Volunteer of the Month: Jiaming Sun

Volunteer holds gifted toque in front of rearing pond

Jiaming holds a HSWS t-shirt and toque gifted to him as our April Volunteer of the Month

At the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do—and this month, we’re excited to recognize Jiaming Sun as our Volunteer of the Month.

Jiaming has been volunteering with us for the past year, bringing a positive attitude and a willingness to learn that has made him a valued part of our hatchery team.

Getting Started

When asked what inspired him to volunteer, Jiaming shared a refreshingly honest answer—he was looking for something meaningful to do and felt inspired seeing his friends getting involved in volunteer work. That decision led him straight to the hatchery, where he quickly became part of the team.

Hands-On Experience

Over the past year, Jiaming has taken on a variety of important tasks, including feeding fish, cleaning tanks, and helping with counting and measuring salmon. These hands-on activities are essential to the success of our hatchery operations and the health of local fish populations.

Learning and Growth

One of the most impactful parts of Jiaming’s experience has been how much he’s learned along the way.

“Before I came here, I knew nothing about salmon and creeks… now I have learned a lot.”

Through volunteering, he’s gained a deeper understanding of watershed stewardship and the important role community volunteers play in protecting local ecosystems.

Why It Matters

For Jiaming, volunteering has been both fun and rewarding—not only gaining valuable experience in a working hatchery, but also contributing hours toward school requirements while making a real difference in the environment.

Words of Advice

Jiaming keeps it simple for anyone thinking about getting involved:

“Stop considering and come—it’s really fun to volunteer here.”

We’re grateful for Jiaming’s contributions and enthusiasm over the past year. Volunteers like him help make the work of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society possible, and we’re proud to have him as part of our community.

Interested in volunteering? We’d love to have you join us!

Volunteer of the Month: Katelyn Crothers

Katelyn holds a bucket for water runoff from incubation heath tray

Katelyn holds a bucket to release water from a heath tray of the Chum incubation stack.

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is proud to recognize Katelyn Crothers as our Volunteer of the Month for her dedication and ongoing commitment to the Hoy Creek Hatchery.

Katelyn has become a familiar and valued presence at the hatchery, consistently stepping up to support a wide range of activities. Whether assisting with fish care, engaging with visitors, or lending a hand wherever needed, she brings a positive attitude and strong work ethic to every task.

Her willingness to learn, ask questions, and share her knowledge with others has made her an important part of our volunteer team. Katelyn’s enthusiasm for environmental stewardship and salmon conservation reflects the very spirit of what our organization stands for.

Here are Katelyn’s responses to a recent interview:

How long have you been a volunteer with HSWS?

I began my time at Hoy Scott Salmon Hatchery in May of 2025, however I became a regular volunteer later that year in October.

What inspired you to start volunteering with us?

In December 2025 I graduated from Douglas College with an Associates of Environmental Studies. While I was there, I developed a thorough understanding of our ecological and social environments. This knowledge, fostered by a life-long passion for the protection of crucial local watershed and salmon habitat, led me to seek out how I could make an impact myself.

What kinds of activities or roles have you taken on in your volunteer work?

The activities our team of volunteers carry out are very dependent on the time of year. In October my Saturday mornings looked like gearing up in waders, walking down the trails to our trap area, and catching healthy, wild salmon for broodstock collection. From November onward I spent many days maintaining incubation trays and recording sensitive data on coho and chum population at the egg, fry and smolt stages. Along with other projects like revegetating our creek banks to provide shade in the next hot upcoming months.

What has been the most rewarding part of volunteering here?

The most rewarding aspect of my volunteering has been the connection I have been able to make with the surrounding community. That has looked like taking newer volunteers and those passing by for a tour of the hatchery to show them first-hand what goes into local salmon conservation efforts. I feel that this helps bridge the gap between humans and the natural world, because we often forget how incredible our metaphorical backyards are.

Katelyn and some of the crew during broodstock collection in fall 2025.

Can you share a memorable moment or challenge you’ve experienced while volunteering? Or, what are you most proud of?
One of the most memorable moments in my time at Hoy Scott was during a day we were collecting salmon for spawning. I was freezing cold, water down my waders as I netted off the mouth of the creek bed where they would be swimming up. Then suddenly, I had these 2-foot-10-pound fish launching at my feet, in all of their glory. To be so close to a keystone species that has so much ecological and cultural significance was a reminder of the “why” behind my education and career path.

How has volunteering with us influenced your understanding of watershed stewardship or conservation?
If I have learned anything from my time at Hoy Scott regarding watershed stewardship and conservation, it would be how every little action counts. So much goes on behind the scenes,

whether that be scheduling school tours, reorganizing our facility areas, trail clean ups, or putting up fencing. Though supporting our Coho and Chum salmon populations involves hands on work with a really cool species, all those efforts are needed to make that possible.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering volunteering here?

Just show up! At Hoy Scott Salmon Hatchery our team is filled with people from all walks of life and knowledge levels. The one characteristic we all share is caring about conservation and the community around us. When I began here I was given so much support in navigating our facilities and participating in the daily routines. You learn so much over time and get to be a part of an awesome group of people. Whether that means you show up bright and early at 8:30am every Saturday or drop in when you get the chance!

Volunteers like Katelyn play a vital role in helping us care for the thousands of salmon that pass through the hatchery each year, while also educating the community about the importance of protecting our local waterways.

We are incredibly grateful for Katelyn’s time, energy, and commitment. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition!

Spawner Survey Report for 2025

HSWS Photo

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society volunteer, Rodney Lee, led our spawner survey for 2025.

Spawner surveys are a basic form of stock assessment where the data can be used to gauge the health of salmon returns. In short, we walk the creek and count live and dead salmon (by species) to get a sense of the number of returning fish. Data is submitted to the Streamkeeper’s database as well as to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Participants walk in chest waders in and around the stream including stepping over fallen trees, walking on in-stream rocks and muddy banks, and crouching under overhanging tree branches to identify salmon species targeting chum and coho but occasionally other species (chinook, pink) may have been seen.

The weekly survey area was the stretch of Hoy Creek from the Johnson St. pool (between Glen and Guildford) to Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam and statistics were taken from October through to January.

Here are the survey details which provide totals of carcasses for chum and coho, as well as peak live counts.

Rodney Lee walking in Hoy Creek to check for dead or live salmon. (HSWS photo)

2025 Spawner Survey Data and Comparison back to 2020

View 2025 photos on facebook

NOTE: Should you see salmon in the creek that have been cut in half, or have the tail or head cut off, from October through December that could mean those salmon have been marked for the annual Salmon Spawner Survey. We count live and dead fish weekly in a designated stretch of the stream. The dead salmon are cut as to not double count the dead fish the next week. This helps get an absolute count of salmon that have spawned in a particular area of a stream.

Volunteer of the Month: Al D.

Al cleaning a filter during his morning feed duties in the Capilano trough room at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is proud to recognize Al D. as our Volunteer of the Month for his dedication and ongoing commitment to the Hoy Creek Hatchery.

Al joined our volunteer team in 2022, bringing with him a strong interest in environmental protection and a background in environmental science. After retiring, he was looking for a meaningful way to reconnect with those early passions while giving back to his community.

“The Hoy Creek Hatchery opportunity seemed perfectly suited to my desire to revisit some of my early adulthood interests,” Al shares. “My degree is related to environmental science.”

Since joining the Society, Al has taken on one of the hatchery’s most important behind-the-scenes responsibilities: Daily Feeder.

While much of his work happens out of public view, the daily feeder role is absolutely vital to the successful operation of the Hoy Creek Hatchery. This position ensures that juvenile salmon are fed consistently, monitored closely, and cared for every single day. It is a role that requires reliability, attention to detail, and a deep respect for the life cycle of salmon.

In addition to his work at Hoy Creek, Al also volunteers at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park (Colony Farm), where he helps remove invasive plant species and support the health of local ecosystems.

For Al, volunteering brings both purpose and fulfillment.

“I would advise those thinking of volunteering to just do it! There is a tremendous joy and satisfaction in helping maintain our environment even in a small manner. It all adds up,” he says. “I particularly enjoy being part of maintaining our salmon stock which is so crucial for our ecosystem.”

Al’s commitment reminds us that conservation work depends not only on big public events, but also on the steady, dedicated efforts of volunteers who quietly ensure that essential daily tasks are completed.

We thank Al for his dependable service, positive spirit, and dedication to protecting Hoy Creek and its salmon. His work truly makes a difference — one feeding at a time.

Volunteer of the Month: Amy Skulj

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is pleased to recognize Amy Skulj as our Volunteer of the Month for January. Since joining us in December 2024, Amy has become a dedicated and enthusiastic presence at the hatchery and along the creek, contributing her time, energy, and passion for watershed stewardship.

Amy was encouraged to volunteer through an acquaintance at Flowlink Environmental, and from her very first visit, she knew she had found a place where her values and interests aligned. An environmentalist at heart, Amy brings both commitment and curiosity to every task, embracing the ever-changing nature of watershed work.

Her volunteer roles have spanned a wide range of seasonal activities, including assisting with Coho and Chum salmon care, invasive species removal, water quality monitoring, and whatever else is needed week to week. As she notes, duties change with the seasons—and she’s always ready to step in where help is required.

For Amy, the most rewarding part of volunteering is witnessing and supporting the life cycle of Coho and Chum salmon. Being able to see firsthand how volunteer efforts contribute directly to habitat health and salmon survival is what keeps her coming back, Saturday after Saturday.

One of the moments Amy is most proud of is seeing the strong participation of young volunteers who commit their time despite busy schedules. “Teamwork makes the dream work,” she says—a sentiment that captures the collaborative spirit of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society.

Volunteering has also strengthened Amy’s role as an advocate for conservation. Working on the ground has deepened her understanding of watershed stewardship and reinforced the importance of protecting waterways while educating others about their value.

When asked what advice she would give to someone considering volunteering, Amy doesn’t hesitate. She describes it as a meaningful learning opportunity that offers fulfillment, camaraderie, and the chance to work alongside a knowledgeable and dedicated Board. “I don’t like missing any Saturday,” she adds, “since I am so committed.”

We are grateful to Amy for her dedication, positivity, and ongoing support of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society. Volunteers like her make our work possible.

If you’re inspired by Amy’s story and would like to get involved, we invite you to visit our Support page to learn how you can volunteer or contribute to our efforts to protect and restore Hoy and Scott Watersheds.

Thank you, Amy, for everything you do.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society Is Now a Registered Canadian Charity

Hoy Creek in December (Coquitlam, BC)

We are proud to share an important milestone for the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society: as of July 2025, we are officially a registered Canadian charity.

Our charitable registration number is: 863285847RR0001

This achievement reflects years of dedicated volunteer effort, strong community partnerships, and a shared commitment to protecting and restoring the Hoy and Scott watersheds.

What Does Charitable Status Mean?

Becoming a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency confirms that the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society operates for the public good and meets rigorous standards for governance, accountability, and transparency.

It also strengthens our ability to:

  • Protect and enhance salmon habitat

  • Deliver environmental education and outreach

  • Support monitoring, restoration, and stewardship initiatives

  • Build partnerships that benefit the entire watershed and community

How This Helps Our Supporters

With charitable status, we can now issue official donation receipts for income tax purposes.

This means:

  • Individuals can receive tax credits for their donations

  • Businesses can make charitable contributions with formal documentation

  • Supporters can give with confidence, knowing their contributions directly support local environmental stewardship

Every donation helps us continue hands-on work in the watershed — from habitat protection to hatchery education and community engagement.

A Milestone Built by Volunteers and Community

This accomplishment belongs to our volunteers, members, partners, and supporters. Your time, expertise, and belief in the importance of healthy waterways made this possible.

From creekside monitoring to public education events, your efforts have helped position the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society as a trusted steward of our local environment.

Looking Ahead

Charitable status opens new opportunities for growth, funding, and collaboration. As we look ahead, we remain committed to:

  • Protecting salmon and aquatic ecosystems

  • Educating the public about watershed health

  • Working collaboratively with Indigenous partners, community groups, and local residents

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can continue to care for the creeks that sustain our community.

👉 Learn how you can support our work or make a donation on our support page.

Society Members Tour Kwikwetlem Sockeye Hatchery

The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Sockeye Hatchery

Members of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society were treated to a truly educational and inspiring experience on December 14, touring Kwikwetlem First Nation’s new sockeye salmon hatchery located high above the Coquitlam River watershed.

A huge thank you goes to HSWS volunteer Rodney Lee, who led the tour and generously shared his knowledge throughout the morning. The state-of-the-art facility is currently incubating sockeye salmon eggs, and Rodney provided a fascinating overview of both the technical aspects of the hatchery and the long, determined journey taken by Kwikwetlem First Nation to bring this important project to life.

Participants learned about the unique life cycle of sockeye salmon and the special care required to successfully rear this species—knowledge that deepened everyone’s appreciation for the complexity and importance of hatchery work in supporting healthy salmon populations.

The tour started with an informative talk from Rodney Lee.

Following the hatchery visit, the group toured the surrounding area, taking in views of the Coquitlam River running at high flow, as well as the spawning grounds, dam, and lake reservoir. The broader landscape offered valuable context for understanding how habitat, water management, and salmon stewardship are closely connected.

HSWS members were pleased to be joined by friends from the Hyde Creek Hatchery, making the tour an excellent opportunity for shared learning and collaboration among watershed stewards.

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society extends its sincere thanks to Kwikwetlem First Nation for welcoming us and allowing us to learn about this vital work. The hatchery represents a significant achievement in salmon restoration and Indigenous-led stewardship in the region.


More photos


For more information about the hatchery and its opening, you can read Kwikwetlem First Nation’s 2022 announcement here:
👉 Sockeye Hatchery Announcement (Kwikwetlem First Nation)

Wrapping up the tour at the Coquitlam mountain reservoir. (Coquitlam Lake) Watershed

Announcing Our New Volunteer of the Month Program

Celebrating the people who keep our watershed thriving

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society. From monitoring returning salmon to caring for our hatchery, maintaining trails, leading tours, and supporting community events — our work simply wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of people who give their time, energy, and passion to local stewardship.

To honour these contributions, we’re excited to launch a new Volunteer of the Month initiative. Each month, we’ll shine a spotlight on one outstanding member of our volunteer community, sharing their story and recognizing the meaningful impact they have on our watershed.

It’s our way of saying thank you — and of showing how individual actions can strengthen an entire ecosystem.

Matt came back from college in November for short visit to help with broodstock collection!

And now, we’re thrilled to introduce our very first recipient.

🌟 Volunteer of the Month: Matthew Watts

Matthew began volunteering with us in 2021 as a Grade 12 student eager to gain hands-on experience in fisheries. From the beginning, his curiosity and enthusiasm stood out. He quickly immersed himself in hatchery operations, learning about the salmon life cycle, improving his technical skills, and becoming a reliable member of our team.

When Matthew turned 18, he took his commitment even further by joining our Board of Directors, where he continues to contribute his insight, leadership, and enthusiasm for educating the next generation of salmon stewards.

His passion for stewardship didn’t stop at the creek. Inspired by his time at Hoy, Matthew pursued post-secondary studies in the Fish and Wildlife Program at Selkirk College, further expanding his knowledge and field experience. That dedication helped him secure a summer position with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the North Fraser Region — a milestone he still speaks about with pride.

Matthew’s journey shows how volunteering can open doors, build skills, and inspire lifelong stewardship. We are incredibly grateful for everything he brings to our watershed community.

Follow Along & Stay Connected

We’ll be highlighting a new volunteer each month — and you won’t want to miss these inspiring stories.

Follow us on social media and stay connected with everything happening at Hoy Creek.

Thank you, Matthew, and thank you to all our volunteers who protect and care for the Hoy/Scott watershed. Together, we make a difference.

Matt home during the summer of 2025 and involved with invasive species removal on Hoy Trail.

Coho and Chum Broodstock Collection Complete

A beautiful Coho salmon specimen!

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is pleased to announce that our 2025 Chum and Coho broodstock collection at Hoy Creek Hatchery is now complete! This annual effort is a key part of sustaining healthy salmon populations in our local watershed, and we couldn’t have done it without the dedication and teamwork of our volunteers.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to learn, help, and support the process—whether in the creek, in the hatchery, or behind the scenes. We also extend our appreciation to our DFO Community Advisor, Eric, for his continued guidance and expertise.

A Chum salmon held up by HSWS director, Matt Watts after other volunteers assisted in broodstock capture using a net in Hoy Creek.

2025 Broodstock Summary

Chum

  • 17 pairs spawned

  • Estimated green egg total: 42,578

  • All trays have now been shocked, marking an important milestone in the early development phase.

Coho

  • 8 pairs spawned

  • Estimated green egg total: 18,381

These numbers reflect a successful season and the hard work of everyone involved in broodstock collection and spawning.

Hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard with Coho eggs in a heath tray, ready for incubation.

Hatchery Leadership & Daily Operations

Hoy Creek Hatchery continues to operate under the leadership of hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard, and assistant hatchery manager, Anne Woosnam, who guide our volunteers through each step of this important work.

A big thank you goes out to our daily feeders, who—on top of their regular feeding duties—are now:

  • Minding filters

  • Monitoring water temperature

  • Recording Accumulated Thermal Units (ATUs)

These tasks are essential for tracking egg development and ensuring optimal conditions in the hatchery.

Salmon season may be winding down in the creek, but inside Hoy Creek Hatchery, salmon are hard at work—and so are we.

Thank you to everyone helping us protect and restore our local watershed. Stay tuned for updates as our eggs develop and hatch in the months ahead!

Chum salmon hanging in Hoy Creek Hatchery ready for egg and milt take.

Tyler and Amy performing an egg take at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

Buckets of salmon eggs ready for incubation!

Niall Williams Thanked for Years of Stewardship at Hoy Creek

Dennis Marsden, City Councillor; Rodney Lee, former HSWS hatchery manager; Niall Williams, tributee and former HSWS member and hatchery manager; and Kyle Uno, HSWS President.

At this year’s Salmon Come Home event on October 26, the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society had the pleasure of recognizing one of our earliest and most dedicated members, Niall Williams.

Former hatchery manager Rodney Lee joined us to present Niall Williams with a Certificate of Appreciation for his many years of commitment and leadership at the Hoy Creek Hatchery. Joining in the presentation were Kyle Uno, President of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society, City of Coquitlam Councillor Dennis Marsden, and several of our newest volunteers, who listened with great respect as Rodney shared stories of Niall’s lasting influence.

Rodney reflected on Niall’s deep roots within the Society and the stewardship community:

“I started with the Society back in 2008. To me, Niall was synonymous with all things hatchery. He was the hatchery manager and dealt with all aspects of running the hatchery and coordinating with Maurice and Scott from DFO. He had wonderful knowledge of the history of the area as well as the value of the various locations in the Tri-Cities. For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out if he was a naturalist who raised salmon, or a salmon hatchery guy who was a naturalist. I’ve come to understand his love for nature as well as the love for the community that he lives within.”

“To those who don’t know him well, Niall might appear very quiet and reserved. For those of us who had his friendship, we got to know a very thoughtful, intelligent, generous, and kind man. I’m thankful for the gifts of knowledge he shared — from conducting invertebrate salvage prior to pond cleanouts, to managing the fish fence, weirs, and water levels. There was nothing better than working side by side, getting our hands dirty, and working with fish!”

Niall Williams in Hoy Creek during Salmon Come Home back in the early days. (HSWS Fonds)

Rodney also emphasized the foundational role that both Niall and Linda Gorsline played in keeping the Society active during its earlier years.

“During my early years with the Society, it was Linda who managed the affairs of the organization, and Niall who had the technical knowledge to make the hatchery run. To me, through that time period, if not for Niall and Linda, there would not have been a Society and hatchery for us to enjoy today.”

Members of the local stewardship community — including Dave Bennie (Noons Creek Hatchery), Ruth Foster (Mossom Creek Hatchery), and Elaine Golds (Burke Mountain Naturalists) — have also expressed their shared recognition of Niall’s tremendous contributions to watershed and habitat stewardship across the Tri-Cities.

We are deeply grateful for Niall’s many years of dedication, mentorship, and passion for salmon and nature. Thank you, Niall, for everything you’ve done to support the health of Hoy Creek and inspire future stewards!

At Salmon Come Home 2025 | Rodney Lee (HSWS), Niall Williams (HSWS Honouree), and Dave Bennie (Noon’s Creek Hatchery)

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Canadian Registered Charity: 863285847RR0001