The Headwaters

It’s virtually impossible to live in the hinterland without furry encounters of the unwanted kind. So how do we live harmoniously with seeminglybooming populations of mice, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, and the ever-encroaching rat? To find out, we burrow in with homeowners,bush dwellers, experts, and eradicators in our last episode of Season 4.

We have a lot of rock here in the Basin! Our region is fast becoming a global hotspot for sport climbing and bouldering, and we’ll hear from those leading the charge in its development. We also chat with Chief Jason Louie from the Lower Kootenay Band of the Ktunaxa on the spiritual significance of rock, our oldest resident.

Look up, way up, and take a moment to ponder the great big beyond. Then, tune-in to our episode on Basin skies. We visit property owners in Crawford Bay who had a meteorite land in their backyard. We talk to a planetary scientist, the director of the Kootenay Stardome Foundation, visit a bat conservationist, and hear from an artist who specializes in capturing the mysteries of our deepest, darkest...

It touches almost every facet of our day-to-day life, from our favourite community sporting events to our own safety and protection. Volunteerism is a critical element of our society, and in this episode, we visit with three terrific individuals who give an enormous chunk of their time to the betterment of the Basin. 

Snow is one of the defining features of the Columbia Basin’s culture and landscape. While it is synonymous with beauty and adventure, it can also come with risk. In this episode, we talk to experts making our snowscapes safer through education. We also go for a shred with Erin Sauvé, a world champion snowboarder from Rossland.

Let’s talk about the two most powerful moments in a human being’s life. The Kootenays have played an influential role in the growth and importance of midwifery. What was once an illegal act in Canada is now a treasured profession. On the other side, we speak with a death doula whose work focuses on those who are dying, helping make their final days the best they can possibly be.

A gas-station-turned-health-food-store, a landmark community bakery, a generational cobbler family, and an internationally renowned timber-frame shop: what do all four have in common? Each holds inspiring stories about Basin entrepreneurs who did it their way. Meet innovators, doers, and believers who own and operate thriving local businesses.

Deep, clear waters; a sun-drenched beach; a stiff breeze: spending time on the lake is an age-old tradition in the Basin. Join reporter Graham Tracey as he takes you onboard one-of-a-kind houseboats, tries to learn sailing, and visits the legendary shoreline community of Gray Creek.

By ski, by foot, and by air, reporter Vince Hempsall chronicles three Basin adventurers who’ve accomplished incredible feats traversing, walking, and parasailing over great tracts of mountain wilderness. He then dives into the dangerous world of creating the Kootenays’ first-ever sketch comedy series.

Restoring, maintaining, and preserving buildings and landmarks from another time is no easy task. It often rests on the shoulders of a few dedicated individuals who see great value in ensuring the legacy of our past is preserved. Our resident historian Greg Nesteroff introduces us to the people and projects that keep our history alive and kicking.

Join us as we take a look back on our favourite stories of the first three seasons of  The Headwaters podcast, presented by the KMC Productions crew. You’ll hear about everything from homemade submarines to baseball prodigies, giant golden nuggets to paranormal encounters, plus a special announcement. Season four of the podcast is launching summer 2025!

Whether climbing mountains or cross-country skiing well into our eighties or outlasting nine other competitors on the world’s most popular survival show, we do a good job of Stayin’ Alive here in the Basin. Meet modern survivalists who make a living by living outdoors, as well as members of the Kimberley Search and Rescue team. You’ll also hear a harrowing account from a survivor of a grizzly-bear...

A community-focused music festival, a symphony for a glacier, a small-town spoken word artist: what do they all have in common? An intention to make the world a better place through the power of art. In this episode, we’ll talk to writers, visual artists, storytellers and arts professionals, people whose work and creative practices in the Kootenays are helping to inspire systems to change.

In season one of our podcast, we produced a popular episode titled “Young Dreamers” about Basin youth accomplishing extraordinary things. Well, there must be something in the water, because the kids just keep getting after it, and we couldn’t wait to share more of their stories. Meet one of the best female baseball players in the world, 22-year-old Alli Schroder, as well as Keanu Chan, who, at 17...

We all need a place to call our own—somewhere we feel safe to relax and refuel—but a recent convergence of circumstances has made finding a home a serious challenge. In this episode, we focus on housing solutions here in the Basin. We start with a “Tale of Two Towns,” an investigation into creative, multi-faceted projects in Rossland and Fernie. Then we jump through Meadow Creek, Kaslo, Procter, a...

There’s a lot going on beneath the surface in our corner of the world. The Basin is home to the deepest cave in Canada, named Bisaro Anima, located just outside of Fernie. In this episode, we meet the explorer who has pioneered its dark and dangerous depths. We also dip into an eerie, once-secret Cold War bunker in Nelson, and we make a Kootenay connection to one of punk music’s more legendary ban...

It is one of our most ingenious inventions. Nothing gets the blood moving, the smiles grooving, and the kilometres rolling like the almighty bicycle. Over the past two decades, the bike has inspired Basin residents to create thousands of kilometres of cycling paths and trails, drawing international attention to the region. Additionally, bike culture in the Kootenays has had a large impact on actio...

Like rain or soil, fire is a crucial part of a healthy forest ecosystem. But as warmer temperatures and longer periods of drought have become the norm in the Columbia Basin—along with the fact that we have suppressed fire to protect trees as a valuable natural resource—we now face bigger, hotter, and more dangerous megafires. Join us as we meet fire experts who are creating a better understanding...

Over a century ago, pioneers from around the world rushed to the Basin in search of riches hidden in the mountains. The discovery of galena ore profoundly changed the region’s landscape, creating booming resource towns overnight. But as quickly as these bustling centres of commerce were built, they were gone. In this episode, we go back in time to explore some of the Kootenays more legendary ghost...

Everywhere you look in the Kootenays, there’s water. Lakes, streams, rivers, springs, wetlands, snowfields, and glaciers—this region has it all. But in an increasingly water-challenged world, it’s surprising how little we know about how much water we have and how our supply is affected by a warming world. In this episode, meet the people—and animals—working to change that.

The Basin has always been awash with pioneers, free spirits, explorers, adventurers, and innovators. We kick off season three with stories that celebrate the trailblazers among us. You’ll hear about inventions that changed the world, the process of naming a mountain, legendary mountain ascents, and harrowing river descents. Grab your pack, your favourite pair of boots, and let’s hit the trail!

The Columbia River Treaty governs the water that flows from the headwaters of the Columbia River, through the Kootenays, to where it ends in the United States. It profoundly changed the Basin, turning once fertile valleys into lakes and altering river ecosystems forever, while at the same time, preventing catastrophic flooding and generating billions of dollars in hydroelectric revenue. The treaty...

Before our insatiable addiction to the almighty car, getting around the Basin was a much different affair. We were transported on trains and paddle-wheelers, a mode of travel that was often an adventure in itself. In this episode, we look at all the ways we move around: we explore an ancient hiking route over a mighty mountain range, relive train travel, ride bikes with seniors, and learn about th...

Although the Basin is blessed with thousands of square kilometres of wilderness, our human impact on the land has been profound: we are changing the landscape and significantly affecting many Kootenay animal species. In this episode, we head into the woods and the water to meet the people who are working to save keystone animals, like the sturgeon, the mountain caribou, and big-horn sheep. We’ll a...

The Kootenays always produce amazing musical talent, and in this episode, we find out the story runs much deeper. We have an internationally recognized music school here in the Basin, where we’ll meet some talented musicians who’ve emerged from Selkirk College’s Contemporary Music and Technology program. We’ll also take a unique trip into the world of the Kootenay luthier, craftspeople who put man...