Information is Power
Good information is hard to find. The links and information below will help inform.
Government Data Links
The BC Provincial Government provides a variety of internet resources for researching land use. They include;
Online Map of BC Parks – Layers, including national parks, can be added to the default map.
Natural Resource Online Services – Explore by Location – This website provides the most granular information including the ability to generate detailed reports of areas of interest. Layers can be added or removed. If you want to see commercial tenures, select Land Tenures > Crown Land License. The instructional video is helpful if you’ve never worked with online maps and layers.
Government Access Tool for Online Retrieval (GATOR) – If you’ve identified a Crown Lands File Number while using the Natural Resources Online Services, you can enter it here and view the history of all tenures, including date of approval and any changes made. On the page above, click the “GATOR” link under Launch application. On the page that opens separately, click “File Number” under “Interest.”
Applications, Comments and Reasons for Decision – Tenure applications. Generally these include a map and written submission. Once posted, they are open for public comment for a limited period of time.
Report a Natural Resource Violation – Report complaints about inappropriate incidental use violations or any tenure/license violation, including those held by commercially tenured recreation businesses.
Other Links
Google Earth Files
These files will open in Google Earth. They will show up as a folder and contain links to each tenure on the left under “Temporary Places.” Make sure to “Save Places as” before closing Google Earth if you wish to use them later. These files are complete for the southern portion of the Kootenays and a work in progress in the northern portion. Only recreation tenures are included. Guiding, trapping and other tenures are not included.
Guide Certification Bodies – Accredited Guides
The links below are for the two guide certification bodies in Canada. Both were cofounded by early mechanized operators. The ACMG was established in 1963 and cofounded by Hans Gmoser and 7 other guides. It certifies many types of guides. The CSGA focuses on guiding for mechanized ski operations and was started by 8 mechanized operators, including Mike Wiegele, in 1990 and incorporated in 1996. The links below are to their membership pages.
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG)
Canadian Ski Guide Association (CSGA)
Why your complaint about a Natural Resource Violation doesn’t matter. – A Narwhal article about the state of enforcement of resource violations in BC.
Contact
valleybackcountrysociety@gmail.com
Location
Kootenays, BC