The Elk Valley Regional Land Trust (“the Trust”) is dedicated to maintaining wildlife connectivity, preserving habitat and promoting sustainable recreational use on both sides of the Elk Valley. Residents of Fernie and Elk Valley support this vision. RDEK ‘s recent opinion survey (November 2024) found that 79% of residents were dissatisfied with wildlife protection corridor policies in the region.
Based on a comprehensive wildlife movement study conducted in the Elk Valley, the Trust has proposed a conservation, connectivity and sustainable recreational use corridor on the West Slope of the Elk Valley, extending from the Fernie Alpine Resort to and including Fairy Creek – a total of 1000 hectares. Specifically, the Trust has proposed acquiring the EK Lands, which includes 83 ha of land, including the substantial portions of the Mount Fernie, Fairy Creek Falls, and the Mount Proctor (departure) trails.
The Trust secured funding commitments of $2.35 million from the federal government as well as a local philanthropist to support the land acquisition. The Trust also had a clear “line of sight” on an additional $1 million in from private donations.
The Trust was hopeful that large national and provincial conservancies would provide the remaining funds to secure the land purchase. While considerable interest was expressed, the conservancies solicited decided to focus on other priorities and not provide funding to this project. The Trust, therefore, was unable to complete the transaction.
Kevin La Roche, Executive Director of the Trust, provided additional background:
“We have built a solid and compelling case for the West Slope Wildlife Corridor. We raised millions of dollars from Parks Canada, Environment Canada and local philanthropists. While we were hopeful that senior conservancies would help bring us across the finish line, that proved not to be possible. National and provincial conservancies have national and province wide mandates that they need to prioritize. We don’t. We live here. Our priority is the Elk Valley. We know what the Elk Valley needs, and we know how important meeting that need is to ensure sustainable development in the Valley and the preservation of a critical wildlife corridor that serves the whole of the Rockies.”
Mr. LaRoche commented on the scope of support for the West Slope Wildlife Corridor:
“We have spoken with dozens of representatives and members of trail use, conservation, hunting and municipal organizations in the Valley in the last six months, including people who are lifetime residents, as well as new residents. The fact is that there is almost unanimous support, across all groups, for establishing substantial conservation areas in the Valley slopes that facilitate wildlife connectivity while permitting historical and sustainable use. No one wants to see Fernie become yet another mountain community – like Canmore – that has permitted upslope growth that is not specifically mindful of the need for conservation, connectivity and sustainable use.”
The Trust is continuing with its plan for sustainability and connectivity corridors. It is focused on other key parcels on the West Slope, including Crown parcels. As Mr. LaRoche says:
“We know we have broad and deep support among residents in Fernie and the Elk Valley in general. So we’re turning now to building on that support, by working with the other organizations, the provincial government and major corporations to fund a substantial West Slope acquisition that is respectful of the rights of lands owners. We continue, as well, to explore the possibilities of establishing a conservation area on the East Slope. That is an equally important part of our mandate.”
For further information, see our website at https://elkvalleylandtrust.org/ or contact our Executive Director, Kevin La Roche, at kevin.laroche@elkvalleylandtrust.org
