Our hearts are full. Thanks to you — our dedicated ticket holders, generous sponsors, silent auction donors, and enthusiastic auction winners — this year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival was an unforgettable celebration of storytelling, innovation, community, and collective action.
On November 15th, you filled the Columbia Valley Centre to experience films that inspired us, challenged us, and reminded us of the incredible power we hold to protect the places we love. Some of you bid on silent auction items. Some of you shared your ideas on the Passion to Action board, but your participation didn’t just make the 12th Wild & Scenic Film Festival possible, it strengthened our shared commitment to conservation in the Columbia Valley.
To our audience:
Thank you for showing up with curiosity, passion, and open hearts. Your presence filled the Columbia Valley Centre with energy and purpose.
To our sponsors:
Your support amplifies our mission and ensures that impactful stories reach our community. We are deeply grateful for your investment in a more sustainable future.
To our silent auction donors:
Your contributions made the auction a huge success. Thanks to your generosity, we raised vital funds that will directly support our year-round programs and local conservation initiatives.
To our silent auction winners:
Congratulations! Your participation not only secured you a special experience or item — you also played a meaningful role in protecting our environment.
As our annual Wildsight Invermere fundraiser, the festival was once again a success and a reflection of the kind, giving spirit of our community. Our 12 festival sponsors and 8 festival friends pledged an impressive $17,070. A special thanks goes to our Presenting Sponsor Eagle Eye Tours as well as our Summit Sponsors thinkBright Homes and Dr Suzanne Bayley, our Headwater Sponsors Cleanline Automotive and Invermere Liquor Store.
Here are some more details to satisfy your curiosity. The silent auction had 42 donated items that brought in $5,372. This year we ran an online raffle that was available from November 15th to 21st with three incredible prizes. Congratulations to Glen Crawford who won a 2-night stay at Shadow Lake Lodge, Hilda Jensen who won a Guided Hike to Lake Ohara and to Sandra Fraser won a 2-night stay at Nipika.
We had 37 volunteers involved in organizing and making the event run smoothly. And for the third consecutive year we were grateful to have the talented Hahn Vincent to emcee and guide us through the evening.
Thirty-nine people became Wildsight members, meaning our Invermere branch now has 613 members in total. Congratulations to Koral Wysocki who won the New Members draw with a gift card for Cleanline Automotive. We had 53 people watch the films from afar with the Online Film Access option. And 131 of you submitted a People’s Choice ballot, reflecting your favourite films: #1 Kelp! #2 Polar Bear Country #3 R.E.S.C.U.E. Congrats to Roberta Creighton for participating and winning the $50 gift card to Begginnings.
Thank you to everyone! In closing, we had a range of great conversations and participation at our Passion to Action board. A dominant theme was around sustainable opportunities in our valley. What areas of sustainability would you like to see and/or learn about?
If your new year’s resolution is to get more involved in our valley community, or you’re inspired to bring real sustainability to our wild places, let us know how you want to be involved and we will make it happen together! Our volunteers undertake an array of activities, tell us what you’d like to see or how you’d like to help and we will find a place for you.
As we look ahead, we are more inspired than ever to continue fostering dialogue, driving action, and nurturing a community that cares fiercely for its mountains, waters, and wild spaces. Thank you for being part of this momentum. We look forward to seeing you in 2026 for the 13th Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Invermere, if not before!