By Roslyn Johnson,

Nature Conservancy of Canada

On Sunday, Dec. 14 the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) welcomed dozens of winter revelers to their Marion Creek Benchlands conservation area, overlooking Columbia Lake.

The second annual Winter Celebration was an opportunity to spend time outside with the local community.

People came from Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs to celebrate the season and enjoy the outdoors. Guests were invited to bring equipment for skating, hockey, cross-county skiing, Christmas tree gathering or hanging out by the warm bonfire. Warm beverages and a delicious lunch were generously provided by Kicking Horse Coffee, Konig Meat and Sausage Co., and Invermere Bakery.

Despite losing much of the snow cover because of unseasonably warm weather in the days leading up to the Winter Celebration, Sunday dawned cold and crisp, with clouds burning off to reveal perfectly blue skies, warm sunshine and incredible ice for skating on the pond.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” one guest said.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada would like to thank Kicking Horse Coffee, Konig Meat and Sausage Co. and Invermere Bakery for their generosity and everyone who attended for a wonderful afternoon. It was a perfect beginning to the holiday season!

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation’s leading land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962 NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 2.7 million acres (over 1.1 million hectares), coast to coast. More than 1 million of the acres (400,000 hectares) are right here in British Columbia. www.natureconservancy.ca/bc

Lead image: Guests of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Winter Celebration Event at Marion Creek Benchlands enjoy a bonfire and BBQ on Sunday, December 14. Photo by NCC

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