A unique community partnership is brewing this spring – literally.

The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) has been selected as the featured charity for Fernie Brewing Company’s “Cheers to Charity” program for the months of April and May.

The initiative, which has been running since 2013, highlights local organizations doing meaningful work in their communities, with all profits from featured beer flights going directly to the selected charity during their feature period.

For EKISC, this support comes at an important time of year. Invasive species are one of the most persistent ecological challenges in the region., and the second leading cause to biodiversity loss globally. These are plants, animals, or other organisms introduced outside of their natural range that can spread aggressively and disrupt local ecosystems.

In the Elk Valley, species such as Blueweed, Wild Caraway, Spotted knapweed, Common tansy, St. John’s wort and Orange hawkweed can outcompete native plants, reduce biodiversity, and alter habitat for wildlife that depends on healthy, intact ecosystems. When native plant communities are displaced, the impacts ripple outward – affecting insects, birds, and mammals, and ultimately the overall resilience of the landscape.

EKISC is a non-profit organization working across the East Kootenay region to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species through education, outreach, early detection, and on-the-ground management.

A big part of our work focuses on helping people understand how easily invasive species can be moved through everyday activities, like gardening, recreation, soil movement, or equipment transport and how simple behaviour changes can significantly reduce spread.

Funding like this Cheers to Charity program plays a meaningful role in supporting that work. Proceeds from Fernie Brewing Company’s featured four-sample beer flights are donated directly to EKISC throughout April and May, turning a casual brewery visit into direct support for local conservation efforts.

It’s a lighthearted but effective way to keep community-driven environmental work moving forward, especially during the busy field season.

And the timing aligns perfectly with May being Invasive Species Action Month across Canada, a time dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging action to protect ecosystems from invasive species impacts. If you’re only going to take one small action this month, EKISC jokes it might as well be an enjoyable one!

Gather some friends, head to Fernie Brewing Co., and choose a beer flight that directly supports invasive species education and prevention in your own backyard.

Also – save the date! On May 22, EKISC and Fernie Brewing Company will be hosting a community weed pull event, inviting residents to get their hands dirty removing invasive plants from local areas. The event will also include a BBQ, offering a chance to connect with others who care about protecting local landscapes while enjoying a well-earned meal after a day of work outdoors.

Together, these initiatives highlight a simple but powerful message: community action can take many forms. Whether it’s learning something new, showing up for a volunteer event, or raising a glass at the brewery, each small action contributes to the larger goal of protecting the places we all value in the Elk Valley.

Cheers to that.

The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering partnerships and advancing collaborative projects in natural and applied science, policy research, outreach, and education. Our mission is to safeguard forests, fields, gardens, waterways, and urban areas from the harmful impacts of invasive species.

EKISC operates through two key programs: our Field team, which conducts on-the-ground invasive species monitoring, treatment, and inventory efforts, and our Education team, which provides outreach, training, and resources to the community. To learn more about our work and access a comprehensive range of invasive species resources, visit us atwww.ekisc.com.

East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

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