Society Participates in Gleneagle Secondary Volunteer Fair

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Maya Uno speaks to a student of Gleneagle Secondary School.

Thank you to Gleneagle Secondary in Coquitlam for hosting the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society at their Volunteer Fair held on November 24. Special mention to Aiden Lee who extended the invite and is a student of the school and has been a volunteer at the hatchery for many years.

The Society was represented by Maya Uno and Anne Woosnam.

The students had lots of great questions, and the Society relies on student volunteers to help meet its mandate.

Students who are interested in becoming volunteers can review information on our Support page and complete a registration form.

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BC Premier Visits Hoy Creek Hatchery

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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.

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

See more photos on our Facebook page

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Chum salmon were in stream for the tour.

Grade 12 Volunteers Recognized

Left to right: Steven, Maiya, and Maya

On July 25, our society recognized the efforts of five of our student volunteers who have been assisting with us for quite some time, one since she was eight years old!

The celebration, organized by Hoy/Scott Watershed Society director, Lani Lehun took place in front of the hatchery and a handful of other HSWS members came out to salute the following before they start their education in college or university this fall:

• Maya Uno

• Steven Wang

• Leo Li

• Maiya Callister

• Calvin Sui

Only three of the students were able to attend as some had already moved away.

What started for most as a way to earn volunteer credit hours at school, has turned into an interest in caring for the environment.

Hatchery manger and HSWS director, Rodney Lee provides comments to the students as HSWS vice president, Tyler Storgaard looks on.

Hatchery manager, Rodney Lee provided the following comments, “Congratulation on high school graduation. It’s a big step to get to this point. But it’s really only the beginning of better things to come.”

“This past season didn’t go fully as expected. I was looking forward to collectively celebrating your graduation and achievements. We came up 3 months short. I will however remember experiences with each one of you that makes me smile or gives me a laugh. Like the work you did at the kid's crafts at our festival, pulling the tangled net through the pool, seeing you handle (or try to handle) adult salmon. “

“You counted bugs, dissected fish carcasses, counted fish, and pulled invasives. These were all good things. As you move on in your lives, I’ll leave you with one thought – as a young adult you may be eager to get to the next thing but as you continue on life’s journey, take a moment to reflect. Enjoy each moment as it occurs. Don’t take anything for granted. Savour each day as it comes because tomorrow can end up being very different from today.“

“It has been my privilege to work with each one of you. I wish you all the success with your future work and studies. And you will always be welcomed out on a Saturday morning!”

The Society would like to thank the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada for providing merchandise to present with the certificates.

Volunteer grad ceremony on July 25 at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

See more photos on our Facebook page .

Students interested in volunteering with the society can sign up to volunteer HERE. Saturday work sessions will hopefully recommence in late September.

HSWS Volunteer Maya Uno Wins REACH Award

Maya in front of Hoy Creek Hatchery ready to lead a tour.

As a part of the 2020 Youth Week, the Tri-Cities held the REACH Awards virtually to recognize those working to significantly empower, celebrate and impact youth in the community. REACH stands for Recognizing Efforts and Achievements across Community and Home, and nominations for this year’s awards were accepted in March and April.

We are pleased to report that Maya Uno of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society won in the youth category. The press release by the City of Coquitlam states that, “Maya Uno, is an active volunteer at Hoy Creek Hatchery’s salmon enhancement program whose dedication sets an example for the hatchery’s other youth volunteers.”

All recipients were congratulated by the mayor of Coquitlam, Richard Stewart.

“Maya is well-deserving of this award,” said HSWS president, Robbin Whachell. “She has been helping the Society since she was 12 years old and will graduate high school this year.”

The following is from our nomination:

For over 7 years, Maya has been actively volunteering at the Hoy Creek Hatchery with the salmon enhancement program. She's led tours of the hatchery for visiting judges of the annual Communities in Bloom competition that the City competes in and leads summer tours for children from schools, daycares, as well as city programs. Maya also sits on the local committee on invasive species. Currently, she's a weekly salmon feeder at the hatchery and is leading the development of a new 'salmon talk' to be provided to children and adults at the society's annual Salmon Come Home event, formerly done by salmon educator, the late Chris Hamming.

Maya led 25 tours over the summer months, continues to assist with weekly hatchery monitoring and fish feeding. She's also assisting in the society's historic record transfer to the City Archives and leading the reorganization of the hatcheries office and supply area. She manned the society's booth at the City's Welcome to Coquitlam event answering questions and educating the public about the society and the watershed. She helped with the annual stream clean in August helping remove trash from Scott Creek. She is currently working on reestablishing the 'Salmon Talk' which she is developing for the next 'Salmon Come Home' event in fall 2020. Maya often helps lead hatchery open houses.

The Society has watched Maya grow up and mature over the past seven years and is extremely proud of the work Maya continues to do. She's setting an example for the other youth members in the group (and our community), and takes it upon herself to show up at monthly Society meetings and provides constructive input which often leading to positive change. She's comfortable speaking to the public during tours or at our Society events or city events. She has a keen interest in sharing her knowledge. 

In 2015, and at the age of 12, Maya was acknowledged for her work with the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society by the City of Coquitlam for her environmental work. That same year Mia organized a half-day field trip for her school class to the Hoy Creek hatchery and watershed, where they learned about the salmon and the enhancement program with hands-on actives. They also learned about invasive and non-invasive plants species and did some planting along Hoy Creek.

Congratulations Maya! We are fortunate to have your support.

(Other articles related to Maya.)

Communities in Bloom Judges Visit Hoy Creek Hatchery

Communities in Bloom tour: (left to right) Maurice Cornelius; Maya Uno; CiB judge Alex Pearl; CiB judge John Lohuis; and president of Hoy/Scott Watershed Society, Robbin Whachell.

On July 18 we had another visit from the judges of Communities in Bloom - Collectivités en fleurs competition, of which the City of Coquitlam is a competitor.

Thanks to our youth volunteer Maya Uno who led our tour! Maya has been volunteering at Hoy Creek Hatchery since she was in grade 5. She's now in grade 12 and is a recipient of a Coquitlam environmental award.

Maya was assisted by Maurice Cornelius.

"Communities in Bloom - Collectivités en fleurs is about greening through environmental, natural heritage conservation and horticultural actions that involve citizens, businesses, institutions, and municipalities.  The program is focused on environmental stewardship through enhancement of green spaces."

On July 18 Alex Pearl and John Lohuis spent a busy day visiting City parks and locations and the salmon hatchery is one of the key places in the city that exemplify their ethos.

NOTE: The City of Coquitlam was successful in winning the competition in 2019! We are proud to be a small part of this achievement.

Feeding the coho fry at Hoy Creek Hatchery rearing pond. CiB judges Alex Pearl and John Lohuis. Communities in Bloom tour.

Hatchery tour provided to Communities in Bloom judges

Left to right: Maya Uno of Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, Jim Baird and Evelyn Alemanni of Communities in Bloom. 

Hoy Creek Hatchery was once again a point of interest for visiting judges of the Communities in Bloom competition.  

"Communities in Bloom - Collectivités en fleurs is about greening through environmental, natural heritage conservation and horticultural actions that involve citizens, businesses, institutions, and municipalities.  The program is focused on environmental stewardship through enhancement of green spaces."

On July 19 Jim Baird (USA) and Evelyn Alemanni (USA) spent a busy day visiting City parks and locations and the salmon hatchery is one of the key places in the city that exemplify their ethos.

Leading the tour for the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society was Maya Uno, a City of Coquitlam environmental award recipient.

HSWS member and environtmental award recipient, Maya Uno at Hoy Creek Hatchery. 

25th Salmon Come Home Draws Record Attendance in Coquitlam

25 years!  A group photo and cake to commemorate 25 years of "Salmon Come Home."  Seen left to right: Maya Uno (front), Tyler Thibault, Rodney Lee, Robbin Whachell (front), AJ Currie (back), Dave Bennie, Earl Elliott, Tony Matahlija, Scott Ducharme, Caresse Selk, Kyle Uno (back), Sandra Uno, Lilian Elliott (back), Dr. Elaine Golds, and Chris Hamming. 

The 25th instalment of Salmon Come Home on August 22 at the Hoy Creek Hatchery had close to 4000  people turn out to celebrate the return of the salmon.

After a very dry summer and fall, rains did come through in time for salmon viewing although not in the same numbers as years prior. 

THROWBACK: A 2004 Tri-City News ad for Salmon Come Home

One patron said, "What an awesome event it was! Thank you for all that you planned and thanks to the gorgeous salmon who gave us all quite the show!"

A great time was had by all as people enjoyed seeing live salmon demonstrations, a salmon dissection, live entertainment by the Wild Salmon Creative Café featuring Raymond Matthew, Lana Crockett, Etienne Siew, Amy Lubik, and First Nation spoken word artist, Ostwelve (a Kwikwetlem descendant). 

The ever popular Angela Brown: The Ta Daa Lady & The Nylon Zoo entertained children of all ages with stories and a costume parade of woodland creatures. 

A live chum salmon. (Photo: Tina-Louise Harris) 

A celebratory cake was served, with an official photo to commemorate the 25th year of the event which is a collaboration between Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) and the City of Coquitlam. Founding HSWS member, Chris Hamming was there to help cut the cake along with Dr. Elaine Golds of the Burke Mountain Naturalists, and Tony Matahlija from the North Fraser Salmon Assistance Project who was one of those who helped build the hatchery. 

When the festival started in 1992, today’s Hoy-Scott Watershed Society was known as the Hoy-Scott Watershed Streamkeepers and the hatchery did not yet exist. The event was in its fifth year when the hatchery was built in 1997 on the grounds of a former trout-rearing facility on the old Frederick Brewer property. The site was restored in 1995 with help from the City, federal government and volunteers, and the pond that used to rear trout now helps raise salmon.

Cutting the cake for 25 years of Salmon Come Home - left to right: Dr. Elaine Golds of Burke Mountain Naturalists who have been coming to Salmon Come Home probably since day 1, Tony Matahlija from North Fraser Salmon Assistance Project, who helped build the hatchery, and HSWS founding member and salmon educator, Chris Hamming.

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Streamkeepers formed a society in 1992, with an expanded mandate to promote watershed restoration and public awareness of the need to preserve the creek and surrounding habitat. Having met the original goal of rebuilding the coho population, the society extended its focus in 2015 to include chum salmon. 

A big thank you to this year's sponsors, Vancity and 98 7 The Point radio. 

Visitors and residents of Coquitlam view salmon in Hoy Creek during Salmon Come Home - salmon viewing is at its peak into December.  (Photo: Tina-Louise Harris) 

Close to 4000 came out from far and wide for Salmon Come Home 2017! (HSWS photo)

See more photos below or view the City of Coquitlam Facebook album HERE
View more candid photos in the HSWS Facebook album HERE.

Photos seen below were taken by Tina-Louise Harris.