52 results for author: robyn duncan


Here we go again…(to court, that is)

Today, we're in court again, represented by Ecojustice. We have been granted intervenor status in the latest appeal in the ongoing court saga of the cancelled Jumbo Environmental Certificate. Are you having deja vu? We don’t blame you. In the summer, we intervened in the Glacier Resorts vs. Minister of Environment case. This time around, it’s the Minister appealing the court decision made in the summer—a decision that sided with the developers. And on and on it goes.For a re-cap of the Environmental Certificate ruling and hearings and appeal, check this out. The current case is critical for Jumbo, but it’s also a very important case ...

It’s up to us to write this story

We need your help today to fight for the Jumbo Valley. You may have seen the news reports coming out lately about how our world’s wilderness is disappearing at a colossal rate. It’s upsetting, to say the least.Will we protect the wilderness of the Jumbo Valley, for the grizzly bears and for future generations, or will we let a huge ski resort take over this special place in the middle of the Purcell Mountains? Will we keep Jumbo Wild?Something has to change if we want wilderness to continue being part of our world. We need to stand together like we never have before. We have to stand up and fight for every special wild place. Will you ...

Things are stalled, but they are still moving

Recently, I went to the Jumbo Creek Conservation Society (JCCS) annual meeting in Invermere. Together, we celebrated that the Jumbo Valley has stayed wild for another year. The JCCS has been Wildsight’s main partner in the decades-long campaign to keep Jumbo Wild—and their dedication is unwavering. Over the years, working relationships have changed to friendship and last night as I looked around, I was filled with gratitude for community and for the commitment and passion of people who give so much of their time and energy to stand up for what they believe in.We’ve been quieter than usual this year, but I’m happy to be writing you today to ...

Grizzly Bears: Running Out of Room with Clayton Lamb + JCCS AGM

Join the Jumbo Creek Conservation Society and Wildsight for a presentation from Clayton Lamb on grizzly bears in British Columbia, an update on Jumbo and a short JCCS AGM.Wild and mountainous British Columbia is home to one of the largest grizzly bear populations in North America, with about 14,000 bears. But these bears face many threats, especially in the southern part of the province. Clayton Lamb’s research team investigates the complex relationships between bears and human land use, human-caused mortality and habitat factors like food supply. Their work, conducted across large tracts of land, speaks to both local issues and regional ...

I Love Jumbo Wild: Douglas Noblet

Douglas Noblet is the photographer behind Wild Air Photography. His images combine three of his major passions: mountains, flying and photography. Often flying solo, Douglas captures his images while piloting his Cessna 172. He lives in Nelson, BC in a tiny house and spends much of his time in the wild Purcells ski touring, mountaineering, rafting and climbing. Douglas’ images have been used for many years to help support the #JumboWild campaign. I recently sat down to chat with Douglas about what motivates him.Robyn Duncan: You grew up in Nelson. When did you first hear about the Jumbo Glacier Resort?Douglas Noblet: I've lived in the ...

On June 25th, Jumbo will be back in court. And we’re going too.

In 2015, then Environment Minister Mary Polak canceled the Jumbo Glacier Resort’s Environmental Certificate. In BC, developers must substantially start their project within five years (renewable one time only) or else they lose the certificate. Minister Polak determined that after 10 years Glacier Resorts had not substantially started the Jumbo Glacier Resort, effectively rendering the environmental certificate expired.Glacier Resorts Ltd challenged this decision and this week (June 25-28), they'll be before the court in Glacier Resorts Ltd. vs. the BC Minister of the Environment. Glacier Resorts claims that more substantial construction was ...

JGMRM holding annual meeting for municipality with no residents

The Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality (JGMRM) is BC’s only town with no people and an appointed mayor and council. On June 19, the JGMRM will present its 2018 annual report at a public meeting.Controversy has surrounded the JGMRM since its inception when the then BC government took the shocking steps to push forward the Jumbo Glacier Resort, amending the Local Government Act to allow the creation of a town with no people, appointed a mayor and council to govern over the new town, and funded it through taxpayer dollars.Protests have accompanied multiple town meetings, including the inaugural meeting and the public meeting to solicit ...

Jumbo is going back to court

On June 25th, Jumbo will be back in court. Glacier Resorts, the company who dreamed up the now legendary large-scale resort proposal for the contested Jumbo Valley will be arguing before the BC Supreme Court that the decision made by former Environment Minister Mary Pollack was, simply put, not fair. In 2015, after Pollack determined that Glacier Resorts had failed to “substantially start” their 5,500-bed ski resort within the 10-year timeline given to them in the environmental assessment process, they were told to immediately stop all construction.Glacier Resorts claims that more substantial construction was impossible based on a series of ...

I Love Jumbo Wild: KL Kivi

You can't get too far in the fight to keep Jumbo Wild before you cross paths with KL Kivi. A fiery, passionate advocate with a heart of gold, KL has a gift with words and a knack for cutting through to the heart of any matter. Based in Nelson and a long-time member of the West Kootenay Coalition for Jumbo Wild, KL's contribution to Jumbo Wild over the decades has been immense. She was one of the pillars of the Farnham and Jumbo Monitoring Camps—when her shift was done, she packed up her bag and hiked back home over Jumbo Pass, dropping into Glacier Creek and Argenta. She was the force behind the "Purcell Suite: Upholding the Wild," a beautiful ...

Supreme Court Decision: What’s Next?

After years in court, the Ktunaxa Nation suffered their final loss last week in their legal case to stop the proposed Jumbo Glacier Resort—but it won’t be the end of their efforts to protect Qat’muk. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled against their appeal, finding that Indigenous spiritual rights connected to a sacred place aren’t protected under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It was a sad day for those of us who love Jumbo Wild—and for all Canadians who stand for reconciliation with First Nations.After the ruling, the Ktunaxa called for a legally-defined Indigenous protected area to protect all of Qat’muk, not just the core area ...