Monster resort plans pushed back

For the last decade, a Canadian billionaire developer has sought to build a four-season resort on the sides of Jumbo Mountain amid dazzling glaciers, wildflower meadows in summer, and untracked powder in winter. Thousands of local residents as well as public officials, scientists, First Nations, and local heli-ski operators have never wanted it, and in March  2006, they claimed a local victory.

In a near unanimous decision regional district directors put Jumbo plans on a "jumbo" hold to give East Kootenay residents the opportunity to make their voice heard on the future of Jumbo Valley. The overflow crowd at the public meeting erupted into loud cheers and clapping as the Board rejected the motion to fast-track the resort development.

The 130,000-acre proposed resort lies in the heart of some of the best grizzly bear habitat in the British Columbia and breaks the bears' travel corridor between the Purcell Wilderness and Banff National Park. Grizzly bears over the border in Canada form the basis for restoration of grizzlies to Washington State, and we've urged our supporters to write the BC government to keep Jumbo Glacier wild.

“Today was a landmark day for Jumbo, but most importantly, for the voice of East Kootenay residents,” said John Bergenske, director of Wildsight and spokesperson for JumboWild. "It is one more nail in the coffin of this unpopular resort proposal. We’ve kept it local. Now we plan to keep it wild.”

In September 2007 Scott Niedermayer, the NHL’s most valuable player, added his voice to the twenty-two-year land-use controversy to say no to the proposed Jumbo resort.
“I have been fortunate to play hockey and travel all over the world. Wilderness and wildlife values are disappearing, due in part to development proposals similar to the proposed Jumbo Resort. I am continually amazed we still have them here in the Kootenays,” said Niedermayer.

The Jumbo Wild project tells you more.