Elk River Alliance

09/03/2026

It's almost Derby Day! If you'd like to check out the festivities for free and help out with one of Fernie's biggest community events, we're looking to send a few extra volunteers to help with beverage ticket sales and serving!

If you sign up and list that you're representing the Elk River Alliance, they'll donate some of the proceeds to supporting ERA programming (aka: supporting watershed health and education)!

You can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44AFAB2AA7FCC07-64997493-beverage #/

Please note that the beverage garden service volunteer slots require a Serving it Right Certificate but the others are unrestricted.

09/02/2026

Meet the team... Up next: Bones. 😻

If we're being honest, Bones has demonstrated a concerning lack of commitment to his role. He regularly arrives 6 hours late, leaves without notice, and has been known to clock in for ~ 8 seconds before disappearing for WEEKS. He has never washed a dish, has no vacuuming ability, and isn't sure what a deadline is. He, on occasion, BITES co-workers, receives a finger wagging warning and will probably do it again. He has yet to learn English and constantly makes his peers feel grossly underdressed, showing up in a TUXEDO when he does come to work.

Despite his shortcomings as an ERA employee, he is an exceptional morale contributor and seriously deserves anything he wants.

*No ai was used in making this post.

08/28/2026

That's a wrap on Elk River Discovery Camps 2026!☀️

Over the past few weeks, 103 youth rafted, hiked, fished, explored, and played their way throughout the Elk Valley. What an incredible few weeks of adventure!

A huge thank you to all of our amazing families and community partners for your incredible support. We couldn’t do it without you! 💚

Special thanks to College of the Rockies Fernie Campus, Fernie Alpine Resort Kootenay Trout Hatchery Visitor Centre, Michael Spoonhunter, Canyon Raft Company, and Turtle Haven Rentals for helping make this season possible.

Until next summer!

08/24/2026

Did you know that Spotted Knapw**d out competes native plants by releasing a chemical through its roots, harming surrounding vegetation?

We’re partnering with the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council this Wednesday to remove spotted Knapw**d from the Maiden Lake area, supporting native stream side plant growth! 🌱

Grab a shovel, some gloves, and a friend (or meet a new one) and help us support native biodiversity! 💪 More details at elkriveralliance.ca/volunteer

08/14/2026

What are you up to on Monday from 4-7 PM?

Come volunteer with us to protect select trees around Maiden Lake from becoming beaver food and building materials!

Grab your gloves (we've got some for you) and help us install tree protection to keep these trees standing. Everyone welcome 🙂.

08/06/2026

What a summer of camps it has been! Our final week is almost here, and there are still 6 spots left!

We have sold out every other week this summer, and we would love to help 6 more kids fall in love with the watershed before summer wraps up. 🌞

Campers will spend the week hiking, swimming, fishing, playing outdoor games, and trying their hand at paddle boarding and kayaking. They'll take on a rafting trip on the Elk River with Canyon Raft Company's "River Mild" run (between Sparwood and Fernie), take part in a beading workshop with a Ktunaxa educator, and more!

Available Camp Week Details:
August 17 to 21
Ages 7-10
$525

Don't miss your chance to give your kid an unforgettable week outside.

Sign up here: https://elkriveralliance.ca/camps
Subsidies may also be available through the Emily Brydon Foundation: https://www.emilybrydonyouthfoundation.com/

07/31/2026

Want to have a say in how our forests are managed?

BC is changing its approach to forest management, and you can help shape it! The Cranbrook Forest Landscape Plan is part of a shift toward long-term planning centred on ecosystem health and community well-being.

This plan will guide decisions in the Cranbrook Timber Supply Area (including the Elk Valley) around where logging happens, watershed protection, wildfire risk, and recreation access for years to come.

This is your chance to shape these priorities. If you care about sustainably managing our forests, this survey is where your input feeds into decision-making.

Take five minutes to fill out it out before September 26, 2026!

07/28/2026

Important notice ‼️

WARNING - extreme new hazard near the Stanford on the Elk River. It has already trapped some river users.

Please make sure you exit the river well before this. There is a sign upstream on river right warning you to exit.

07/28/2026

Thanks so much to Fernie Alpine Resort and to everyone who hit the trails on Community Days! Your support helps make our work to protect and restore the Elk River watershed possible.

We're also incredibly grateful to Fernie Alpine Resort for supporting our Discovery Camps by providing lift tickets, giving our campers the chance to explore the beautiful Lizard Range.

It was our absolute pleasure to hand Elk River Alliance a cheque for $3,856, all thanks to the donations from so many of you during Community Appreciation Days!

A little goes a long way, and together, those donations make a big difference in supporting the incredible work the Elk River Alliance does in our community.

Thank you to everyone who came out and contributed!

07/27/2026

Join us this Tuesday from 5-7pm at Maiden Lake in Fernie to reduce the spread of invasive plants!

https://elkriveralliance.ca/get-involved/volunteer

🌿 Volunteer W**d Pull at Maiden Lake
Elk River Alliance is inviting community members to help remove spotted knapw**d around Maiden Lake during two upcoming volunteer w**d pulls.
Spotted knapw**d is an invasive plant that can spread quickly, displacing native vegetation and impacting local ecosystems. By volunteering a couple of hours, you can help protect one of Fernie's valued natural areas.
📅 Volunteer Dates:
• Tuesday, July 28 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 26 | 4:00–7:00 p.m.
The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council will join the August 26 event to share information about invasive species and provide additional supplies.
Volunteers will use small hand tools to dig out spotted knapw**d and bag the plants for proper disposal. No experience is necessary—just bring closed-toe footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, and a willingness to lend a hand!
📍 Meet at Maiden Lake
Thank you to the Elk River Alliance and the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council - EKISC for helping protect Fernie's natural spaces through community stewardship.