For the first time in two years, streamkeepers are inviting Coquitlam residents and families to learn and celebrate salmon spawning in local creeks.
Salmon Come Home next Sunday (Oct. 23) is a free outdoor event cohosted by the city and the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society that engages and educates the community about the seven-year life cycle of salmon.
This includes their return to local tributaries from the ocean, where they spend most of their adult lives before spawning and ultimately dying, according to Coquitlam city environment manager Caresse Selk.
"Typically, chum salmon return to local creeks from early October to mid-November, and coho from late October to mid-December," she explained in a news release.
"Return dates of salmon fluctuate annually based on weather conditions."
Salmon Come Home is set to take place at the Hoy Creek Hatchery, as well as sites connected connected by the Hoy Creek Linear Trail.
While at the facility, interested participants will get to see salmon fry, view a salmon dissection and learn about returning species.
Salmon Come Home is scheduled for Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Activities, dates, times and locations are as follows:
Hoy Creek Hatchery Site
- 12, 1 and 2 p.m. — Salmon talk with Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Hoy-Scott Watershed Society
- 1:30 p.m. - Salmon dissection by Maple Creek Stream keepers
Douglas College (Southwest Parking Lot)
- 11:15 a.m. — Elaina Buenaventura
- 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. — Nylon Zoo puppet show, storytelling and costume parade
- 12:30 p.m. — Etienne Siew
- 2 p.m. — Erzsi Institorisz
Coquitlam residents are also encouraged to keep their eyes open for spawning salmon in local creeks this season by visiting the city’s map of salmon-viewing locations.
For more information, you can visit the City of Coquitlam website.
