Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with Marianne Stone for coordination of the Elk Valley and South Country Emergency Program for the term of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. CARRIED

45011 MOVED by Director Doehle EV / South Country Emergency Program SECONDED by Director McDougall Deputy / ESS Coordinator Agreement

THAT the Chair and CAO be authorized to sign the Agreement with Jennifer Asselin to assist the Coordinator of the Elk Valley and South Country Emergency Program as Deputy / ESS Coordinator for the term of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. CARRIED

BYLAWS

45012 MOVED by Director Doehle Bylaw No. 2533 SECONDED by Director McDougall Adoption

THAT Bylaw No. 2533 cited as "Regional District of East Kootenay – Elko Fire Protection Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2533, 2014" be adopted. CARRIED

45013 MOVED by Director Doehle Bylaw No. 2534 SECONDED by Director McDougall Adoption

THAT Bylaw No. 2534 cited as "Regional District of East Kootenay – Elko Fire Protection Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2534, 2014" be adopted. CARRIED

45014 MOVED by Director Wilkie Bylaw No. 2553 SECONDED by Director Reinhardt Two Readings

THAT Bylaw No. 2553 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 295, 2014 (Edgewater / Lautrup)” be read a first and second time. CARRIED RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 9

BYLAWS (continued)

45015 MOVED by Director Wilkie Bylaw No. 2553 SECONDED by Director Taft Public Hearing

THAT a public hearing be held regarding Bylaw No. 2553 and the hearing be delegated to: Director Wendy Booth, Electoral Area F Director Gerry Wilkie, Electoral Area G Director Clara Reinhardt, Village of Radium Hot Springs CARRIED

The date for the public hearing for Bylaw No. 2553 is 7:00 pm on Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Edgewater Community Hall.

45016 MOVED by Director McKerracher Bylaw No. 2554 SECONDED by Director Booth Two Readings

THAT Bylaw No. 2554 cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Electoral Area E Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 4, 2014 (Wasa / Roberts)” be read a first and second time. CARRIED OPPOSED: Director Walter Director Wilkie

45017 MOVED by Director McKerracher Bylaw No. 2554 SECONDED by Director Sosnowski Public Hearing

THAT a public hearing be held regarding Bylaw No. 2554 and the hearing be delegated to: Director Jane Walter, Electoral Area E Director Don McCormick, City of Kimberley CARRIED

The date for the public hearing for Bylaw No. 2554 is 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at the Wasa Community Hall.

45018 MOVED by Director McDougall Bylaw No. 2581 SECONDED by Director Walter Three Readings

THAT Bylaw No. 2581 cited as "Regional District of East Kootenay – 2014 – 2018 Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 2514, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 1, 2014" be read a first, second and third time. CARRIED

45019 MOVED by Director McKerracher Bylaw No. 2581 SECONDED by Director Walter Adoption

THAT Bylaw No. 2581 cited as "Regional District of East Kootenay – 2014 – 2018 Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 2514, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 1, 2014" be adopted. CARRIED RDEK BOARD MEETING December 12, 2014 MINUTES PAGE 10

ADJOURNMENT

45020 MOVED by Director McDougall Adjourn to Closed SECONDED by Director Juras

THAT the meeting adjourn to a Closed RDEK Board of Directors meeting to consider the following matter: (a) Building Permit Area C – Section 90(1)(g) of the Community Charter – litigation or potential litigation affecting the municipality. CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 10:06 am.

CERTIFIED CORRECT

Chair Rob C. Gay Shannon Moskal, Corporate Officer 5.1 Proposed Lake Windermere Westside Legacy Trail

Greenways Legacy Trail – Year-round, multiuse trail promoting health, wealth and outdoor appreciation

Oct 28, 2014 Executive Summary

The Lake Windermere Westside Legacy Trail will be a multi-use, non-motorized, year- round paved trail connecting the community of Invermere to the Hoodoos at Highway 93/95. The paved trail will be located on west side of Windermere Lake paralleling Westside Road, and will be located primarily on SRL lands, other private land, and within Ministry of Transportation right-of-ways. The total length of the trail will be approximately 25 km long, five meters wide with a 3.5 meter paved width and a painted centerline. The planned cost of design, engineering and construction is estimated to be approximately $2.7 million.

The Westside Trail will be a dynamic landmark that will have many positive effects on the community including community health, economic development, educational value, community access, safety and additional future benefits. There will also be challenges to the success of a project of this size including building benefit awareness within the community, trust among the various landowners and fundraising momentum to complete the project.

The initial phase of this project will begin with recognizance of the landscape in fall 2014, followed by landowner and interest group engagement and initial fundraising. With $100,000 already committed to the project, a professional project manager has been hired and once land use agreements have been signed and additional funding is available, construction can commence with the target completion date for the Lake Windermere Westside Legacy Trail being fall 2017 or as funding becomes available.

It is expected that funding for this project will come from a variety of sources, including corporate funding, government grants and public outreach.

The purpose of this document is to provide an initial overview of the project for key partners to determine their involvement and engage local governments to participate early to advance the momentum currently in place. A more substantive project plan will be available once consultation has occurred with landowners and key project partners.

2 Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...... 2 Introduction ...... 4 Project Purpose ...... 4 Proposed Route...... 5 Trail Attributes ...... 6 Budget ...... 6 Benefits ...... 7 Challenges ...... 8 Project Phases ...... 9 Funding ...... 9 Key Project Partners ...... 9 Other Stakeholders ...... 10 Key Success Factors ...... 10

3 Introduction

The Columbia River Greenways Alliance was launched over a decade ago with the intent of creating an interconnected trail network throughout the Upper Columbia Valley. In 2013, seven additional groups joined Greenways and renamed the organization the Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance to work together to create a world class trail network for the enduring benefit of residents and visitors. Greenways has completed many successful trail projects from Golden to Canal Flats and now has a larger and more diverse group of Directors and member groups totalling almost 600 residents and visitors. The next project has been identified as a paved Legacy Trail from Invermere to Fairmont Hot Springs.

In summer 2014, Greenways met with the owners of Shaunessy Ranches Ltd. (SRL) who own 12,000 acres of land along Westside Road. The owners, Bob and Barb Shaunessy have agreed to provide contiguous land for a trail beginning near Castle Rock Estates to the end of their property near the Hoodoos. This will be approximately half of the total distance of the trail. In addition, the Shaunessy’s agreed to provide seed funding of $50,000 to hire a full-time resource, which will be matched by Greenways.

Project Purpose

There are numerous purposes in connecting the entire length of the upper Columbia River valley with a paved trail. The year round, multi-purpose trail will connect the people of the region in a unique and personal way. By serving a wide variety of user groups such as walkers, runners, bicyclists, roller-skiers, cross-country skiers, wheelchair users, inline skaters, families and people of all ages and interests, the Greenways Legacy Trail will contribute significantly to the general health and well being of the population.

Integrating this wide range of user groups will unite various interest groups with a common project which will benefit all the groups, the resident population and visitors. The next phase of the project will finalize the use of SRL lands and other private landowner property along the west side of Lake Windermere to create this Legacy Trail. The completion of the segment of the Greenways Trail south of Invermere will connect the regions highest population area, the District of Invermere (DOI), with the beautiful natural landscape along the west side of Lake Windermere to the highway leading to Fairmont Hot Springs, another significant population center and tourist destination.

A facility like this paved trail will have a huge effect on tourism in the Columbia Valley. One just has to look at the success of the “Cranbrook to Kimberley Rail Trail” the “Canmore to Banff Trail” and the “Kettle Valley Rails to Trails” to appreciate the significance of these amenities to the growth of the tourism in the region. The Greenways Trail will take advantage of the opportunities presented along the full length of the trail to construct educational interpretive stations at suitable locations. School groups and local clubs will be able to take education to where it belongs – in the natural environment.

4 Proposed Route

The paved trail will be located on west side of Windermere Lake paralleling Westside Road. It will begin near Castlerock Estates to the north (District of Invermere boundary) and link to the Hoodoos at Highway 93/95 in the south (Figure 1). The trail will be located primarily on SRL private land and where necessary, due to other private land or terrain constraints, be located within Ministry of Transportation road right-of-ways.

Figure 1. Proposed Westside Paved Trail route

5 The trail will be located near or as close as possible to the existing Westside road to allow for easy access from multiple points along Westside Road. It will utilize but not be limited to existing old roads and/or trails. The trail will be designed to capture significant landmark features such as viewpoints, vistas, and kettle lakes, and will utilize terrain features such as ridge tops to provide varied experiences. The trail will maintain a narrow treed right of way to maintain a wilderness setting and will avoid long straight sections with a preferred winding route to provide visitors with a sense of remoteness. Sharp corners will be avoided.

Trail Attributes

The trail will have the following attributes:

meter width paved surface • approxim meter gravelately subsurface 25 km in total length • 3.5arrow treed right of way to ditch line • 5edges • ness than 5% grade with only short pitches up to 10% where required for • lterrain constraints ater management features, including ditch lines, culverts and open bottom • wstructures on fish bearing streams Figure 2. Schematic diagram of cross- ine section of trail surface.

In addition• Painted to centerl the above, several steel gates will be required at road crossings to slow trail traffic (similar to the Cranbrook-Kimberley or Canmore-Banff trails). For safety measures, no post barriers will be established where the trail is adjacent to the Westside road. It is proposed that outhouses be located along the route. Interpretive signage will be installed at key learning locations to enhance visitor experience (e.g. wildlife viewing areas, grassland interpretive signage, conservation lands, etc.). The trail will be accessible to all users including cycling, walking, running, roller skiing and wheelchairs. All season non- motorized access will be provided with opportunities for cross-country skiing during good winter snow conditions.

Budget The planned cost of design, engineering and construction is estimated to be approximately $2.7 million (Appendix 1).

Annual maintenance will be required to clear downed trees, sweep trail surface, brush trail edges and repair seasonal damage at an estimated cost of $20,000/year.

6 Benefits

This is a unique opportunity to create a significant linear trail system with the support and consent of a very small number of landowners. This opportunity has coincided with non- motorized user groups coming together as a trail alliance to pool resources towards this incredible common goal.

The Westside Legacy Trail will be a dynamic landmark that will have many positive effects on the community.

Community health – Common trail activities such as walking, bicycling and cross-country skiing are all relatively inexpensive activities that provide accessible recreation opportunities to all community members. There is evidence that improved trail facilities mean greater participation in healthy activities. There is significant evidence that participation in these activities results in not only better physical health, but better mental health. Healthy individuals result in a healthier community and lower health care costs.

Economic development– A 25 km paved recreational pathway is an asset that very few communities have, combined with the incredible scenic vistas of Lake Windermere, the Columbia Valley and the histori ing locals, second home owners and tourists with a trail, encourages all of these groups to spend more time in the Columbia Valley, which will provide economicc K2 ranch.development Provid opportunities for retailers and other service providers such as hotels and restaurants.

Educational benefits – Access to the less developed side of the valley will allow users to interact with the natural flora and fauna of the Columbia Valley. Education initiatives including interpretive signage will offer education opportunities that are reinforced by individuals having unique access to the “wild side” of our valley.

Community access – This trail will link the communities of Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs and the families that live in between. This physical link will not only allow alternative transportation, but will also bring together many users in an environment that encourages interaction and community building.

Safety – Walkers, runners and cyclist already put the Westside road to prolific use. These users assume nearly all of the risk of sharing the road with motor vehicles. Separating these users will make both recreating and driving in this area a safer experience for everyone.

Multi-use- Walkers, runners, cyclists, cross-country skiers… Families, seniors, teens… a paved trail is an asset for many user groups engaging in multiple activities throughout the day and throughout the year.

Events – This infrastructure will draw event organizers to the valley to add to the already extensive list of non-motorized events hosted in the valley throughout the year.

7 Future – The paved trail will benefit our community today, and with proper upkeep our children and their children. Just like the roman roads are used all over Europe today, the Legacy Trail will be built in a sustainable fashion that will bring significant benefits in the future with minimal future cost.

Challenges

It is important to consider the challenges of this project in order to proactively find solutions.

Building momentum and trust – This is an ambitious project that requires the local community, government and funders to work together. Significant commitments from existing benefactors will reduce this challenge, but the Greenways organization is aware how difficult it is to complete a project this large. A dedicated project manager with strong communication skills will reduce the size of these challenges.

Fundraising – Finding $2.7 million to complete the trail will also be a challenge. The local community does not have the large corporate base that often supports such ambitious projects in other communities, however there is a large community of second home- owners with significant financial resources who will be encouraged to support this project. The owner of SRL, Bob Shaunessy, has volunteered to participate in, or lead the fundraising committee.

Landowner authorization – the majority of trail can be built upon land owned by four different land owners, all of which have indicated support for this or a similar project. Without the support of all of these landowners, the project will not be possible. Several smaller landholders’ authorization is required to make the existing route a reality; their cooperation or opposition to the trail will impact the viability of the project.

Engineering – the west side of the valley has some challenging topography. Building a sustainable trail with a grade that is acceptable to many user groups participating in many activities will be challenging across this rolling and sometimes hilly route.

Long-term maintenance – As the trail will be built primarily on private land there will be challenges with who will assume maintenance for the trail after construction. Alternatives such as a maintenance endowment or an agreement with a local government will have to be explored and implemented.

8 Project Phases

will commence in fall 2014, with recognizance of the landscape to determine route, distance, features and obstacles. The Westside Paved Trail The engagement of all stakeholders including land owners, clubs and interest groups, the Regional District of East Kootenay, the DOI, Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance, Ministry of Transportation, Fairmont Hot Springs, Chambers of Commerce, schools and youth, businesses and organizations, and the general population will commence immediately (fall 2014) sing will begin simultaneously.

With $100,000 already committed. Planning and to the initial project, fundrai a professional project manager was hired in fall 2014. Land-use agreements are targeted to be in place by spring/summer 2015.

be completed in early 2015. The first phase of construction will commence in the summer/ fall of 2015, with construction being implementedThe Planning andas funds Design are phase made will available. Construction will commence southward from the District of Invermere in a continuous progression until completion in Fairmont Hot Springs. The target completion date for the Lake Windermere Westside Greenways Legacy Trail is fall 2017.

Funding

It is expected that funding for this project will come from a variety of sources, including corporate funding, grants, and public outreach. One possible source of funding considered is donation per metre of trail similar to that of the successful TransCanada Trail.

Currently, there is $100,000 allocated to the project to be used for hiring a project manager and initial start up funds.

Key Project Partners

Nature Trust, BC Ministry of Transportation and the Regional District of East Kootenay. TheseThe key groups partners control in this the project majority are of Shaunessy the land and Ranches will have Ltd., valuable Grizzly Ridgeinput Properties,for ongoing maintenance of the trail.

One possible option for landowners may be the use of Conservation Covenants1 or Easements for the portion of private land that the trail on. This would maintain the right- of-way for the trail in perpetuity.

1 http://best-practices.ltabc.ca/media/resources/tool- evaluation/LTABC_Developer_Info_Kit_07.pdf

9 Other Stakeholders

There are many other stakeholders who can make significant contributions to the success of this project. They begin with additional landowners who can minimize the use of Ministry of Transport right-of-ways, large funding organizations such as Columbia Basin Trust and local businesses who can provide in-kind services such as design, engineering and outreach.

Key Success Factors

In order to be successful the following elements will have to be addressed:

Landowner authorization – without the support of the large landowners the project cannot be completed as currently imagined. One agreement that will be considered is a conservation covenant.

Fundraising – without the financial resources the project will not be completed.

Community engagement – support from the community will resolve many of the smaller problems that the project may encounter.

Project manager – the project has very little chance of being run by volunteers. The trail will require one individual to manage this project from inception to completion. Finding the right person is essential to success.

10 Appendix 1. Wes

tside Paved Trail Cost Estimate 6.1 6.2 6.3

6.4

6.5

BC Conservation Officer Service

Access Management Compliance and Enforcement Program (AMCEP) October/November Report

Compiled by Conservation Officer Patricia Burley October 1-November 15, 2014

Galton AMA October 30, 2014

1 Introduction

The October/November Access Management Compliance and Enforcement Program (AMCEP) Report is the fifth and final monthly report for the 6 month period for 2014 completed by Conservation Officer (CO) Burley. This is the third year that CO Burley has been the designated Access Guardian in the Elk Valley from May 15-Nov 15. The AMCEP was developed in 2009, but did not have a set contract until 2011 for a potential 5 year commitment. CO Burley’s priority focus is on the Access Management Areas (AMA’s) for the 6 month period within the Regional District of East Kootenay’s Electoral Area A. Currently, the AMCEP is the only Conservation Officer (CO) position in all of British Columbia. Thank you to the RDEK, Columbia Basin Trust, other stakeholder groups and the Communities of Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford for making the essential program a success. The following information is some highlights from the months of October and November.

October and November had proven to be the busiest hunting season of CO Burley’s career. For Fernie, Elkford, Sparwood, Elko and Grasmere there was a total of 47 Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) violation complaints and an additional 20 files forwarded directly to the Fernie CO’s by cell or email. A total of 80 human wildlife conflict complaints were made through the RAPP line and many more were forwarded directly to the CO’s. During the busy fall hunting season the CO’s try to patrol AMA’s to make contact with backcountry users to ensure there is compliance with regards to the regulations. During October and November the CO’s were inundated with complaints where most of their time was spent with reactive responses, instead of proactive. CO Burley accumulated a large number of AMA complaints including a number of files that can be followed up during the winter season. CO Burley investigated a significant complaint that has resulted in search warrants and information for court procedures. The elk hunting season was when most of the illegal hunting in AMA’s took place (September to October).

Some of the educational aspects that CO Burley has been delivering include topics such as Section 75 of the Wildlife Act which states that if a person kills or wounds wildlife, either accidentally or for protection of life or property, that person must promptly report the killing or wounding of the wildlife to an officer.

Also, if a hunter makes a mistake and kills an animal that is not legal and reports himself, he is generally dealt with in a much less severe manner than the person who shoots an illegal animal and does not report it and is subsequently caught. To ensure that legitimate mistakes are treated as such, it is important that if an accident happens a call is made as soon as possible to the Conservation Officer Service (COS) in order to report the accidental killing of wildlife.

Since the rifle season opened on September 10, the COS has investigated ten self-reported hunters who have shot five point bull elk. This is an illegal size; they have to be six point or greater or within certain regions spike bulls from September 10 to September 19. Although mistakes do happen, it is appreciated when hunters come forward and admit their honest

2 mistake. It is also a reminder to make sure you are 100 per cent sure of the animal’s size and species before pulling the trigger. It is not worth walking away from an animal because of being scared of the consequences. Too many animals are being shot and wasted. We are looking for the public’s assistance to report any further wildlife violations. The Fernie Rod and Gun Club would also like to remind the public that they will be offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to a conviction of wildlife infractions.

One example where we are asking for help is on September 30 at 1830 a dark red older model pickup truck was pulled over on Highway 3 east of the Sparwood Transfer Station. The suspect, a male described to be in his mid-twenties to thirties, shot and killed a five point bull elk within the No Shooting area of the District of Sparwood (Figure 1 and 2). The suspect told people that he would self-report the illegal size elk to the COS. This individual never made the report to officials, meaning that the elk was wasted in the bush. If the suspect had brought the violation forward to the Report All Poachers and Polluters Hotline (RAPP) then the animal would have been used at the Salvation Army. If this individual or the public has further information on this violation and would like to come forward, they can by calling the RAPP number (1-877-952- 7277).

Figure 1: Shot and left 5X5 bull elk within the District of Sparwood.

3

Figure 2: Location off Hwy 3 west of Sparwood where the 5X5 elk was shot.

The following information describes illegal activity where other hunters have not come forward within the East Kootenay’s.  September 27 – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left off the Bull River Forest Service Road onto the West Sulphur Rd at the three to four km mark.  September 28 – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left off of the Big Sand Creek Rd.  September 28 – The possible shooting and improper disposal of a white tail buck southwest of Grave Lake within Grave Prairie AMA.  Between September 28 and October 2 — An adult sow grizzly bear was shot and killed beside a 7 pt. bull elk off of the Fording Hwy, northeast of Elkford. It is suspected that a hunter came across the grizzly and shot it in self-protection. Please come forward if this was you.  October 2 – A white tail deer doe was shot and left near Beese Road in Hosmer. The deer was located in an area that looked to be hidden intentionally.  October 6 – A mule deer doe was shot and left northeast of Elkford near Round Prairie.  Late September – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left in the Lost Dog area.  Late September – A five pt. bull elk was shot and left in the Premier Ridge area.  Late September – A five pt. bull elk was shot and illegally taken from the LP Ranch Rd near Kimberley. There have been an additional ten self-reported illegal mule deer and elk files with another five shot and left.

Alexander Creek AMA was patrolled during October. During one of the patrols CO Burley came across an illegal gun range that was being built in an unsafe location (Figure 3). The suspect was not only driving into a non-motorized portion of the AMA (Hydro line), but was also cutting live trees for their line of sight. Cutting live trees is illegal under the Forest Range and

4 Protection Act. This is an extremely dangerous area to target practice as the person would be shooting directly into the thick forest without a safe backdrop. CO Burley disassembled the targets and left a note for the suspect. It was noted for them to self-report themselves as they were in the non-motorized closure. This is an ongoing file. CO Burley did not encounter a large number of hunters within this AMA, but did observe tracks driving into the closed areas. The gate on Deadmans Pass will still be constructed by Canfor, along with new ATV ditches in the late spring of 2015.

Figure 3: Alexander Creek AMA; view into treeline where someone built an illegal gun range.

Three complaints were made to CO Burley in October regarding illegal motorized access within Weigert Creek AMA. This AMA is an ecologically sensitive area for wildlife. All types of wildlife live in this area, some of which rely heavily on the protection from human harassment of motorized vehicles. One area in particular that is seeing the abuse more than ever before is the west access trail. On the west access trail just past the sawdust pile/landing the open trail ends; it also intersects Weigert Creek (Figures 4 and 5). The signs at this location keep getting ripped down; volunteers have helped to post them high up and out of reach from other recreationists. A bridge was built across the creek last fall which ATV’s use to access the closed area into mountain goat terrain. There is no issue with the hunters and hikers that are walking in this area, but the people with ATV’s are not legally allowed to use the trail past the creek. Snowmobiles are exempted in the AMA during the winter, but not for hunting (East Kootenay – snowmobiles cannot be used for hunting). The bridge will be removed next season as it is not permitted with the appropriate government officials.

5 Figure 4 and 5: Photo’s submitted by the public, closed trail within Weigert Creek AMA.

Figure 6: Weigert Creek AMA, view from a non-motorized landing (Lookout Trail in the clear cut).

6 A complaint was text messaged to CO Burley regarding two hunters on ATV’s that were witnessed driving up a closed road within Wigwam Flats AMA on October 10th. The witness said the group was camped within the area so she would most likely intersect the hunters. CO Burley responded to the complaint where she was able to meet the two hunters suspecting of driving up the closed road. The hunters admitted to driving on the closed road, Frank Creek (Figure 7), which had an AMA sign posted. A statement was taken and a violation ticket and warning ticket was issued to the hunters. They were educated and given the Outdoor Access Guide as they were not from the area.

Figure 7: Wigwam Flats AMA, Frank Creek-non motorized road.

Corbin AMA was fairly quiet this hunting season. The CO’s have some ongoing investigations pertaining to vehicles witnessed in the motorized closure. The majority of Corbin AMA (Figure 8) was previously Tembec land which has now been sold to a private land owner. There has been logging taking place throughout the AMA, which is sometimes hard to manage between workers with permits or other people entering the non-motorized areas. CO Burley patrolled the Corbin area on October 31; she did not intersect any hunters.

7 Figure 8: Corbin AMA.

The month of November is the busiest month for hunters in the Galton Range AMA. The Galton Range borders Hwy 93 on the east side of the highway south of the Elk River. It includes twelve mountain drainages with access into six drainages. It is a popular area for hunters as it is a migration route for deer. Mule deer (4pt only) were open until November 10th. After November 10th the season for whitetail deer continued and an LEH sheep draw opened. CO’s from Cranbrook and Fernie patrolled this area throughout October and November. On October 30th CO Burley patrolled the AMA with her new Sgt, Cam Schley. During that patrol they came across a number of violations. One of the encounters was with a truck driving out of the year round closed road; Meth Gorrie. The Meth Gorrie Road had motorized abuse starting in the early hunting season where ATV’s and UTV’s were driving around the gate. A member of the public had blocked that access, but within a weeks’ time to October 30th, someone cut the metal piece of the gate that allows officials to lock it (Figure 9). It was very disappointing for the CO’s to discover this as they would have to rely on the public’s help to weld it back together so that the gate could be locked again. As the CO’s were looking for a trail camera location along the road a truck was intersected driving out of the road towards them. There were two hunters in the vehicle. They were educated and issued a violation ticket for driving on the closed road ($230). The CO’s continued to the Red Canyon Drainage where they intersected hunters in a vehicle driving out of another closed area. They were issued a violation ticket for a loaded firearm and a warning ticket for the AMA closure and an incorrect cancelled species licence. The Outdoor Access Guide is always given out to hunters in the AMA’s. CO Burley patrolled the area again on November 7th and 13th. An open liquor ticket was given out to a hunter when patrolling with CO Deboon. She also checked two sheep hunters with the sheep LEH draw for Phillips Creek Pass. One hunter was aware of who CO Burley was from reading an article that came out in September in the East Kootenay Outdoors 2014 edition by FJ Hurtak.

8 The article can be viewed on Page 8 of the Elk Valley Herald: http://www.elkvalleyherald.ca/pdf/Sep10,2014-ElkValleyHerald.pdf

Sheep Mountain AMA is another AMA that is patrolled during this time of year. It is a smaller AMA that has an abundance of wildlife and hunters. CO Garay patrolled near the farm field off of Cutt’s Road where he found someone driving out of the non-motorized field. He issued the hunters one AMA violation ticket and one warning ticket. CO Garay also posted signs in the area which had been ripped down. CO Burley was hunting in the area in November on her personal time when she witnessed a red pickup truck driving into the closed farm field. She was not able to get a plate number. This is a frustrating issue for real outdoor enthusiasts and CO’s, as she was going to walk that area that was now disrupted from a vehicle that is not legally allowed to be in there.

Figure 9: Galton Range AMA; Meth Gorrie Road-Someone cut the metal attachment off the yellow gate so that the gate could not be locked. You can see the AMA closure sign in the background.

9 Figure 10: Galton Range, Phillips Pass.

CO Burley and CO Deboon patrolled Burton Creek Motor Vehicle for Hunting Closed Areas (MVHCA) near Elko (Figure 11). It was reported to them that the sign had been missing for some time. They did not check any hunters in the area, but were able to post a sign at the landing which is the start of the closed area for hunters (motorized vehicles). A MVHCA (formerly known as Vehicle Area Hunting Closures VAHC’s) are designated areas where the operation of all motor vehicles to hunt, transport wildlife, transport equipment and supplies which are intended for or in support of hunting, or to transport hunters to or from is illegal. The MVHCA’s near Electoral Area A are Burton Creek, Little Big Sands Creek, McDermid and Windfall Creek.

There are Recreation Sites and Trails BC non-motorized trails within the Elk Valley that CO Burley is also responsible for and responds to. The legislated non-motorized trails are Aldridge Creek, Boivin (north and south trail), Hornaday Pass Trail, Weary Creek, Mount Hosmer, Three Sisters, Mount Fernie, Mount Proctor, Fairy Creek and Mountain Lakes Trail/Heiko’s. There are a number of stakeholder groups that are responsible for the maintenance of the trails; Hornaday Wilderness Society, Elkford Nordic Club and the Fernie Trails Alliance. The Hornaday Pass and Boivin Trails get the most motorized abuse during the summer and fall seasons.

10

Figure 11: Burton Creek MVHCA.

A Hearing took place at the Fernie Court House on November 20th for a 6pt bull elk that was seized by CO Burley in the District of Elkford on September 21. The elk was shot within the No Shooting area of the District of Elkford. The Application for the Hearing was defended by CO Garay who represented CO Burley by explaining the legal right for seizing the 6pt elk (unlawful harvest) to the Judge. In the end the application by the accused to retain the illegal elk was denied by the Judge as he believed that the CO Service did their job accordingly (ownership resides with the Crown).

CO Burley took part on a decoy project within the East Kootenay’s on October 11th. Hunters were intersected who were violating the Wildlife Act and Firearm’s Act. There were three separate files that were created that day for hunters shooting at an animal from a vehicle, having loaded firearms and shooting from a highway. Shooting a firearm from a vehicle and a highway is extremely dangerous; there is a zero tolerance for these kinds of actions. Hunters are to review page 13 of the Hunting Synopsis that explains highway closures.

An article titled ‘Access Guardian program seeks five years of funding’ was written in the Fernie Free Press for the November 23rd issue. The RDEK Electoral Area A Director, Mike Sosnowski, approached the Communities of Fernie, Sparwood and Elkford regarding support for another five years of the AMCEP. The AMCEP current five year contract ends in 2015. The Communities voted in support of the AMCEP in the Elk Valley to continue from 2016-2021, this is great news. At this time there has not been a signed MOA with the RDEK and COS. The article can be viewed online at: http://www.thefreepress.ca/news/283631041.html

11

The Outdoor Access Guide (OAG) has been a successful tool in helping educate and inform the public within the Crownest Pass and East Kootenays on Electoral Area “A” AMA Maps. CO Burley has been able to garnish $4700 to go towards the 2014 edition of the Outdoor Access Guide from local Clubs and Stakeholder groups. The Elkford ATV Club, Fernie Trails Alliance, Fernie Rod and Gun Club, Sparwood Fish and Wildlife Association, Elkford Rod and Gun Club, Teck Coal and BC Recreation and Trails have contributed money towards the magazine. The new Outdoors Access Guides were distributed to vendors and stakeholder groups in Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, Elko, Grasmere, Jaffray and Cranbrook. They are also available online at: www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/eco/accessmaps.htm

Statistics

Figure 12: Current Summary of total time in 2014 spent in the field up to November 30, 2014.

Figure 13: Current Summary of statistics up to November 30, 2014. The filtered numbers are for the months of October/November.

12 Figure 14: Current Summary of total outreach provided to the public up to November 30, 2014.

It should be noted that Officer Presence is calculated as the time Officer(s) were physically present in an AMA, it does not account for travel.

People that are educated are defined as COS discussing specific AMA facts and requirements for which the person in question was previously unaware. It should be noted that the Access Guardian Program and general AMA facts are discussed with more than 80% of contacts.

Summary

During the months of October and November the CO’s checked 125 hunters and 22 others. A total of 138 people were educated on AMA’s. CO Burley also responded to emails, phone calls and personal visits at the office from the public with questions regarding the AMA’s during the hunting season. The word is spreading throughout the Province that CO Burley is the Access Guardian and is being utilized to help educate people before they start their hunts within the AMA’s.

The CO’s in the Fernie office have spent more time in the field patrolling as they can utilize their remote rugged lap tops to complete computer work while still being within an AMA. When the CO’s are in high visible areas, the public has been stopping to chat with them. Numerous wildlife complaints have come to the CO’s attention this way.

CO Burley’s time was also spent following up with Human Wildlife Conflict Reports (HWCR) when other CO’s were not available. Fortunately it was a good year for fewer grizzly and black bear conflicts within the area. Normally black bears roam into the communities in late August and find attractants that they should not be able to find (garbage cans). Because the CO’s were not over run with problem bears complaints this fall they were able to respond to most hunting complaints that came to their attention. CO Burley has been adding her time to the 2014 Excel spreadsheet when working on AMA investigations, the Outdoor Access Guide and working on the AMA Reports.

13 The 2011-2014 monthly AMCEP reports and yearly summaries are now available online for the public to read. They can be viewed at the following website: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/eco/accessmaps.htm

The people in the East Kootenay’s have such a great opportunity to explore the beauty of the Rockies which provides a variety of recreational experiences. CO Burley is enjoying making contact with all these user groups and will continue to build a better understanding to the public of the laws and regulations that are built around them.

If you have any questions or concerns about the October/November AMA Report or questions for CO Burley, she can be contacted at:

RAPP 1-877-952-7277 Desk 250-423-4264 Cell 250-423-1888 [email protected] 1621A 10th Avenue P.O Box 2877, Fernie, BC, V0B1M0

The Conservation Officer Service is a public safety provider focussed on natural resource law enforcement and human wildlife conflicts prevention and response. Our Vision: To be a progressive and respected leader in environmental compliance and enforcement, shared stewardship and public safety. The Conservation Officer Service Motto is: Integrity, Service and Protection

Please see the attached Excel 2014 Stats for more detail of the Access Guardian’s patrols and outreach efforts from January to December, 2014.

Maps

To reduce document size, AMA maps have not been included in this report. If required maps of individual AMAs are available from two sources, the Ministry of Environment website (www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/eco/accessmaps.htm) and the Hunting Regulations Synopsis. The hunting synopsis is available in print and online (www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/). The maps available from the MOE website are in colour and contain much greater detail.

An i-phone Application is available for the public called PDF Maps which can be used with the Access Management Maps from the BC Government online site. The smart phone application is free and is user friendly. A blue indicator shows if you are within the AMA, no cell service is needed. Open and closed roads, along with the different AMA boundaries are all incorporated into the program. The public can find instructions on how to download the maps at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/eco/access.htm

14 6.6

Nature Conservancy of Canada President’s Report

When I joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) 15 years ago, we were raising about Leaving a legacy: $10 million a year thanks to the support of 15,000 donors. Today we are one of the largest charities in Canada with annual revenues of approximately $80-100 million with the support of 55,000 donors. Four ways to give We have volunteer leadership that includes some of Canada’s most influential business leaders. We have been ranked for the last four years as one of the most efficiently run charities in the country by MoneySense magazine, and we are conserving ecologically significant land at the astounding pace

The awe-inspiring landscapes and unique habitats that the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) protects are reflections of the passion of the equivalent of close to 1,000 NHL-sized hockey rinks per day. and values of many Canadians who are making a difference beyond their lifetime. When planning your estate, it is important that you Our growth and our success are due to the vision that supporters like you share with us of the take care of your family and loved ones. There are strategies that will allow you to save and reduce taxes while leaving a larger gift to your

and. potential for conservation in our great country. I am sending you the President’s Report as I believe family and to nature. Here are four ways you can contribute to the conservation of Canada’s wild places now, and forever. John Lounds, rel

o President and CEO it is your right, as a partner and investor in NCC, to receive a regular report from me on the state m

st of the organization. Charitable Will Bequest Registered Retirement Funds Publicly Traded Securities Life Insurance Policies e W e Leaving a gift in your Will to You can choose to donate your If you own securities that If your estate has accumulated i er This edition includes: an overview of our finances as reported in our most recent Annual Report; NCC is an extraordinary and Registered Retirement Savings appreciated in value, you can enough assets for your loved 2014 ISSUE y Ch y 1simple way to invest in the 2Plans (RRSPs) and Registered 3donate them in-kind to NCC. 4ones’ needs and you own a b a report on our Stewardship Endowment Fund, which now exceeds $80 million and is a critically future of conservation, while Retired Income Funds (RRIFs) You will receive a tax receipt life insurance policy, consider Financial transparency

hoto hoto important source of secured funds for ongoing maintenance of our properties; ideas on ways to helping reduce the tax burden by naming NCC as beneficiary for the full market value of transferring it to NCC and p and accountability K; K;

S support conservation that can help reduce your tax burden; and profiles of some of our valued

on your heirs. of all funds or a percentage of the shares and the capital naming NCC as the beneficiary. x, them. This gift can be arranged gains tax will be eliminated. You will receive a tax receipt Donor profile: funders and why they chose to work with NCC. mple without changing your Will. for the residual value of Gerald Cooper-Key the policy, and all ongoing Co y After recently concluding our successful A Force for Nature campaign, which helped protect an lle

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premiums will be considered additional 752,000 acres (300,000 hectares) of land, bringing the total to more than 2.7 million acres g Elana Rosenfeld tax-deductible donations. Bi (1.1 million hectares) conserved from coast to coast, we are casting an eye to the future. We will Stewardship continue to develop innovative and leading-edge conservation strategies, forge strategic partnerships Endowment Fund with the private sector to support their efforts to limit impact on biodiversity and nature, engage Four ways to give concerned Canadians and all levels of government. And in all these efforts, we remind ourselves A distinctive way to make a lasting impact that we do it all for our children and grandchildren to enjoy and celebrate the wonder of our It takes a special kind of person to turn a personal tragedy into a beautiful legacy. natural heritage.

“Nature heals us,” says Heather McLeod, with the Nature Conservancy of Canada McLeod didn’t want her daughter’s Contact us: “and whatever we are going through, it (NCC) to conserve their ranch. McLeod’s brief life to be about her death; she wanted Nature Conservancy of Canada always helps to heal the earth.” grandfather grew up on an old homestead it to be about more, so she established 1-800-465-8005 natureconservancy.ca John Lounds, President and CEO When Heather McLeod lost her daughter in Saskatchewan near Old Man on His Back a life insurance plan in memory of Ella Nature Conservancy of Canada 36 Eglinton Avenue West Ella, she turned to nature for healing, and (OMB), so she felt a connection to that place. and donated it to Nature Conservancy Suite 400 reconnecting with her Saskatchewan roots. McLeod visited OMB with her mother on of Canada. “It’s an affordable way to be a Toronto, Ontario M4R 1A1 While grieving, she remembered the book the anniversary of Ella’s death, and she was significant contributor,” says McLeod. Charitable registration number Old Man on His Back: Portrait of a Prairie able to find solace on the land. Her gratitude We all have our time, said McLeod, “and no 11924 6544 RR0001

Landscape, written by Sharon Butala who, for this healing experience inspired her to matter what our lives add up to, it always TM Trademarks owned by along with her husband Peter, worked help NCC care for the land at OMB. helps to heal the earth.” The Nature Conservancy of Canada To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca/plannedgiving 8 We can’t do this alone Thank you to our donors for ensuring we achieve the most important conservation

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Five-year average expenditures to May 31, 2014. natural and cultural history

Nothing defines our country more than stakeholders to ensure these stories are not groups to produce low-impact hiking our iconic and majestic landscapes. The lost to future generations. trails and interpretive panels to provide The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) receives funding from governments swelling tides of the Bay of Fundy, fields In the ranch lands of Alberta, where Canadians with access to this compelling at all levels, corporations, individuals, foundations and other organizations. of alpine flowers carpeting a mountain the rolling hills meet the eastern slopes piece of their past. These donors and partners allow NCC to achieve important conservation valley, the swaying grasses and endless skies of the Rockies, we are helping maintain a The Pendleton family cemetery on outcomes across Canada. We are very grateful for their support. of the Canadian prairies. It’s in our nature traditional ranching lifestyle by keeping vast Pendleton Island in New Brunswick dates As one of the country’s largest private land conservation organizations, as Canadians to seek out these restorative tracks of grasslands intact for endangered back to the 1800s. The site contains several we take great pride in our ability to effectively and efficiently protect the land spaces. birds, elk and ranchers and their cattle. headstones, most of which experienced some . in our care, and in managing the funds that our generous donors provide. S The Nature Conservancy of Canada Teepee rings lined up along the rivers degree of damage after decades of neglect BB DA But you don’t have to take our word for it. (NCC) helps to conserve our nation’s still vividly invoke the history of the First and fallen trees. With funding provided by DON

For the fourth year in a row, MoneySense magazine ranked NCC as the natural legacy for the benefit of current and Nations who cared for these lands for the Pendleton family, NCC commissioned + top environmental charity in Canada, giving us an A . “We are very proud AND generations – and a fossilized dinosaur an expert in cemetery restoration to repair

future generations of Canadians. It is also l

+ o of this year’s A grade,” says John Lounds, President and CEO of NCC. r our gift to the world. footprint embedded in the rock of the headstones and restore the site.

“We consistently show our commitment to ensuring more than 80 percent Ka y Our work also helps protect Canada’s riverbed brings echoes of species who NCC properties from coast to coast are b of all funds raised go directly to our land conservation work. We believe cultural legacy. While we identify land to roamed these lands millions of years ago. protecting endangered ecosystems, rare hoto hoto

this is critically important to our supporters, who appreciate NCC’s financial p conserve based on ecological significance, The NCC property in Fort Ellice in species of flora and fauna, and clean water.

responsibility and accountability.” MB; , we also help to maintain critically important Manitoba was a Hudson’s Bay Company By protecting these places, we are helping to ce MoneySense reviews the 100 largest charities each year and rates them i pieces of our history. Each NCC property trading post established in 1831 and has conserve our country’s magnificent natural ll

according to financial efficiency, fundraising efforts, reserve fund size, E t has a story to tell and we work with local significant importance for both Métis and and cultural legacy that is the envy of the r o

transparency and governance. F heritage groups, First Nations and other First Nations. NCC is working with local world.

2 3 Donor Profile: NCC: How has your partnership with NCC evolved since your first donation in 2001? ER: Kicking Horse Coffee has supported the Gerald Cooper-Key Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) efforts in British Columbia since 2001, when Gerald Cooper-Key knows the importance of NCC’s business model and is willing to invest NCC opened a local office in Invermere. strategic investing. After retiring from a Calgary- in our time and capacity to bring projects to In 2013, I joined NCC as a regional board based investment management firm, Mawer fruition – even though there are risks that member. I have a strong passion for Investment Management Ltd., where he is still a projects might not move forward. In other sustainability and business, so it’s a great fit. director and past chairman, Cooper-Key reached words, Cooper-Key is willing to provide NCC a stage in his life where he wanted to combine with the conservation “venture capital” that NCC: With the success of Kicking Horse, his financial savvy and his passion for nature to is essential to achieving our mission. you’re obviously very busy. How do you make make a significant contribution to conservation. Likewise, work is not finished once a sure you set aside time to spend in nature? So he brought his investment management skills property is secured. NCC is responsible for ER: Having balance is something we strongly into play, did his homework and contacted the managing these lands and ensuring their believe in at Kicking Horse Coffee. Boundaries Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). protection over the long term. It was exactly for are important to me. I don’t work on weekends Several field trips to visit NCC properties this purpose that NCC established in 1997 its or take business calls after the workday is over. and many questions later, Cooper-Key was Stewardship Endowment Fund, which finances This is my time to be with my daughters and prepared to make an investment of $1 million the long term care of our properties. Cooper- spend time in nature. I feel fortunate to live from his recently created Gerald A. Cooper- Key saw the importance of this mechanism in a place where I can hop in my VW Van Key Foundation. and committed a portion of his Foundation’s and drive down a dusty backcountry road It is more than just Cooper-Key’s inspiring $1 million gift to NCC’s Stewardship IN conversation with in a matter of minutes. I do a lot of hiking, generosity that is so important to NCC. He Endowment Fund to ensure the long-term biking and cross-country skiing. I’ve also taken also has the vision to recognize the value of the sustainability of his investment in conservation. up stand-up paddle boarding. I can spend a work that goes into conservation before and The $1 million donation was distributed Elana Rosenfeld day just floating down the Columbia River after the actual act of land securement. among seven projects in Alberta and British Founder of Kicking Horse Coffee (pretending I’m Huck Finn).

While acquiring land is an important Columbia. An assessment of the conservation .

part of NCC’s mandate, a great deal of work return on his investment reveals that he helped emp NCC: As Canada’s #1 organic Fair Trade K needs to be done to assess potential properties to conserve over 420,000 acres (170,000 e NCC: Why did you start a coffee company? coffee company, social and environmental an d an V before a deal is done. A significant amount hectares), representing a land value of over ER: My parents were both entrepreneurs, so issues are clearly important to Kicking Horse. e of resources go into research and planning in $46 million. I think it’s in my blood. My business partner What do you think is the most important hani

order to decide on whether to proceed with It is pretty clear that Cooper-Key has not ep and I started with a seasonal fruit stand and thing that companies can do to be good t S

a given purchase. Cooper-Key understands lost his touch for selecting a good investment. y then moved on to start the Blue Dog Café environmental stewards? b in Invermere, BC. We enjoyed the café, but ER: For me, business is all about having a higher hoto hoto p ultimately I found that it wasn’t fulfilling for purpose. We were the first licensees for Fair d; d;

el me. We also realized that good coffee was hard Trade coffee in western Canada and in 2003

“We cannot nf e to come by! So we sold the café and started we made a conscious decision to discontinue improve the roasting coffee in our garage. We roasted it, all conventional coffee and purchase only ana Ros ana

l packed it and sold it. It was invigorating and 100 percent Certified Organic coffee beans. . E . fun – and it still is. beauty of nature er A great way to find purpose in business is h

Se contributing to social and environmental a a but we can j NCC: Why would a coffee company be initiatives. At Kicking Horse Coffee, we on S

y y interested in land conservation? do everything we can to minimize our conserve and b ER: Coffee has a very direct relationship with the environmental footprint. Our employees and hoto hoto protect it. And p land, so the environment is top of mind for us. customers recognize this and it’s become y; y; e

K Plus, we’re located in Invermere, BC, surrounded part of our identity. I think the best thing that is a legacy - per by mountains, lakes and wilderness. At Kicking companies can do to be good environmental Horse Coffee we have a strong passion for stewards is to find ways to incorporate world-

to be proud of.” Coo d l

a protecting land across BC, especially here in our friendly values into their purpose. This will er

Gerald Cooper-Key G company’s own backyard in the Kootenays. look different for every company.

4 5 Caring for Canada into the future: NCC’s Stewardship Endowment Fund

The land acquired by the Nature Conser- as property taxes, restoration and land Often, new land acquisitions require of rare plants and animals on NCC’s vancy of Canada (NCC), whether through management. habitat restoration and enhancement, conservation lands. For example, a species purchase or donation, requires long-term “The SEF is an important element in including the removal of invasive plant inventory recently confirmed 19 species at care and management. Our work and our making sure we have the resources to species and the reintroduction of native risk on NCC’s 135,000-acre (55,000-hectare) costs do not end when we secure these make good on our commitment to protect species. These activities are often assisted Darkwoods property in British Columbia’s properties. That’s why NCC established the our conservation lands forever,” says Julie by enthusiastic volunteers through NCC’s South Selkirk Mountains – including a herd Stewardship Endowment Fund (SEF). Wood, NCC’s vice-president, corporate. Conservation Volunteers events. Often of South Selkirk caribou. Money held in this fund is invested in “Knowing resources are available to money may be needed to buy equipment, Since 2008, the SEF has increased from the financial markets based on decisions maintain or enhance the ecological values hire third-party experts and purchase $22 million to more than $80 million. The made by a team of volunteer professionals of our properties means all Canadians who native plants or seeds. SEF funding also strength of this fund is a crucial indicator well versed in investment management. care about the natural habitat can be sure helps cover these costs and supports of NCC’s ability to successfully manage our NCC draws interest from the principal that our conservation efforts will have a activities such as species inventories on new increasing portfolio of conservation lands each year to help cover ongoing costs such long-term impact.” properties, which can lead to discoveries across Canada well into the future. CC. N

y y Capitalizing on opportunity: b ; Photo Photo ;

ON Ted Boswell oast, oast, c Land Conservation Fund and and l s I There are times when the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in in SCIENCE l needs to bridge the timing gap where a property becomes We identify and prioritize lands where biodiversity is available, but the finances are not. NCC maintains the edT Boswell

richest, threats are greatest Manitou n and conservation will have er Land Conservation Fund (TBLCF) for this purpose. The TBLCF, the biggest impact. named in honour of Edward (Ted) Boswell, a long-time NCC . south .

cc supporter and past chair of the national board of directors, y n y b allows NCC to act quickly if high-priority conservation

hoto hoto lands become available. Loans withdrawn from the TBLCF are p nt; nt;

e repaid through future fundraising and pledge commitments. v

SECUREMENT e s s The acquisition of over 22,000 acres (8,903 hectares) on Cockburn

We strategize on how to eer secure the most threatened Island in Ontario is a recent example of NCC land that benefitted unt habitats through purchase, l o donation or conservation V from TBLCF funds. Without the TBLCF accommodation, this vulnerable agreement. coastal habitat may have been a missed opportunity for NCC. vation vation

er “The Manitoulin Island Archipelago is a treasure trove of biological diversity,” says James Duncan, NCC’s regional vice president Cons g in

r in Ontario. “This project exemplifies NCC’s mission to secure du

g permanent conservation for a wide range of valuable habitats.” in c n

e The Manitoulin Island Archipelago Natural Area is globally

STEWARDSHIP f re

i significant for its pristine Great Lakes shorelines and rare habitats,

We develop long term plans w to care for each property. d which support several species at risk such as lakeside daisy and rbe

These plans can include a b

Hill’s thistle. Ecological treasures like this might not be

ecological monitoring, g restoration and the removal successfully conserved without funds like TBLCF that allow NCC of invasive species. ovin em

R to be nimble and efficient.

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