The Kootenay Lake Innovation Centre (KLIC) is entering its sixth year as a non profit society supporting open source technology, creative collaboration, and economic development. Based in the historic Kemball Building in Kaslo, KLIC brings together people, tools, and programs that strengthen resilient and regenerative communities.

Our shared space supports youth, elders, creatives, non profits, technologists, and entrepreneurs working within a new economy that values community wellbeing, ecological integrity, and local wealth creation. KLIC blends creativity with business development to help people build meaningful work while contributing to the long term health of the region.

Where
Rooted in Kaslo and connected to a growing bioregional coworking network and a national innovation centre collective.

What
Creative and technology spaces connected by fibre internet, open source tools, and education programs. Our focus is on building resilient digital, social, and ecological infrastructure that supports community wealth and environmental regeneration.

Who
Local professionals, community members, and partner organizations working together to support essential community initiatives and shared solutions.

When
2026 and beyond.

Why
Digital technology and artificial intelligence are shaping every sector of the global economy, and British Columbia is a national leader in this transformation. At the same time, regenerative business models are essential to align economic activity with the needs of people and the living systems we depend on. Strong civic engagement is needed to address housing affordability, food security, energy, mobility, and climate resilience so communities can thrive together.

How
KLIC supports community led digital and regenerative transformation through open source application and infrastructure development. These tools are designed to replace many mainstream proprietary platforms while creating new, locally owned revenue streams for the region.

Through the LightWeb and our civic engagement platforms, we are enabling collaborative solutions for housing, food systems, energy, mobility, and community resilience. By attracting aligned entrepreneurs to work alongside local residents, we are helping build smart, regenerative regions that serve both people and place.

Highlights

We have partnered with the Kaslo Housing Society to co-create affordable housing and regenerative community while co-developing our first sub 100K wood prefab home with local mills, builders and technologists.
We have spent thousands of volunteer hours so far with successful programs
Launched the Kootenay Resilience Festival in 2024 to tackle critical solutions to housing, food, mobility & energy with bioregional experts and organizations. Read 2024 recap and Pop-Ups in 2025.
Partnered with Kootenay Association of Science and Technology for startup programs
Partnered with Coworking BC and regional coworking spaces for operational and marketing support
Officially recognized as a member of the Canadian Accelerator and Incubator Network representing 100+ top innovation centres
Listed on an international network of coworking spaces called Deskpass
Completed 3 summers of weekend music shows with the Langham serving thousands with critical culture
Fully Funded and Launched the Kootenay Lightweb open source software and datacentre
We have supported 30 people into new careers with our digital technology program
We are continuing to write grants and corporate sponsors for programs, infrastructure, operations
We have letters of support from organizations including Selkirk College and Chamber of Commerce
Received a grant from the Province of BC of $1 Million Dollars towards building improvements for the Innovation Centre.
We have moved into room 108 until renovations are complete. Village of Kaslo new CAO and project manager will conduct construction management procurement and the resulting renovation will allow us to retain and support our members.

Team

7 board members

10 partners including The Langham Cultural Center, Selkirk College, Kootenay Associate of Science and Technology, Coworking BC, Canadian Accelerator and Incubator Network, Kaslo infoNet, Chamber of Commerce, Village of Kaslo

Hundreds of people who have attended events at the Kemball and support us in our initiatives

Space + Service Desires

Community Cloud with computing services including application development for local business
Comfortable furniture, phone booths, meeting technology, expandable spaces + lounge and kitchen
Startup Kootenays connection to coaches + consultants in technology, marketing, operations etc.
Living Lab including real affordable housing for locals and entrepreneurs who need to spend more on their business and less on living. Health, Wellness and Creative Spaces.
Kootenay OS Programs (below)

Action Plan

Launch AI agents on open source software and datacentre program Lightweb and solicit community for support and feedback on next apps to develop
Monthly community engagement events and technology programs below
Fine tune business plan with revenue generating product and membership goals for program and operational funding from sponsors