With $150,000 needed to put shovels in the ground this summer, volunteers with Mossom Creek Hatchery are hosting a gala fundraising event on July 13 featuring a gourmet salmon barbecue and auction.
The importance of raising money to get the hatchery built in time for the salmon spawning season in October was brought home to organizer Ruth Foster last month when the last of the coho smolts were released into Port Moody Inlet.
"We are hit with the huge reality that we need to get this building started and hatchery operations installed before the fall salmon return," Foster said, "We are very hopeful this fundraiser and some other granting and donor opportunities will get us to our goal by mid summer."
Given the lineup of donated items and the fabulous food - salmon donated by Canadian Fish Company, a variety of local salads and grilled vegetables prepared by Fred Soofi of Pasta Polo, and PoMo firefighters handling the grill - the July 13 rebuild gala is sure to be the summer's hottest ticket.
Here are just some of the prizes that will be available for the highest bidder: a once-in-a-lifetime fishing trip adventure to Langara Fishing Lodge for two, valued at $10,000; a unique art deco wine cabinet designed and handmade by Rick Carswell and Alison Kirkley of Kirkley Carswell Art Furniture, and filled with $400 worth of wine; native art prints and photographs; a tour of the Sea Lion Research Station; and a Seattle Mariners jacket and two game tickets.
The July 13 auction and dinner take place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in the Galleria at Port Moody city hall. Tickets cost $45 and are available by calling 604-787-9758 or going to www.mossomcreek.org
