Salmon Steward

T he key strength of the Pacific Salmon Foundation is its volunteers who sacrifice their spare time and expend considerable eort protecting the salmon resource. But I've noticed that whenever such volunteers are mentioned, they're praised for being able to find the spare time to devote to the cause – as if they're inexorably drawn to the world of conservation. As a volunteer and proud PSF bursary recipient, I think it's not so much a case of being drawn to the world of salmon conservation as it is not being able to imagine a life away from it. That is certainly my story. I'm enrolled in a Fisheries and Aquaculture Diploma program at Vancouver Island University (VIU), and I became curious about Pacific salmon in elementary school in Coquitlam. Our class visited the nearby stream every fall to watch them return and spawn, which fascinated me. I was amazed they travelled so far and always came back home to complete their life cycle. With my family, I participated in fry releases at annual salmon festivals around town, and at 16 I volunteered at the Noons Creek Hatchery in Port Moody. My very first day was a spawning day; I was "hooked" – and from that point on I volunteered for as many organizations as my school time would allow. The next stage of my evolution occurred in Nanaimo, while planting riparian flora on an eroded stream bank in the pouring rain. The local elementary school helped us out, and the students' enthusiasm to learn more about salmon conservation really struck a chord. At that moment, I knew I wanted to make a career out of salmon conservation and e"ectively join my two passions: helping salmon and bringing people together for their conservation. Eventually, my volunteer work led me to become involved with Pacific Sa lmon Foundation fundraisers in Nanaimo, Oceanside, Port Alberni and Vancouver; in 2017 I had the privilege to take on the role of student volunteer coordinator, whereby I arranged for Vancouver Island University volunteers to assist at the Foundation's dinners and auctions. These dinners were memorable, to say the least: the last one had over 50 stewards attend in support of the event. And it was incredible to meet so many dedicated members of the community working together to help salmon. Equally memorable was receiving the Foundation's Stewardship Community Bursary, which will allow me to continue volunteering during my studies at Vancouver Island University. I've applied for the university's Bachelor's of Applied Science in Natural Resource Protection, with the possible goal of either working in habitat restoration or program coordinating. In the meantime, I'm looking forward later this year to leaving B.C. – but only temporarily! In May I'll be in Dawson City, Yukon, to teach schoolchildren about the salmon life cycle and how everything leads to the ocean, as part of the Stream of Dreams program; and then in August I'll be on a Department of Fisheries and Oceans vessel as a volunteer. These are such exciting times for me – and I'm grateful an organization as well respected as the Pacific Salmon Foundation is interested in what I can o"er to the resource. n 18 2018 psf.ca A student remembers finding her calling as a salmon steward Sarah Gourlay Volunteer & Pacific Salmon foundation BurSary reciPient Who cares abouT salmon? With Foundation funding, the Stream of Dreams classroom program has educated almost 200,000 Canadian students. The program combines watershed lessons with art, culminating in "dreamfish murals" on school fences. support the young scientists who are volunteering their time and dedicating their future for wild salmon. Donate to our stewardship community bursary online via psf.ca or contact Margaret buttner, manager of planned and annual giving, at mbuttner@psf.ca or 604.664.7664 ext. 128. Sarah (R) recruited VIU classmates like Jessica Stewart to volunteer at Foundation events.

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