Regional environmental education organizations gathered in Cranbrook Nov. 29 for the first Environmental Education Expo, hosted by Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN).

Seventeen different environmental education groups, from the East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council to Scouts Canada to Blue Lake Centre to Clear Sky Meditation and Study Foundation and Wildsight took place in the expo, held at the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel and Archives Friday. On hand to learn about the organizations were representatives from local government, School District No. 5 and College of the Rockies, as well as business owners, funding agencies and the media. In total, 75 people attended the event.

CBEEN Executive director Duncan Whittick outlined the organization’s purpose and direction and noted gratitude for the wealth of organizations working to educate people about the environment, as well as the agencies such as Columbia Basin Trust that provide valuable funding assistance.

City of Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski gave the Royal Alexandra Hall audience a tour of his environmental education past, from Manitoba to Vancouver Island to the Kootenays.

Jenna Gunn, of Scouts Canada, gave an inspirational talk about the value of educating youngsters about the natural environment and renowned environmental educator, writer and now CBC radio personality Dave Quinn echoed her, noting how his desire to educate people about the environment is even stronger now that he has two young children.

“We were thrilled to have such a wonderful turnout, and we hope this will have sparked many conversations that will help to further the goals of each organization, and environmental education in general. We also hope that this will help to clarify the role of CBEEN as an umbrella network, and the value of some of our initiatives such as Wild Voices for Kids,” Whittick stated.

“As a result of this success, CBEEN is looking at hosting a similar event twice per year in communities across the Columbia Basin. We are also working hard to host a National Environmental Education Leadership Clinic to the Kootenays in the spring of 2014 which would be the scaffolding to host a National Environmental Education Conference here in 2017, and would bring hundreds of practitioners and researchers to the area,” he reported.

Lead image: From left, City of Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski, Jenna Gunn of Scouts Canada, CBEEN’s Duncan Whittick and environmental educator Dave Quinn.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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