The Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE Outdoors), the College of the Rockies (COTR), and the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) are highlighting the Kootenay region’s growing outdoor recreation industry at the 2026 ORCBC Conference.
The conference, themed Building Stronger Communities Through Outdoor Recreation, marks the 50th anniversary of the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C.
The conference will bring together about 300 people and organizations from across B.C., including outdoor groups, Indigenous partners, governments, volunteers and community leaders. Attendees will be able to share knowledge and help shape the future of outdoor recreation in B.C.
“Outdoor recreation plays a vital role in strengthening communities, supporting local economies, and connecting people to the landscapes that make British Columbia so unique. We are excited to welcome innovative leaders like KORE Outdoors and College of the Rockies to this year’s conference to showcase forward-thinking solutions that support sustainability, skills development, and the long-term resilience of BC’s outdoor recreation sector,” said Louise Pedersen, executive director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C.
On Friday, KORE Outdoors co-founder and executive director Kevin Pennock and College of the Rockies president Michael Crowe will present their project, “Rehub: Building Circular Infrastructure for BC’s Outdoor Recreation Economy,” a new initiative planned for the Cranbrook campus.
The Rehub Circular Technology Centre aims to connect outdoor gear repair services, workforce skills training, product prototyping and small-scale manufacturing.
“This initiative is about building stronger connections between education, industry, and community. Rehub and our collaboration with KORE demonstrates how partnerships can create shared infrastructure that benefits learners, employers, and the broader outdoor recreation sector,” said Crowe.
The Province of British Columbia is providing $1 million in funding through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) to support the project.
KORE Outdoors board chair Matt Mosteller said the presentation will explain how circular infrastructure can extend the life of outdoor equipment, create more skilled jobs, support local innovation and strengthen the Kootenay economy.
“Outdoor recreation is more than a lifestyle in the Kootenays; it’s a growing economic engine rooted in innovation, craftsmanship, and deep connection to place. Through initiatives like Rehub, we have an opportunity to build the kind of circular infrastructure that keeps gear in use longer, creates skilled jobs, and positions the Kootenay region as a leader in the future of Canada’s outdoor economy,” said Mosteller.
The conference will also launch the 2026 KORE Rehub Mobile Repair Tour, which will offer free repairs for outdoor gear such as jackets, tents, backpacks and sleeping bags by a team of repair technicians.
After the conference, the mobile repair program will travel through communities across the Kootenays to provide repair services and raise awareness about the Rehub Circular Technology Centre planned for Cranbrook.
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