CBT decision will not be reversed Trust moved environmental education money into ecosystem enhancement budget for 2023

By Steve Hubrecht steve@columbiavalleypioneer.com

A larger than expected crowd turned out for the Columbia Basin Trust’s (CBT) community engagement session in Invermere on Apr 3.

Top of mind for many there was the CBT’s withdrawal of funding for local and regional environmental education programs.

“We need continued support for existing environmental education programs,” said Windermere resident Michelle Rievaj.

Rievaj added that environmental education is “not just for kids in school” but should be “an ongoing community education.” e CBT’s funding changes for environmental education, including those for the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN)’s and Wildsight’s programs, will take effect at the end of the current school year.

About 80 people attended the evening event, which was the first such in-person engagement session the CBT has held since the Covid pandemic. CBT staff had to keep bringing out extra chairs, and told the Pioneer it was far more participation than they expected.

CBT president and chief executive officer Johnny Strilaeff said that the CBT’s decision is a response to public consultation in 2020.

“Residents were really clear [in 2020] that they wanted dollars to go to on-the ground ecosystem restoration and enhancement,” said Strilaeff. “ e CBT has developed new programs for those priorities, and when we launched new programs the funding has to come from somewhere else.” e Apr. 3 engagement session is expected to inform the CBT’s next management plan. is means there’s no chance the withdrawal of funding for CBEEN and Wildsight in 2023 will be reversed this year.

During the session, attendees broke into groups for small discussions at table, then a spokesperson shared each table’s collective opinion with the entire crowd. In total seven of the 11 tables at the event underscored environmental education as either the top priority or at least a big priority.

Environmental education was mentioned in multiple contexts — as tool to help foster better care for Invermere’s surroundings; as something that deserves more dedicated space in school curriculums; and the looming withdrawal of funding.

“Environmentally literate kids will create a sustainable future,” said Invermere resident Lorene Keitch.

Strilaeff said CBT redirected funding away from older, now less-prioritized programs, such as environmental education.

“ at was one of the toughest decisions,” said Strilaeff.