Salmon Steward

30 2017 psf.ca FunD racerS When you're actually out on the water, it's hard not to be keenly aware of how lucky we are to have salmon. Maybe that's why a growing roster of fishing derbies across the province have become a valuable fundraising mechanism – allowing those who enjoy the resource to help sustain it. This year, the Foundation will add a new event to its roster with the investors Group Saltwater Showdown in the Comox Valley on August 27. Says Ken Derksen, Investors Group consultant: "In the Comox Valley, Investors Group has been a supporter of the Pacific Salmon Foundation for over 10 years, donating to and actively attending both the Qualicum Beach and Comox Valley fundraising dinners. We have consultants who are actively involved in volunteering with local watershed groups who undertake salmon habitat restoration projects. Through our community involvement with these groups, we have come to recognize the essential support that the Pacific Salmon Foundation provides to the community." Another key "fund race": the Red Boat Challenge, hosted at langara island lodge, which reached a new high, raising more than $50,000 for Foundation projects including a match of $25,000 donated by the Lodge. This annual derby brings together leaders in the mining sector. Saanich Inlet Salmon Challenge March 18 Mill Bay Marina, Mill Bay Galiano Island Salmon Classic May 27 Montague Harbour, Galiano Island 1st Annual Port Sidney Marina Salmon Tournament June 1-June 3 Sidney Marina, Sidney West Coast Resorts Salmon Masters June 7-11 Haida Gwaii Duncanby Lodge Fishing Derby June 10-13 Rivers Inlet Moby's Fishing Derby June 17-18 Moby's Pub, Salt Spring Island Port Renfrew Salmon Championship June 17-18 Pacific Gateway Marina, Port Renfrew Tofino Saltwater Classic August 14-16 Marina West, Tofino Vancouver Chinook Classic August 19-20 Pacific Gateway Hotel & Marina, Richmond Investors Group Saltwater Showdown August 27 Marina Park, Comox Bamfield Tuna Shootout T.B.A. Bamfield photos: Dawn Danby, moDifieD, license: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nD/2.0/ Gavin Baker hoists his catch. His mom Mandy is organizing the upcoming Investors Group Saltwater Showdown. inSPirinG Future StewarDS Salmonids in the Classroom is a program created by Fisheries and oceans canada wherein students raise salmon from egg to fry in-class before releasing them to streams. Every year, the Pacific Salmon Foundation receives about $30,000 in requests for aquariums and chillers, and the demand keeps on growing; luckily, last year chevron donated $10,000, ensuring we can keep up! The funds were added to the $10,500 raised via a summer crowdfunding campaign selling T-shirts. "The Salmonids in the Classroom program aligns perfectly with Chevron's support for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in B.C. classrooms," says adrien Byrne, representative for policy, government and public affairs with Chevron Canada Ltd. "When the Pacific Salmon Foundation told us it had experienced a 40 per cent increase in Salmonids in the Classroom requests over the last three years, we felt this program was a good opportunity to support salmon conservation and education in local communities." SalMon StewarDS, reV your enGineS! Barry Sherwood, owner of Sherwood Marine, has been a longtime supporter of the Pacific Salmon Foundation's South Vancouver Island Gala. This year, he decided to step up that support by turning horsepower into cash for salmon conservation. Between January 1 and May 31, Sherwood Marine is donating a dollar for every unit of horsepower sold through sales of outboard motors. Mill Bay Marine Group will host three charitable fishing derbies benefitting the Pacific Salmon Foundation in 2017. Going above and beyond! Duncanby lodge owner Sid Keay has given more than $77,000 cumulatively to the Foundation through personal donations and conservation contributions collected from Duncanby Lodge guests. This year, Keay is hosting the Duncanby Lodge Fishing Derby in Rivers Inlet on June 10-13. cHaritaBle DerBieS in your coMMunity Salmon alevins in an incubator feed off their yolk sac in a classroom aquarium. Once the sac is absorbed, students release them as fry into local streams.

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