The fraser reach

Fraser River Discovery Centre Newsletter • July 2014

2014 Hall of Fame Recipient: Mark Angeloby Cindy Sale, Events Coordinator

This year, the Fraser River Discovery Centre Society is proud to induct BC and World Rivers Day founder and chair Mark Angelo into the Fraser River Hall of Fame.

Joining a list of esteemed past recipients, Angelo was nominated for his decades of passionate and articulate advocacy for waterways throughout the province of British Columbia, Canada, and the world, and specifically for his work here at home on the Fraser River.

Over the past four decades, Angelo has played a leadership role in numerous river conservation and restoration initiatives. Projects, numbering in the hundreds, have ranged from the successful restoration of heavily damaged urban streams such as Guichon Creek in Burnaby and Still Creek in Vancouver, to one of the most important conservation initiatives in all of the Canada – the “Heart of the Fraser” campaign, a dynamic initiative to conserve the enormous ecological values of one of the most productive stretches of the Lower Fraser River. Angelo’s latest project River Blue, a feature-length documentary which speaks passionately about the need to protect all rivers and entailed a round-the-world journey, is due in theatres later this year.

As founder and chair of both BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day, an event now embraced by millions of people in more than 60 countries, Angelo has served as the first non-government provincial representative and Chair of the Canadian Heritage Rivers Board and the inaugural Chair of the BC Heritage River System. As Rivers Chair for the Outdoor Recreational Council of BC, Angelo coordinated the compilation of BC’s annual “most endangered rivers”, which provides a snapshot of the

issues and threats that face BC’s rivers and their ecological health.

Angelo will be inducted into the Fraser River Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at the Discovery Centre.

For further details and ticket information, please visit the Fraser River Discovery Centre’s website at www.fraserriverdiscovery.org. Tickets will be available for purchase in August 2014 and can be obtained by calling 604-521-8401 or emailing info@fraserriverdiscovery.org.

Flowing with the Freshet by Ashleigh Hibbins, Education Assistant

The late spring and early summer season is a special time for all of us who live, work, or play along the Fraser River. This is when freshet begins. The yearly phenomenon caused by melting snow and ice from streams, creeks and rivers greatly increases the turbidity, depth and current of the Fraser. Freshet reminds us that rivers, like forests, have their own seasons and are constantly transforming. We may not perceive small alterations in water levels or currents from one day to the next, but over time these changes add up to be truly transformational! At the Discovery Centre, we try to honour and emulate the Fraser in everything that we do. Like the river during freshet, we also strive to continually transform ourselves, and to go with the flow!

This season, it seems that people and activities are flowing through the Discovery Centre at a greater rate than ever. Our Mad About Science program during Spring Break was our most popular one-off public program on record. Then, for three weeks in May we were lucky enough to work with Jeanny, Narae, and Vinay, 3 talented UBC Education students who were completing their Community Field Experience with us. Our amazing summer students Marie-Claire and Nadine have come back for a second year, and we’ve also welcomed several new volunteers to our growing team! With all these extra hands on deck, we’ve been able to offer even more field trips, public programs, group tours, and birthday parties. Needless to say, the Education Department has been brimming with activity, encouraging us to carve new paths and flow with increased energy, just like the mighty Fraser River.

What’s Happening

Aug 6 - 10-4pm: Kidsworld

Sept 18: Experience the Fraser exhibit opening

RiverFest: Inspired by the Fraser• Sept 21: NWEP Shoreline Clean-up• Sept 25: Paddlewheeler River School Tours• Sept 27: RiverFest on the Boardwalk

Outreach programs:

July 1 - 10-6pm: Canada Day at Canada Place July 13: Ladner Village Market Aug 8-9 - 11-6pm: Richmond Maritime Festival

For current information, visit: Website: FraserRiverDiscovery.org Facebook: facebook.com/FraserRiverDiscoveryCentrefacebook.com/RiverFestNewWest Twitter: @thefrdc @SturgeonGeorge@RiverFestNW

Instagram: instagram.com/thefrdc

Board of DirectorsStephen Bruyneel, ChairDavid Rickards, TreasurerNolan Charles, DirectorTeresa Cooper, DirectorAllen Domaas, DirectorMichael Forrest, Director

Staff & ContractorsCatherine Ouellet-Martin, Executive DirectorNazia Haroon, Operations AssistantShannon King, Director of EducationAshleigh Hibbins, Education AssistantCindy Sale, Special EventsLuyi Wang, Exhibits & Design

Tom Lively, DirectorAnna Mathewson, DirectorKathleen Higgins, Director

Fraser River Discovery Centre Foundation McLean Foundation

Chris Spencer FoundationHamber Foundation

Sturgeon Fishing Adventureby Shannon King, Director of Education

A few weeks ago, a group of us from the Fraser River Discovery Centre had the opportunity to go sturgeon fishing on the Fraser near Mission BC. Dean Werk, owner of Great River Fishing Adventures, and filmmaker Rodney Hsu of FishingwithRod.com are collaborating with the Fraser River Discovery Centre to create a film about sturgeon to teach people more about these incredible fish.

Within an hour, we had hooked an impressive 4’10” sturgeon. Once the sturgeon was in the boat, Dean provided an anatomy lesson as Rod captured Dean’s passion for these fish on film. We also measured and tagged the sturgeon (and of course took a picture of two) before releasing it back into the Fraser River to swim another day. We hope to complete the film in time for RiverFest! See a sneak peek of the film by Rodney Hsu here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgx8yk-tFRU.

788 Quayside Drive New Westminster BC V3M 6Z6 604-521-8401 www.fraserriverdiscovery.org

Thank you for your financial support

Founding PatronsKen & Dorothy Mackenzie

Errol Wintemute Norman & Mary Cosulich / Niki Cosulich Fairweather

Stewart Family Robert Osborne

Rudy NorthLucille Johnstone

Koerner FoundationPeter Bentley

McDonald Family: Ian, Steve & David

Celebrating Lucille Johnstoneby Catherine Ouellet-Martin, Executive Director

On May 22, Lucille Johnstone was formally and posthumously welcomed into the Business Laureates of British Columbia Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was created by Junior Achievement of British Columbia in 2006 to recognize BC citizens who have shown a vision unique amongst their peers, provided leadership to motivate others to achieve their goals, demonstrated integrity throughout their lives, and built a legacy in the province that will enrich all those who follow. Born and raised in Vancouver, Lucille was well known for her remarkable 45-year career on the River with Rivtow where she started as a receptionist in the 1940 and retired as CEO in 1989 after taking the company from a three-boat operation

to a $250 million per year empire that employed 1500 people. Because of her amazing achievements in the male-dominated world of tow boating, she was affectionately and respectfully known as the River Queen and Mighty Lucille, to name a few of the many monikers she earned. With her passion for the Fraser River, Lucille was a driving force behind the establishment and completion of the Fraser River Discovery Centre. As a Director of the Board, CEO and Founding Patron to our organization, Lucille inspired - and continues to inspire - many who believe in the value of an interpretive centre with the mission to tell the important stories of the Fraser River and their contribution to the life, history, and future of British Columbia.

The Voice Fraser eht fo

Donor Appreciation Night

On May 1, the Fraser River Discovery Centre hosted its annual donor appreciation event. On this occasion, former Chair Margaret Mason donated $5500 in honor of her 55th birthday.

Delicious food and cocktails, lively conversations, and a few words of thanks from Chair Stephen Bruyneel and Executive Director Catherine Ouellet-Martin made it a most enjoyable happy hour!