Columbia Valley Community Foundation

👏 Thanks to all the sponsors and participants who came out to celebrate our 25th anniversary with us! This bocce tournament was a way for us to have fun, raise money, and enjoy the community and projects we've been part of. We're so grateful to the individuals and organizations who joined us, and looking forward to serving the community for the next 25 years and beyond.

In particular, we want to thanks the following sponsors for the generous support of this event:

Our Generational Sponsor: Invermere Home Hardware Building Centre
Our Heritage Sponsor: Canadian Tire
Our Community Builder Sponsors: Invermere Liquor Store Kicking Horse Coffee
Kootenay Insurance Services, Kootenay Savings Money Works and Team Taft / Gerry Taft Personal Real Estate Corporation

Celebrate and immerse yourself this National Indigenous People's Day with events being by and Shuswap band. Events include traditional drumming, medicinal plant/tea station, and much more. For more details on all of these events and more please click here https://bit.ly/4eBThbY

Celebrate love this year with the . Festivities take place June 12th & 13th.

On Friday Fly Your Pride with . Start Saturday with a free pancake breakfast hosted by the , followed by an all ages afternoon at Pothole park with live performances, BBQ, and local vendors. End your evening at the &eatery for a 19+ Drag Show.

After 14 years of service, Barb Kloos is wrapping up her time on our Board of Directors this June. 🙌

In that time, Barb has played a key role in shaping the Foundation’s work across multiple areas, including the Grants Committee, HR Committee, and a term as Vice Chair. Her efforts have intrinsic rewards - in her words, “There are just so many nonprofits making such an impact in the community. All the important things are getting looked after, and there are a lot of really educated volunteers.”

Barb has served longer than any other board member so far. As she moves on to pursue other interests, ukulele among them, we wish Barb the best of luck and thank her for her years of service!

To learn more about what brought Barb to volunteering with the Foundation, read our Volunteer Profile on our website: https://bit.ly/4tOCXdd

📖 🏡 Grant Stories: Columbia Valley Housing Symposium

In December 2025, the Columbia Valley Housing Society (CVHS), in partnership with Community Futures East Kootenay (CFEK), hosted a regional Housing Symposium that brought 75 leaders together to tackle one of the East Kootenays’ most pressing issues. Results from the event were striking:

✅ A formal mentorship MOU between CVHS and Elk Valley Family Society to strengthen property management systems and long-term strategy.
✅ A capacity-building grant application to the Community Housing Transformation Centre.
✅ A 48-unit workforce rental development approved in Radium Hot Springs, with feasibility and funding applications in progress.
✅ Two proposed 10–12 unit workforce rental developments in Invermere, supported by $160,000 in OAP funding to advance to construction-ready status.
✅ Additional grant applications are being submitted in early 2026 to support construction, operations, and the creation of a regional lands database.

This event received funding through the Community Grants intake. To read more about who attended and programs offered, visit the write up on our website at https://bit.ly/4u7PvMo

📣 Last call for Student Awards applications!

Full applications are due by May 15th at 11:59 PM via our online portal.

Apply here:


📷 2024 and 2025 Recipient Megan Bell https://bit.ly/3RhwBRW

⏰ There is not much time left to submit Student Awards applications! Plan ahead and make sure you have your application ready to complete to avoid last minute issues.

Applications close May 15, and can be submitted at the link: https://bit.ly/3RhwBRW

❓FAQ: Can I apply even if I’m going into a trades program?

Yes! Student awards can support a range of post-secondary education options, from trades programs to colleges and universities. Internships may also be eligible as long as a student is registered at a post-secondary institution, and is paying tuition.

Note that some awards have donor-designated terms depending on area of study or other factors. For more details, take a look at the "Resources" section of the Student Awards page on our website: https://bit.ly/4bMXmZr

In 2025, we awarded $116,950 to 40 students from the Columbia Valley to pursue a range of post-secondary educational opportunities, from the trades to nursing and beyond. This support has lasting impact both on the students who receive it and our community.

“Since I was young, I have always been fascinated by machines. I have learned how to do basic machine maintenance, how to build a road, install culverts with rock work, how to dig different types of ditches and load trucks. My skill set is one that I am bringing back to the East Kootenay area.”
- Mark Paget

📷 Photo provided by Mark Paget

🎓 Eligibility: Student Awards

Applicants must have resided and attended school in the Columbia Valley for a minimum of 3 years. In addition, Applicants must be between 17-35 years of age on January 1 of the year of application.

- Applicants are eligible to obtain a maximum of 2 student awards (does not have to be in subsequent years). Please note that approval of repeat applicants is dependent on funds available at the time of granting; preference may be given to first time applicants.
- Some awards give preference to students who demonstrate financial need.

📷 Photo provided by 2024 grant recipient Carly Nickurak