Congratulations to George Hopkins from Revelstoke in being selected by Basin residents as the winner of CBT’s Show Us Your Basin photo contest.

The runner-up photo was submitted by Rob Wyatt from Montrose, with his image of a pair of Painted Turtles taken at Champion Lake, near Trail. Both Hopkins and Wyatt received Basin bags filled with products and services from around the Basin. Rounding out the top five were Sanne van der Ros from Golden, Douglas Noblet from Nelson and Gail Spitler from Johnson's Landing.

CBT launched the Show Us Your Basin photo contest in June this year, asking Basin residents to capture images of the things that depicts the beauty and uniqueness of this region. Hundreds of images were submitted to CBT with many residents including thoughtful answers to the question: What does the Basin mean to you? These images were narrowed down to ten finalists and then opened to the public for voting, which closed on Friday, November 20, 2009. View the five winning images below. See more images and descriptions of the Basin at www.cbt.org/mybasin.

	Grand Prize Winner: George Hopkins Steam train on Columbia River bridge at Revelstoke George Hopkins from Revelstoke said, "The Columbia Basin means home sweet home to me. I want to live here for the rest of my life."
	Runner-Up: Rob Wyatt Champion Lake painted turtles Rob Wyatt from Montrose said, "The Columbia Basin is the best place on EARTH!"
	Third: Sanne van der Ros Canoe on the shore of the Columbia River at camp Sanne van der Ros from Golden said, "The Columbia Basin is not only the most beautiful place to live in the world, with its majestic mountains, lush vegetation, pristine mountain streams, wonderful wildlife and the Columbia River wetlands, but the people of the Basin's communities are absolutely amazing! A wonderful place to call home."
	Fourth: Douglas Noblet Mt. Prestley, Valhalla Lake Douglas Noblet from Nelson said, "The Columbia Basin means beautiful wilderness!"
	Fifth: Gail Spitler Meadow Creek, north of Kaslo Gail Spitler from Johnson's Landing said, "I am always impressed with the ecological diversity of the Columbia Basin from grassland to interior rainforest to wetlands. From alpine peak to river bottom, there is much to value, protect and preserve."