Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies Announces Agency Agreement with the Elk Valley Regional Land Trust

Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, & Cranbrook, BC (June 14, 2021) – The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR) is very pleased to announce that it has entered into an agency agreement with the Elk Valley Regional Land Trust (EVRLT), to support the purchase of privately held industrial forestry lands in the Elk Valley,  conserving and protecting these lands for future generations.

“CFKR supports a broad range of initiatives to enhance our communities, and we look forward to working with EVRLT on this important project in the Elk Valley, to support the sustainable use of this land for a wide variety of user groups”, said Lynnette Wray, CFKR Executive Director.

The goal is to raise between $10 and $20 million and work to acquire approximately 20,000 acres in the Elk Valley.

“We are thrilled to be working with CFKR on this project,” stated Aysha Haines, EVRLT Director. “CFKR is an extremely valuable asset to organizations such as ours and to other community groups in our local communities. Being able to work with an organization like CFKR definitely gives us a stronger ability to accomplish our goals, and we look forward to working together on this exciting project,” added Haines.

CFKR is accepting charitable donations for this project, providing tax receipts to donors, and stewarding the funds. CFKR is offering several options for donations:

  • On-line PayPal/credit card donations via CFKR’s PayPal Giving Fund Canada link: www.paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3554907  
  • Interac E-Transfer to [email protected] (note “EVRLT”)
  • Cheque: Made out to “CFKR”, note “EVRLT” in the memo, mail to CFKR, Box 242, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 4H8
  • Cash: Deliver to CFKR office — Ground Floor Coworking Space, 131 7th Ave. S, Cranbrook, BC

EVRLT will pursue the purchase of targeted lands with a combination of approaches: conservation funding from established organizations and corporations, development and sale of industrial-scale forest carbon offsets, sustainable timber harvesting, impact investment, concessionary lending, and public donations. Upon successfully raising money and purchasing lands, conservation covenants will be registered in order to protect the ecology and access to the forests in perpetuity.

In the future, if the project does not come to fruition, CFKR will ensure that the donated monies are used to support similar environmental purposes in the Elk Valley, which could include the establishment of a permanently invested endowment fund.

 

Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR):

Established in 2003 as a federally incorporated not-for-profit and a CRA-registered charity, the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and employs one staff person. CFKR holds a total of over $3 million in 41 permanently invested funds. Since its first community grants in 2004, the Community Foundation has shared over $500,000 with local projects and programs in our communities.

For more information about the Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies, please visit www.CFKRockies.ca and  www.facebook.com/CommunityFoundationKootenayRockies/

www.facebook.com/ElkfordCommunityFund/

www.facebook.com/SparwoodCommunityFund/

www.facebook.com/FernieCommunityFund/

 

Elk Valley Regional Land Trust (EVRLT):

The Elk Valley Regional Land Trust (EVRLT) is a volunteer-run, registered not-for-profit organization aimed at conserving the spectacular wilderness in the Elk Valley while preserving access for the community and visitors. EVRLT has been working since 2019, in consultation with multiple organizations, stakeholders, and advisors, to establish key priorities for the community and has established relationships with landowners in anticipation of proposing to acquire targeted lands. Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (BDP) is providing pro bono legal Counsel, and Blue Source LLC is providing carbon offset development and marketing services. The directors of the Elk Valley Regional Land Trust are Michael Belenkie, Aysha Haines, David Hozjan, Steve Kelly, Jeff Leitl, Roger Swierstra, and Pamela Rannelli.

In 2019, the Elk Valley Regional Land Trust (EVRLT) was formed with the goal of conserving and restoring these unique land, water, and forest resources. This iconic range in the Canadian Rockies is at risk due to increased industrial forestry activity in recent years. EVRLT’s primary thrust is to create a sustainable Community Forest by purchasing and conserving privately held lands in the Elk Valley for both residents and visitors to this beautiful part of British Columbia. If successful, this project will:

  • Protect natural habitat.
  • Ensure economic and ecologically sustainable stewardship of forest resources.
  • Preserve recreational opportunities.
  • Support contributions that tourism brings to the local economy.
  • Restore the overall scenic integrity of the Valley.

This project is supported by other partners in the Elk Valley area including the City of Fernie, Fernie Tourism, and the Fernie Trails Alliance.

For more information about the Elk Valley Regional Land Trust:

Website: https://elkvalleylandtrust.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EVRLT

Email: [email protected]