The Kootenay-Columbia Discovery Centre Society (“KCDCS”) will hold an Open House on Saturday, February 23rd, between the hours of noon and 4 p.m., in the Sunshine Room at the Creston and District Community Complex. The purpose of the Open House is to update the community on efforts to develop a new interpretive centre.
The previous Wildlife Interpretation Centre closed in October of 2017, KCDCS in partnership with the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Authority, and with funding provided by the Columbia Basin Trust, continued to provide environmental education and awareness programs last summer. Neither flooding in the spring nor wildfire smoke in the summer discouraged KCDCS’ Sr. Manager of Education and Operations from offering high-quality programs to school children and adults. “It is very gratifying that, despite the challenges of finding a new home, creating a new administration, having reduced resources and dealing with inclement weather, we attracted a high number of participants and visitors,” said Carla Ahern. “We went from a 5,000 square foot centre to a 600 square foot building. We had to develop and deliver programs and create displays that fit the new building and it went over really well with visitors. I am looking forward to working in a new centre that will showcase the wetlands and wildlife throughout the Columbia Basin and offer exciting opportunities for new programs, outdoor activities and partnerships!” she added.
KCDCS’ board of directors recently completed a pre-design project and a 5-year strategic plan for the development of the new centre to be called “The Kootenay-Columbia Discovery Centre”. “The next step is to offer memberships in the Society to people who share our vision of a new centre and who value the importance of providing environmental education and awareness programs,” said Jim Posynick, Chair of KCDCS. “A new Discovery Centre will be a people place so we need input from people about its use, design and, generally, how to make it a destination locally and even internationally. This is the first chance we will have to share our excitement about the project and hear from members of the public, in person”.
Board members will be on hand for the open house. There will be snacks and activities for children and 50 free Canoe Tour Passes available. Among the items on display will be sketches of what a new Discovery Centre might look like.
