2021 Greeting Card Winner Announced

HSWS greeting card 2021.

In November we put out a call for photos or artwork for our second annual greeting card.

We’d like to thank everyone who provided images or artwork, and those that helped vote for their favourite entry via our Facebook page.

Our winner was eight-year-old, Dominik Materni who presented this drawing of coho salmon returning to Hoy Creek.

Dominik’s image received over 60 likes.

May we take this opportunity to congratulate Dominik, and wish everyone the best of the season!

Dominik Materni holds up his prize and stands with this family at Hoy Creek on Dec. 18.

Founding Member, Linda Gorsline Acknowledged for Her Contributions

Linda Gorsline outside the hatchery office during Salmon Come Home 2011. (HSWS Photo)

In November the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society honoured Linda Gorsline. A gift and a certificate of appreciation were mailed to her to thank her for her many years of service and the work she did to help form and keep the Society together. Linda moved away from Coquitlam in May 2014 after being a volunteer at Hoy Creek for twenty years.

“Honouring Linda and her role with the Society is most fitting because she was part of the group that founded the Society,” said past-president and former hatchery manager, Rodney Lee. “She served as secretary and treasurer at various points over the time she volunteered. Linda’s sole dedication and commitment is the reason there is a Society still here today. When I joined the group, she always worked hard to ensure the Society and hatchery were operating. Whether it was the administrative aspects, coordinating with the City of Coquitlam, helping manage relations with our DFO community advisor or helping with the day-to-day tasks with rearing salmon, Linda would be there to ensure the work was completed! The last thing Linda would want is recognition but there is no one more deserving!”

Society History

Linda, who now lives in Ontario, sent us her reflections on her time in Coquitlam and on how she became involved. “I moved into the Jefferson building in September of 1993. Almost every day I walked at least part of the trail, which at that time was a simple narrow path. Sometimes alone and sometimes with a neighbour – up the trail, across Pinetree, around Lafarge Lake, and back down to Hoy Trail.”

“It was in the fall of 1994 that the City of Coquitlam and the DFO held a small gathering and had displays where the hatchery building now sits. There was a list, and they were asking people interested in helping with the creek to sign up. I was later contacted and met with a small group of like-minded people.”

“The rearing pond had been repaired and we were given salmon fry from the Port Coquitlam Hunting and Fishing Club to place in the pond. The building was not completed (or started) at that time. The food and the key to enter the pond were kept in a locked, walk-in dumpster. I started feeding with other volunteers, but only on weekends when I was not working in Burnaby.”

“During either 1994 or 1995 the City combined two volunteer groups, ours at Hoy Creek and one from the Scott Creek area to become Hoy/Scott Watershed Streamkeepers. Eunice Hodge was a member of the Scott Creek group.”

“We did not work on becoming a society until late 2000 or early 2001. Keith Kozak was the new Society’s first president and Chris Hamming, Eunice Hodge, Keith and I met several times at Keith's home to complete the forms to become a society.”

At the time our financial position was in a disorganized situation. The president before Keith Kozak had also been the treasurer. We found no paper trail to support the lack of funds. Once I had retired I took over the duties of secretary and treasurer and we changed banks, required two signatures on cheques, cancelled the debit card and reestablished good relations with the DFO - our main source of funding.”

The Hoy Creek Hatchery building was completed in 1997.

HSWS’s First President Reflects on Linda’s Contribution

Keith Kozak, who became president in February 2002 shared the following, “I first met Linda in about 1999, who at that time, was regularly contributing her energy and personal time to the group's growth, our community outreach programs, not to mention, regular visits to the hatchery for day-to-day maintenance. Her volunteer efforts and dedication were nothing less than impressive and inspiring. Linda put in countless hours to the enormous task of forming the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society. She was also a vital support system for the group. Other volunteers, such as Chris Hamming, Tim Tyler, Shawn and Andrea Tubbs, Evelyn Anderson, Eunice Hodge, and Suzanne Richards (high school teacher education coordinator) contributed significantly as well.”

“Linda Gorsline was a visionary, “ Kozak continues, “and like myself, felt the Hoy/Scott Streamkeepers group had the potential to expand its involvement with the community through education, environmental preservation, and establish effective bonds with local government. Linda Gorseline was incredibly motivated, but nonetheless, calculated and well prepared in terms of reasonable mandates, funding, and costs.”

“Before 2002, the streamkeepers group was in difficult times in terms of its financial status. and existence, and had relied on municipal funding to support portions of its operational expenditures. In November 2001, the City of Coquitlam officially requested elections for president and other executive positions, as well as restructuring. As usual, Linda worked with these challenges becoming a focus of motivation towards other volunteers so to improve and rebuild our group. Following our elections in February 2002, Linda worked tirelessly dedicating her accounting skills, to designing fiscal strategies for hatchery projects, including planting programs, sensitive riparian protection projects, and contributed dozens of hours in creating the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society’s constitution and bylaws.”

“Linda regularly attended meetings with Fisheries and municipal officials. She contributed enormously her thoughts and ideas towards a variety of projects involving the group. I relied on Linda as a significant support system with the group's new beginning following 2002. Linda was difficult to keep up with, her energy and motivation towards the greater good of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is truly admirable.”

Thank you, Linda!

The concrete salmon that sits adjacent to Hoy Creek at Hoy Creek Hatchery was put in place in the early 2000s.

For further history on the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society check our fonds held at the City of Coquitlam Archives.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society featured on Hong Kong radio show

Dan Yip, a former resident of Coquitlam and the host of "Hello, Sunrise" on RTHK in Hong Kong interviewed our president, Robbin Whachell about the salmon return and Hoy Creek Hatchery, as well as the work we do at the Hoy - Scott Watershed Society.

Dan sent questions and Robbin recorded the responses for him. The segment aired on Oct. 25, 2021.

If you know Cantonese, you can listen to PART 2, starting at the 7-minute mark for the 15 min segment with him discussing with the co-host. You can hear Robbin’s voice (English) come in around the 20-minute mark, where Dan’s co-host translates what she is saying.

"I hope my program can help promote the Salmon Run, especially among the Cantonese communities in Greater Vancouver," said Dan.

We hope so too!

LISTEN HERE —- select PART 2 (bottom link) for the 7-minute or 20-min mark.

2021 Holiday Greeting Card Contest Launched

Enter today!

CONTEST HAS CLOSED

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is looking for a photo or drawing of the watershed and/or salmon returns, to be featured on our 2021 holiday greeting card.

If you’re a resident of the Tri-Cities and love to draw, paint, or take photographs, you can submit an entry that depicts the wonders of nature along Scott or Hoy Creek, or the Hoy Creek Linear Park. Or, perhaps you’re an artist who can provide a drawing about the work we do as a Society.

To submit your photo or artwork, please email hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com with ‘Holiday Greeting Card Submission’ in your subject line. Provide your full name, city of residence, and contact phone number.

The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Entries will be posted to the Society's Facebook page by Saturday, Dec. 4 by 12 noon whereupon the public can weigh in on favourites and the most 'Likes' will become our winner.

The winner will receive a Hoy/Scott Watershed Society hat (ball cap or a winter beanie) and your name will be credited on the card.

Contest rules:

  • Must be a resident of the Tri-Cities.

  • Open to all ages and abilities.

  • One entry (one image OR art piece) per person.

  • Must be your own image or artwork.

  • Must depict nature scenes from Hoy or Scott Creeks, or watersheds of same, or the work of the Society.

  • The photographer or artist's name will be used in promotion and credit provided on the greeting card.

  • By providing your image or artwork, the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society has full rights of use in print and digitally (web and social media).

Questions? Email us at hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com

Coquitlam watershed society to be featured in "Beyond Fishing" exhibit

Shanna Cheng of the Coquitlam Heritage Society holds a stuffed coho salmon by Hoy Creek which will be seen in the upcoming exhibit at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex. (Photo: HSWS)

The Coquitlam Heritage Society has reached out to Hoy/Scott Watershed Society to collaborate on their upcoming “Beyond Fishing Exhibit” to be held from Nov. 15, 2021 to April 24, 2022 at Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex in Coquitlam.

Shanna Cheng visited the Hoy Creek Hatchery to review materials with the Society that would work in the display.

“We’re pleased that the Heritage Society reached out,” said Society president, Robbin Whachell. “This is another great way to bring awareness to the work of the Society and a reminder that our urban streams are teaming with life, and require protection.”

The Coquitlam Heritage Society operates Mackin House Museum in lovely Maillardville, Coquitlam that aims to recreate a home in the Edwardian era. They offer a range of services to the general public, including events, workshops, tourism information, and exhibits across the community.

Click this image to learn more.

Poaching Report in Hoy Creek

Poaching is NOT okay! Over the past week, we heard of accounts of poaching in Hoy Creek. On Friday, Fisheries officers were called out on a report that three males in their early to mid-twenties were taking fish from Hoy Creek and filling a large red cooler with them. Sadly the suspects were not located.

It's ILLEGAL to fish in local streams, which also includes the removal of carcasses (dead fish). Dead or alive, it is illegal to take fish. If you want to fish, you must have a license to fish, and you must know where it's okay to fish.

If you see people fishing at local streams in any way – with a line, net, or anything else, please contact "Report All Poachers and Polluters" (RAPP) and fill out this form.

Or fisheries violations, contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) at 1-800-465-4336. You can also contact your local RCMP detachment or municipal police.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society has information on our Contact Page.

Salmon Come Home Held After One-Year Gap

Salmon Come Home looked a lot different this year with reduced numbers as part of the event plan.

Due to the high demand and limited event space due to Covid event planning guidelines, the Salmon Come Home event, operated in collaboration with the City of Coquitlam was at capacity within a few days of opening registration.

Most years, the City and the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) celebrate the return of salmon to local creeks inviting local environmental groups to take part. That was not the case this year.

“We were excited to have this event back, as the residents so enjoy it,” said the president of the Society, Robbin Whachell. “This year with health guidelines we opted to focus on the salmon, the hatchery and the work of the Society.”

The City handled the registration for a walk-through event highlighting salmon talks with live coho and chum supported by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

DFO representative, Brandon holds a mature live coho salmon.

The reduced attendance, along with the registration created the right mix for a nice steady and easy to manage flow of people. Residents had lots of time to ask questions of HSWS volunteers and lots of space to see the coho fry up close as well as the mature coho and chum.

“We did not have many fish in the stream this year, but a couple of chum held out under the bridge for a good part of the event to the delight of families salmon-spotting,” said Whachell.

Chum salmon can usually be seen into mid-November so there is still time to go out and explore.

Coho salmon run into mid-December. Check out our salmon-spotting tips HERE.

The City has provided a family-fun guide and map of salmon-viewing locations (PDF) along with a scavenger hunt to help you explore nature and enjoy the outdoors.

Check out our Facebook photo album for more images.

Participants learned about the varied work of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

Kim and Robbin with MLA, forCoquitlam-Burke Mountain Fin Donelly.

HSWS volunteers, Edmond and Ron show off the coho fry at the rearing pond.

Scott from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada with City Councillor Steve Kim.

Former hatchery manager, Rodney Lee speaks to current hatchery manager Tyler Storgaard before heading with other volunteers to conduct the weekly salmon survey of a 500m stretch of Hoy Creek.



We're looking for Volunteers!

Get outdoors and get involved!

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is looking for volunteers to support our salmon hatchery and the salmon enhancement work that we do as stewards of Hoy and Scott Creeks.

Examples of how volunteers can get involved:

  • Adult salmon broodstock capture including fish trap and fish fence maintenance

  • Salmon rearing: egg to fry release.

  • Daily feeding or weekly maintenance

  • Invasive species pulls and habitat restoration

  • Talking to the public at open houses or community events

  • Conduct education sessions for school or community groups

  • Stream invertebrate survey

  • Monitor water quality

  • Storm drain marking of city streets that flow into creeks.

Whatever your skills or experience, each one of us uses our work with the Society to give back, learn and experience more.  We learn from each other.  We try to develop skills and experience by taking responsibility for activities and events and can be guided by others that have more experience.  In some cases, we can even launch a new program based on members wanting to drive the creation of a program.

Membership dues cover you under our insurance.

  • $5 for students (non-voting)

  • $15 for individuals

  • $25 for families

Fill out a membership form on our Support page.

Dues can be paid through PayPal on the same page using your credit or debit card.

Once you’ve been added to our insurance, you will be also added to our Hatchery Manager List, and  Tyler Storgaard will contact you with weekly notices about upcoming Saturday work sessions that run 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. 

Curious? Come by an Open House the first Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon to learn more.

We are here to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to email us at hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com


Chum Salmon Have Returned to Hoy and Scott Creeks

Chum Salmon Oct. 10 2021.jpeg

The Thanksgiving long weekend was the first sighting of chum salmon returning to the streams. The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society has a salmon survey underway where a group of volunteers head out weekly to assess one area of Hoy Creek. This area is 750m from the Johnson St. pond to the hatchery bridge. Six chum were spotted within a two-hour window in one area.

There has been a steady show since.

This comes as great news as the Society will host the Salmon Come Home event on Sunday, Oct. 24 in partnership with the City of Coquitlam.

Society volunteers will be busy over the upcoming weeks with broodstock collection under the leadership of hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard.

If you plan to check out the salmon, reference our Salmon Spotting Tips.

Hoy and Scott Creeks Get a Clean at Two Busy Locations

Near the trailhead at Scott Creek Linear Park, before the team split up into two groups.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society volunteers were out in good number on Sept. 5, so we were able to clean along two Coquitlam streets.

It was a return visit to Scott Creek Linear Park (off Runnel) after a two-year gap, but the crew was able to get a good haul of trash and remove the remains of a homeless camp.

Over at Aberdeen Ave., the crew working there were surprised to see the amount of trash since it had only been one year since the last clean in the area.

“It always amazes us to see the amount of trash being dumped in our parks and streams,” said society president, Robbin Whachell. “It’s rewarding to come out as a group to alleviate what we can.”

The stream clean exercise is conducted annually prior to the fall rains and return of the salmon.

The haul on Aberdeen Ave, Coquitlam.

The City of Coquitlam supported the exercise by having a truck and driver available between both sites for a quick collection of the rubbish.

The haul included a foot soaker, various car parts, part of a bike, a scooter, a ski, a license plate, a pitchfork, a bed frame, garden hose, rope, plastic storage container, ceramics, syringes, carpeting and underlay, a rug, a quilt, clothing, a cooking pot and pan, and the usual fast-food containers. Face masks and cigarettes were the most common item.

The team plans to return to Runnel to get a mattress out of Scott Creek which was well up from the road, and a shopping cart and dresser out of the tunnel below Runnel in Hoy Creek.

View our Facebook photo album.

Volunteers and part of the haul from Runnel Drive.

Mattress in Hoy Creek south of Aberdeen.

Carpet from the Scott Creek Linear Park.