History

Selkirk College acknowledges our respect for and deep gratitude to the First Nations of the West Kootenay and Boundary regions: the Sinixt (Lakes), the Syilx (Okanagan), the Ktunaxa and the Secwepemc (Shuswap) peoples on whose traditional territories we are honoured to operate.  

An Ecosystem for Education

The Skattebo Education Forest has a fascinating pre- and post-colonial history. Doukhobors settled in Glade in the early 20th century and established a thriving community amid acres of farmland.

In 1993, Teck Cominco (now Teck Resources), the former owner of the Skattebo lands, transferred the forest to Crown ownership. With the support of then-Nelson-Creston MLA Corky Evans, Selkirk College asked for a Crown Grant of the land. Public consultation with community members from Glade and Thrums and other user groups established unanimous support for the transfer.

On February 26, 1999, Selkirk College was offered the Skattebo lands through a free Crown Grant limited to educational purposes. Since then, Selkirk College students have had the opportunity to learn, research and practice their skills in an accessible, richly diverse ecosystem.