P
owell River is just a tiny burg on the
Sunshine Coast, with a population
of about 14,000 people. But it is the
Little Engine That Could when it comes to
salmon conservation.
Every year, the community reels in
$50,000 or so for the Pacific Salmon
Foundation at its fundraising dinner, with
its most successful year netting $66,000
for community salmon projects. And the
town pulls this o„ during the busiest time
for local streamkeeping group the Powell
River Salmon Society.
"There is an immense volunteer ethic
in Powell River, that's how we do it," says
George Illes, president of the Society and
founding member of the dinner's volunteer
committee. "From start to finish, the
dinner engages about 60 to 70 volunteers
of all ages from the community."
"The Society has about 200 core
volunteers, with another 200 casuals.
And we need all of them!" says Bruce
Anderson, chair of the dinner committee
and a volunteer board member for the
Society. "In October we're splitting ranks
to fundraise and deliver the dinner . . .
[that's] also when all the adult salmon
are returning to the Lang Creek Facility."
Society operations manager Shane
Dobler and his team are on call 24/7 when
SMALL TOWN,
BIG DIFFERENCE
Every year, Powell River comes together for a gala that reels in a
bounty of funds for salmon projects
Volunteers with the Powell River Salmon Society sit under a carving by local artist Ed Oldfield. Oldfield frequently donates his raku sculptures to
Foundation dinner live auctions and he also volunteers as a citizen scientist through the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project.
From left: Powell River Salmon Society operations manager Shane Dobler; Dr. Dick Beamish;
Pacific Salmon Foundation CEO Dr. Brian Riddell; the late Alex Dobler; Powell River Salmon
Society president George Illes.
12 2018 psf.ca
