Fin Donnelly

Founding Member Acknowledged at Salmon Leave Home

Founding member and the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society’s first president was acknowledged at Salmon Leave Home on May 14, 2023. From left to right: Fin Donnelly, MLA; HSWS president, Kyle Uno; and founding member, Keith Kozak holding his certificate of acknowledgement.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was formed and registered in 2002 with a mandate to promote watershed restoration and help raise awareness of our shared responsibility for the care of the creek and its surrounding habitat. Founding members who signed the Society document were: Keith Kozak, Linda Gorsline, Chris Hamming, Andrea Tubbs, and Shawn Tubbs.

Twenty-one years later, on May 14, 2023, during the Society’s Salmon Leave Home festival, Keith Kozak was honoured for his major contribution. Setting up a society from nothing is an arduous task and we’re grateful for the time and commitment put in by our founding members.

Keith was the Society's first president. So much goes into the operations of a society, and Keith put in countless hours leading stream cleans, tree planting, salmon rearing, and time networking with the City, DFO, and environmental groups, as well as checking that area developers were ensuring the safety of the salmon.

Keith speaks about the formation of the Society and the work of the group in educating the public on the sensitivity of the habitat, as well as ensuring the return of Coho and Chum salmon to Hoy Creek.

Keith was acknowledged and thanked by the current president, Kyle Uno. “We would not be here today without your efforts. As a token of our appreciation, we present you with this certificate and gift.”

This photo was featured on the cover of The Tri-City News. Seen left is Keith Kozak, holding a Coho salmon, as a family looks on on the shore of Hoy Creek, Coquitlam.


Salmon Released by the Public at Hoy Creek Hatchery

A girl releases a Coho smolt into Hoy Creek at Salmon Leave Home at Hoy Creek Hatchery. (HSWS Photo)

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) held its annual Salmon Leave Home event on May 14, and was pleased to return to a public release of the approximately 18-month-old Coho smolts that have been living in the outdoor rearing pond since last May. This was the first time since 2019 that the public was able to assist with the salmon release, due to the pandemic.

The Society moved the event time to the afternoon to give families time to celebrate Mom (it was Mother’s Day). Weather conditions were hot with a high of 32C, but despite that, a steady stream of people came through the Hoy Creek Hatchery area. To the delight of many, wild Coho fry were visible from the footbridge.

The community had the opportunity to carry a bucket of Coho smolts to Hoy Creek for release; take a peek at the six-month-old Coho fry in the hatchery’s Capilano trough room; meet the volunteers and learn about the Society; make a Mother's Day greeting card using leaves; play the Plinko game and get salmon past predators to saltwater safety; sign a Farewell to the Coho Grads of 2023 card; sign a pledge to protect the salmon; and explore Hoy Creek Linear Park.

After a Land Acknowledgement by HSWS president, Kyle Uno, the MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, Fin Donnelly provided a few words before Kyle presented Keith Kozak, the Society’s first president, with a certificate of appreciation and a gift. Keith spoke about the early years of getting the Society up and running.

The event was supported by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with Isaac Nelson overseeing the fish release.

The Society would like to thank all its volunteers for the time spent supporting the event, and the community who came out to help. A special thank you to the event sponsor, the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program!

Salmon Leave Home 2023 'unofficial' photo: Thanks to our HSWS volunteers who were manning our areas of the event so that some of us could gather for a group photo with our special guests.

Back row, left to right: Tyler Storgaard, Isaac Nelson (DFO), Hannah Tonsaker; Matthew Watts; Henrietta Hamming (wife of the late Chris Hamming, HSWS founder); Robbin Whachell; Keith Kozak (founding member/HSWS first president); and Rodney Lee.

Front row, Fin Donnelly, MLA; and Kyle Uno, current HSWS president.



Lower Mainland Streamkeepers Enjoy Sockeye Feast

A glimpse of the fresh out-of-the-sea sockeye dinner prepared by Chef Robert Clark for Organic Ocean Seafood. (HSWS photos)

On Sept. 11, Hoy/Scott Watershed Society directors were invited to a sumptuously fresh, sockeye salmon dinner, hosted by Organic Ocean Seafood and the Salmon Habitat Restoration Program in Richmond to celebrate the opening of the Wild Salmon Season.

The event, which brought together streamkeepers from across the Lower Mainland, was held at the Organic Ocean Seafood facility located on the Steveston docks. Attendees were able to view the salmon coming direct from the boat to the cutting board, to the barbecue, and to their plates.

Words were provided by the Salmon Habitat Restoration Program, the City of Richmond, Chef Robert Clark, and Fin Donnelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

It was a wonderful opportunity for local streamkeepers to enjoy camaraderie with other Lower Mainland stewards.

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society extends a heartfelt thank you for the opportunity.

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The team from SHARP (Salmon Habitat Restoration Program) standing with Richmond mayor; Chef Robert Clark; and Fin Donnelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture. (Photo: SHaRP)

BC Premier Visits Hoy Creek Hatchery

Left to right: Maya Uno, HSWS youth leader; Robbin Whachell, President, HSWS; Fin Donnelly; and John Horgan, BC Premier.

On Oct. 21, during his campaign stop in Coquitlam, Premier John Horgan visited the Hoy Creek Hatchery for a brief tour to learn about the work of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society and see the return of the spawning chum salmon, as well as young salmon being raised at the hatchery.

The premier was accompanied by Fin Donnelly, former official opposition's critic on fisheries and oceans until 2012.

Assisting the president of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society, Robbin Whachell was youth leader, May Uno.

This is the first time a premier has visited the hatchery which was built in 1997.

Feeding the coho salmon in the hatchery’s rearing pond at Hoy Creek.

Chum salmon were in stream for the tour.