Columbia Basin Trust

Funding has been announced for rural communities and areas in the Columbia Basin—encompassing 5,429 homes—to create access to high-speed Internet. This new multi-year, $82-million project is being funded by the federal and provincial governments, the regional districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, Kootenay Boundary, East Kootenay and Columbia Basin Trust.

The alluring aromas of fresh bread, doughnuts and artisanal pastries have been wafting through the town of Invermere since Quality Bakery opened in 1956. Over the decades, the bakery has changed hands a couple of times, and been redubbed the Invermere Bakery. Most recently, in 2021 it became the property of its now-current owner, Theo Walta—a dream fulfilled with help from the Trust.

From buying portable water tanks and equipment trailers, to providing specialized training and gear to their wildfire-fighting crews, 12 small communities and First Nations are taking action to reduce the threat of wildfires. These projects are being done with support from Columbia Basin Trust.

Communities are reducing operating costs and gaining efficiencies while working toward their climate resiliency goals. Seventeen projects are underway to make Basin communities more sustainable, with the support of Columbia Basin Trust.