historic

City Archives Features Hoy/Scott Watershed Society History

The previous Brewer family property at Hoy Creek, the location of today’s Hoy Creek Hatchery.

In a June 15, 2022 information bulletin put out by the City of Coquitlam titled, “Exhibit Explores Coquitlam’s Historic Connection to Salmon” the City Archives promotes the records provided by Hoy/Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) in 2020 as their ‘newest’ online exhibit.

“A gift of records to Coquitlam Archives from the HSWS in 2020 provides insights into the rich role the community has played in restoring the Hoy-Scott watersheds. Meticulous records also highlight the thought, care and training involved in reintroducing salmonids to the Coquitlam watershed.“

City Archivist Visits Hoy Creek Hatchery

Emily Lonie, Archivist in the office at Hoy Creek Hatchery (Photo: HSWS)

Emily Lonie, Archivist in the office at Hoy Creek Hatchery (Photo: HSWS)

On Jan. 31, City of Coquitlam archivist, Emily Lonie visited Hoy Creek Hatchery to give guidance on how the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society can protect the documents they have crammed into their little office within the Hoy Creek Hatchery.

“We’re really busting at the seams,” said society president, Robbin Whachell.  “Every inch of space is of value in our small building and we want to ensure our documents are protected now that we’ve long since moved to a digital way of record-keeping.” 

Information deemed historic about the society, the hatchery building and rearing pond, which sits on the former Frederick Brewer property, will be boxed up and transferred to the city archives for preservation and future reference. 

Lonie advised that documents such as society reports, agendas, photographs and drawings are all important to preserve the history of the land and the environmental stewardship group. 

“We’re excited to make space, but even more excited that the public will have access to information that may have only been collecting dust in the hatchery,” said Whachell. 

The hatchery construction started in 1995 and was completed in 1997, and is located in Hoy Creek Linear Park, west of the City Centre Aquatic Complex and north of  Guildford Way in Coquitlam, B.C.

Read more about our HISTORY here.

UPDATE: Our hardcopy records transfer was completed on April 2, 2020.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society members release chum salmon fry

HSWS members met at dusk to release the chum salmon fry. Rodney Lee, hatchery manager (seen center) provides direction.

HSWS members met at dusk to release the chum salmon fry. Rodney Lee, hatchery manager (seen center) provides direction.

On March 19th, members of Hoy-Scott Watershed Society met near dusk at the Hoy Creek Hatchery to release 26,363 chum salmon fry.  This was an historic moment as the society has not raised chum salmon since the mid-90s. Fry were netted into buckets in the Capilano trough room, and hand carried to be released into Hoy Creek.  The process was led by hatchery manager, Rodney Lee.

"The 2016 brood stock season was super busy with our hatchery introducing a program to rear Chum salmon in addition to the Coho salmon that we've traditionally raised," said hatchery manager Rodney Lee. "The really warm October had creek temperatures in the 13C range which made for quick incubation early in the season, but then we had the really cold temperatures (creek temp lows under 3C) throughout much of the winter which really slowed development."

"We have approximately 12,000 Coho fry and the last alevins are beginning to 'swim up'.  We will be shutting down and cleaning out our incubators for the season."

"Our Coho fingerlings from the 2015 brood stock season have really started their Spring growth.  With water temperatures rising, their metabolism increases, and they eat at lot more and grow rapidly.  We are focusing on getting them to target release weight in anticipation of our Salmon Leave Home event on May 7th."

Photos were taken by society members: Nathen Blower, Lilian Elliott and Arno Hazebroek

See all our photos in our Facebook album HERE.