Honestly, this the best part about The Big Wild – learning all about these beautiful places in Canada that need our help. And we’ve made it pretty darn easy to protect this space. One click and an email later – you’ve gone and added your voice to a growing number of people who care about the outcome of their great outdoors over the next 100 years.

 

The Flathead itself rests in the bottom south eastern corner of British Columbia. It is, from all accounts and the photos we’ve collected, absolutely breathtaking. Exhibit A to my left is shot of the valley from high-up. When I first started writing about the Flathead, I turned to Google to get a sense of what’s out there. On the first page alone, I discovered 5 different initiatives underway to protect it. You might also be surprised to learn that the Flathead is home to more wildflowers than anywhere else in Canada.

 

Right now, mining is the biggest threat to the Flathead River Valley. All sorts of things can happen if a mine moves into the neighborhood. First off, you’d think twice about your drinking water. Run-off from mining operations risk contaminating the water. Also, operating a mine means new roads leading to and from it – right through the neighborhood. So really, the trick is balancing industry with everything else that comes with a pristine and thriving eco-system.

 

A Canadian I'd like you to meet, working hard to see that the Flathead River Valley is protected forever, is Ryland Nelson. In fact, the Flathead is so important to him, he’s gone ahead a made a video in the hopes that you see his way of thinking too. It’s called Flathead Wild: a hundred year history. It’s less than a minute and it gives you a sense of what’s at stake. And, of course, no Canadian short would be complete without the classic soundtrack of a guitar in the background – happy trails!