Patagonia Documentary on Epic Struggle of Protection & Development

Press Release / 18.10.2015

­Since 2012, Patagonia has provided financial support to Wildsight in their activism efforts to “Keep Jumbo Wild.” The campaign achieved a significant victory this summer when the Environmental Certificate was rescinded, but the next step is protecting the Jumbo Valley forever. The Jumbo Glacier Resort is a proposed four-season “European-style” expansive ski resort with thousands of beds in the heart of the wild, remote Jumbo Valley and providing access to several glaciers. There are currently eight ski resorts within a four hour radius of Invermere: Panorama, Kimberley, Fernie, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Whitewater, Nakiska, Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise – none of them are running at capacity.

For 24 years, local residents, skiers, riders, alpinists, grizzly bear advocates and the Ktunaxa Nation have strongly opposed the corporatization of their beloved backcountry wilderness. Developers say their proposed year-round ski resort would be a snow rider’s dream, but Kootenay residents – including many who love to ski and support local ski resorts – don’t want it.

To the Ktunaxa Nation, the Jumbo Valley is known as Qat’muk, home of the grizzly bear spirit. The area is of profound spiritual and cultural importance and the resort would undermine beliefs and practices at the core of Ktunaxa culture and identity.

In addition, the Jumbo Valley is recognized internationally as a vital part of one of North America’s most important wildlife corridors. Grizzlies depend on this connected habitat to maintain healthy populations in the region and beyond. The Jumbo Valley is one of only two remaining areas in North America where bears can freely roam between Canada and the U.S. If built, Jumbo Glacier Resort would fragment a critical section of this corridor, potentially leading to reduced grizzly populations, locally, regionally and even continentally. The eight-minute Jumbo Wild short, which can be viewed for free on Patagonia.com, gives audiences a glimpse of the fight to protect the Jumbo Valley. The full, featurelength documentary-style film, which offers an hour-long view of the story, will be on tour throughout Europe from October 8 through December 2015. It will be available for purchase on Vimeo and iTunes starting December 11, with all proceeds benefitting Wildsight.

About New Localism
We are all locals. And we live in a global world. We can no longer pass through or visit remote wild places and trust they will remain that way. Patagonia’s friends have always brought us news of places they loved that are threatened. Patagonia is committed to bringing our resources and connections to bear on these threats to wildness, far and wide. We all have a chance to make a difference. Take a stand.

About Patagonia
Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company based in Ventura, California. A certified B-Corporation, Patagonia’s mission is to build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. The company is recognized internationally for its commitment to authentic product quality and environmental activism, contributing over $70 million in grants and in-kind donations to date.

Visit www.patagonia.com/euro/jumbowild for more information.