The Columbia River Treaty, signed in 1964 between Canada and the United States, resulted in the creation of four treaty dams: Hugh Keenleyside, Duncan and Mica in southeastern British Columbia, and Libby in Montana. The dams created the Arrow Lakes, Duncan, Kinbasket and Koocanusa reservoirs, which displaced 2,300 Basin residents.
Twelve Basin Stories videos explore the lives of Basin residents before, during and after the construction of the Columbia River Treaty dams. Hear the experiences and perspectives of people of all walks of life, including displaced residents, dam workers, First Nations people, elected officials, historians and former BC Hydro employees. View historical photos that touch upon everything from building the dams, to agricultural life, to the arrival of electricity.
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Since opening in 1995, Stepping Stones has grown into a lasting legacy of child care innovation, collaboration, and community support in Revelstoke.
Guided by Indigenous stewardship and ecological values, the protection and restoration at Lot 48 stands as a powerful example of community-driven, collaborative conservation.
Sara Sansom, founder and director at Birch & Lace Hair Company in Revelstoke, recently bolstered her business knowledge by taking part in the Trust’s Basin Business Advisors program.
Prompted by residents’ early concerns, local communities began leading the way on climate and water action—supported by region-specific knowledge and tools that continue to shape the Basin’s future.
Indigenous leadership reclaim and repurpose a site of historical pain into a space for healing and opportunity.
The entrepreneurs behind Giv’er Shirt Works in Fernie now have a roadmap for where their business is headed.
The Nelson Museum, Archives and Gallery is more than a museum—it’s a living hub where history, art, and community converge.
How a WWII-Era Dam became a clean energy engine for the Columbia Basin On the banks of the Kootenay River near Castlegar towers a piece of wartime infrastructure stillhumming with life.
Key City Theatre in Cranbrook and the Bailey Theatre in Trail help keep the the Basin arts and culture scene thriving for audiences and artists.
