The Powder Highway is a way of life as much as a bucket list destination. From pillow lines at Whitewater to high-alpine bowls in Fernie and ridge lines in the Selkirks, the Kootenays and Southern Rockies are a pristine vestige of Canadian backcountry culture. But increasingly volatile weather, extreme freeze-thaw cycles, and summer fires and smokey skies put our local culture and mountain economies at risk. Your riding is rad, and the people who live and play here are an essential part of that! This is what it means to be part of the crew…
Here's the beta:
- Federal Riding: Columbia-Koontenay-Southern Rockies
- Member of Parliament (MP): Rob Morrison (Conservative)
- Did you know it’s always free to contact your elected officials - no postage needed? It’s true! Remember: they work for us, but they won't know we care unless we tell them! This is how you can address your mail:
| Mr. Rob Morrison, M.P. House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0A6 |
Not sure who does what in your riding across federal, provincial, and municipal lines? Check out this explainer from our friends at Apathy is Boring: “How Our Government Works”
Ready to drop in?
1. GET INVOLVED
The West Kootenay Regional Chapter is coming in 2027. Stoked to join? Check the “West Kootenay Chapter” box here and we’ll be in touch!
2. HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Next elections: October 17, 2026 (municipal); October 24, 2026 (provincial)
Municipal election
On October 17th, there’s a general local election, which means casting your vote for positions such as: mayors and municipal councillors, regional district directors, school boards trustees, and others, depending on where you live.
Local governments all run their own elections, which means they’re managed individually (unlike provincial elections). We can’t link to every community, but if you look up “[your community name] municipal election 2026” that’s a good place to start!
Municipal governments control or influence more than half of Canada’s emissions, making local action crucial for effective climate solutions. By engaging with local policymakers, our chapters can drive significant change where it matters most.
Provincial election
Voters will elect 93 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Each Member represents an electoral district (or riding) and has a seat in the provincial Legislature.
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Make sure you’re a Canadian citizen, 18 or older on October 24, 2026, and a resident of B.C. since April 23, 2026.
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Register or update your voter info
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If you’re already registered, look out for your Where to Vote card in the mail soon!
Lost your tracks? Find your B.C. riding here.
3. JUST HOW RAD IS OUR RIDING?
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In 2024, B.C.’s outdoor recreation sector directly contributed an estimated $6.6 billion to the provincial economy, representing 2.1% of B.C.’s gross domestic product (GDP)
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When direct, indirect and induced impacts are included, the sector contributed nearly $11.1 billion to the economy, representing 3.5% of B.C.’s GDP
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The sector directly supported approximately 86,000 jobs in B.C. in 2024
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Including indirect and induced impacts, the sector supported an estimated 127,500 jobs across the province
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Outdoor recreation businesses and organizations paid approximately $4.4 billion in wages and salaries in 2024
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The [outdoor recreation] sector generated approximately $3 billion in tax revenues in 2024, including federal, provincial and municipal taxes
Source: Directly from B.C. Outdoor Recreation Economic Indicators