The "Optimist Rearing Pond" was originally constructed in 1945 to hold trout on the old Brewer property, and was restored with help from the Coquitlam Optimists to be used to rear salmon. It is an enclosed and screened pond area that is stream fed. Salmon fry are placed in the pond in May of each year, and are raised there until they are released the following May at our 'Salmon Leave Home' event.

Society volunteers working in the Hoy Creek rearing pond

The above video takes you from the Capilano trough into the rearing pond during daily feeding time. (Video by Desmon Tansuma).

During the salmon's stay in the rearing pond they are fed daily, and society volunteers regularly check for weight and length. Water temperatures are checked daily.

Each May after the salmon smolts are released in to Hoy Creek at our 'Salmon Leave Home' event, the rearing pond is then drained and cleaned. It's always a surprise to see what's living at the bottom! We usually find crayfish, lampreys, caddisfly nymphs and other invertebrates! They too are released into the creek.