If you are a keen skier, passionate about skiing and or just want to hear perspectives from some of Canada’s top ski media, you will want to take part in a session called "What will the next 50 years bring for the sport of skiing and current ski trends?" led by Iain Macmillan—editor of Ski Canada Magazine; mountain sport writing legend, Whistler local and editor emiterius of Skiing Magazine, Mike Berard; and the very talented Krista Turcasso, who can not only rip on skis but is a top mountain biker and founder of local success story, the Fernie Fix.

This is sure to be a lively session as each one of them will have a dynamic and different perspective. Next up is Al Raine, mayor of Sun Peaks resort municipality, who will share his wealth of knowledge and expertise on the "History of Ski Development in BC and the Future of Mountain Living Towns." Ending Ski Heritage Week will be a spirited session by Sheldon Decosse, Decosse Custom Skis, and Mitchell Scott, publisher, Kootenay Mountain Culture Magazine, called "Building Brands for the Future."

If all of this is not enough, during Ski Heritage Week, the celebration of 50 years of skiing is taken from the mountain to main street, as everyone in the community of Fernie celebrates the "Powderful tradition of Skiing, People and Passion" in this mountain town cradled by the Rocky Mountains.

The endless fun continues with a community street party with a live band on Mainstreet, BC Telemark Association Race Weekend, Ski Instructors Reunion (a la the movie Hot Tub Time Machine), torchlight ski run, fireworks and ends with the Griz Bar Heritage Ski Party (famous for keeping Rippers Ripped).  And if this still is not enough . . . snow and more snow keeps on falling in Fernie, close to 40 centimetres of fresh powder fell in 24 hours and more than 100 centimetres new this week. Fernie, home of the legendary powder, continues to have some of the deepest snow in North America and the most snow in the Canadian Rockies; now that is powderful history!

The video was recently produced by SnowSeekers Media of Alberta and focuses on the ease and advantages of the direct link that Integra Air is offering from Cranbrook to Edmonton and back, said airport manager Tristen Chernove.

The Integra Air flight recently expanded to five days a week and flies directly into the executive flight centre at the Edmonton International Airport.  Though small, the plane is comfortable to ride in and provides quick access to and from the Edmonton airport via the Canadian Rockies International Airport.

Flight volume has been increasing since the inception of the service.  Residents and visitors to the area are finding the link very attractive—though more volume is always appreciated—so talk up this direct flight to Edmonton. 

www.flycanadianrockies.com

Check out the video and  forward it to your colleagues.

Cranbrook’s Tanya Laing Gahr, the former senior writer for Kootenay Business, has recently founded TLG Strategic Communications, a business focused on customized communications.

Laing Gahr's services include communications consulting, content development, freelance writing, internal and external business communications, social media management and more. The business collaborates with a number of consultants, resulting in individually tailored results.

Learn more at the TLG Strategic Communications website, or call 250-417-1661.

What:

Become one of more than 2,500 people who will be receiving the Express Update. This email will keep you informed about local events and issues. It will also keep you posted on progress toward a future reincarnation of the Express.

The Express Update will remain simple and short, but new elements will be incorporated into it as it develops. Watch for new features, such as links to local stories and event information, as well as links to Express favourites such as "Fish Heads and Flowers," "Good Neighbour," "Read Everywhere," and calendar and classifieds listings.

Why:

The Express team is in the process of considering options ranging from print publications, to web-based publications, to event co-ordination. In this and future projects, they remain committed to the priorities and values which grounded the Express newspaper: namely, inclusivity, community-building and providing a forum for the voices and interests of local people.

How:

The mailing list is growing steadily, so if you or someone you know would like to receive updates, please do invite them to join. To receive the Express Update, email editor@expressnews.bc.ca and mark "mailing list" in the subject line.

What else?

Despite its recent appearance in the Nelson Star, "Fish Heads and Flowers," a column created by the Express, will continue to run in their future projects. 

Please continue to use the website, to send in your calendar listings, classified listings, "Fish Heads and Flowers," and "Good Neighbour" submissions.

Originally focused on the East Kootenay, the atlas footprint now extends over most of the Columbia Basin. Currently, 32 species of management concern, three ecosystems, and three related topics or “influences” (conservation, restoration, history) are featured.

The atlas helps improve conservation planning and decision making by providing science-based information in an easy-to-understand format. Through text-based profiles and the latest in Geographical Information System (GIS) technology, the atlas links biodiversity information to specific locations within the Basin.

Ian Parfitt, project co-ordinator, sees the atlas’ value as such: “The diversity of nature in the Basin is amazing. It’s important that people have an understanding of the abundance and distribution of native species in our region, and that these species are carefully considered in planning processes. The atlas helps people appreciate our region’s rich biodiversity, and helps plan for its ongoing health and survival.”

John Krebs, Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program crew lead, adds, “The atlas is an excellent resource for the region. It will really help improve access to data, not just for decision makers but for anyone who has an interest in the environment. It is a great, dynamic tool that paints a rich picture illustrating local species and habitat values."

The atlas has been a collaborative initiative since its beginning a decade ago. Always evolving, the atlas team continues to seek out additional partners for general help and/or data sharing. This approach is essential to delivering high-quality information on biodiversity in the Basin, which will help both casual and scientific users and, ultimately, the fish, animals and plant life calling the area home.

The Columbia River Basin Biodiversity Atlas was initially funded and developed by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) in 2001. In 2007, FWCP collaborated with Selkirk College’s Geospatial Research Centre (SGRC) to continue with development. Today the Atlas is managed by SGRC in partnership with major funders including the FWCP, Columbia Basin Trust, The Nature Trust of BC, and a multi-stakeholder steering committee.

Read our Media Backgrounder on the atlas site to help you build a story.