Comments on: The Kootenays: Flathead Valley Controversy

By: Rosemary Papp

Rosemary Papp — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:49:14 +0000

Am an Indie videographer/photographer from Vancouver Island. In search of opportunities to explore with my lenses. Want help to” know where to go” to see this wonderful section of B.C. Am coming your way in 2 days ( May 19thish). Could you tell me who to connect with so I can obtain footage/shots. thanks…. Rosemary

By: Dave Quinn

Dave Quinn — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:12:39 +0000

Congratulations indeed on the BC Government’s initiative to halt extractive industries in this small corner of the province. It is indeed a wonderful first step to ending a century-long controversy in this really critical landscape. Given the interest and discussion generated in anything Flathead, there will definitely be an Olympic sized party when the National Park is announced – the next obvious step towards long-term protection of the values people seem to care so much about in the Kootenays – wilderness, wildlife, and history!

By: harvey locke

harvey locke — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:29:14 +0000

Thanks Westworld for sharing the wonderful Flathead with your readers. The recent annoucement by the BC govt to ban mining and oil and gas in the Flathead is great news but it does not yet adeqautely protect the valley or the key connections for wildlife up the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor. We still need a national a park and wildlife management area to finish the job. This is the International Year of Biodiversity. BC could make these designations in the Flathead a wonderful gift to the world.

By: Sherri McPherson

Sherri McPherson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:31:53 +0000

Dave, this is a great article. You provided valuable insight into the importance of the Flathead and I liked how you covered both views and provided new perspectives. What the park is asking is reasonable, and B.C. should be ashamed that they have not given approval for the feasibility study.

By: Jennifer Herzog

Jennifer Herzog — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:36:09 +0000

Thanks for providing such a good lens on the values of this amazing place. I’ve been into the Flathead and was amazed at the richness and solitude of the landscape. Unlike some of the rock and ice (albeit beautiful) that’s protected by Glacier and Waterton, the Flathead grows a lot of wonderful, big things — big plants, big fish, big elk, and big grizzlies. There are also unrecognized economic values here that transcend what can be dug up or hauled out. People need to know what’s at stake here — glad you’ve shared some of that!

By: Ryland Nelson

Ryland Nelson — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:05:18 +0000

Excellent article! I cant wait for the day that the Flathead is protected! its time for BC to do its part in protecting the crown of the continent ecosystem.

By: Dave Quinn

Dave Quinn — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:53:17 +0000

Hi Margaret

Thanks for reading!

Wall Lake is indeed at the very headwaters of Akimena Creek, which drains into the Flathead River. Akimena-Kishenina Provincial Park is a small part of what conservationists are hoping will be Canada’s next National Park – the lower 1/3 of the Flathead Valley.
This area is so special that it really needs to be protected from activities like mining. While we need to balance economies, we also need to look to the future and protect the world-class wildlife and wilderness areas we still have, and the Flathead rises to the top of the short-list of spectacular areas in need of protection!

By: margaret orpen

margaret orpen — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:46:05 +0000

I hiked into the Wall Lake area in 1970, lonf before it became a Provincial Park. This was done from the Alberta side. Beautiful pristine countryside and I know this is not in the Flathead area but all this area should be kept the way it is presently. One can never go back to the way it was once a mine comes into the area. Mining has ruined enough of our countryside.