Earl Elliott recipient of inaugural Hatchery Manager's Award

Left to right: Hoy Creek hatchery manager, Rodney Lee; recipient Earl Elliott and his wife Lilian Elliott, Hoy/Scott Watershed Society director.

On Oct. 20 during the Salmon Come Home event, Hoy Creek Hatchery manager, Rodney Lee awarded the inaugural Hatchery Manager’s Award created to recognize the unparalleled contribution of an individual to the Hoy Creek hatchery.

The distinct honour went to Earl Elliott who has been a Society volunteer since 2006 as well as a past Society Vice President.

Earl working at the Hoy Creek Hatchery in earlier days.

In presenting the award, Rodney Lee said, “Earl has been a valued contributor to the operation of the hatchery. Most importantly, whenever I have needed help with the hatchery, Earl has been there to offer his assistance.”

This has included:

• Routine feeding and maintenance duties

• Bucketing coho smolts in prep for public release at our Salmon Leave Home festival

• Support during our fin clipping sessions

• Sandbagging work to reinforce our lower pond

• Support during annual pond cleanouts

Hatchery Manager Award recipient Earl Elliott (holding his certificate) surrounded by some of the HSWS volunteers at Salmon Come Home.

In addition, Earl has helped with staffing and mentorship for other Society activities such as:

• Manning our display table at public events

• Manning the wheelbarrow during our first series of stream clean-ups and

• Helping with the various weed pulls where we’ve worked with student groups.

“As you can see, it’s not typically the most glamourous work, however, it’s all work that needs to be done to the benefit of the hatchery and our watershed.

Lastly, but most important to me, his involvement kept me going during a critical juncture in the survival of the Society. This has enabled our Society to continue to raise salmon, engage the public and advocate for the Hoy/Scott Watershed.”

Left to right: Rodney Lee, Hoy Creek hatchery manager and HSWS Vice President; Chief Ed Hall, Kwikwetlem First Nation; Lilian Elliott, Director, HSWS; and recipient of the Hatchery Manager’s Award, Earl Elliott. Photo taken during Salmon Come Home on Oct. 20.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society acknowledged at City environmental awards

Members of Hoy-Scott Watershed Society with their certificate of appreciation pose with Hucklebeary at Coquitlam city hall. 

The City of Coquitlam held its fourteenth Environmental Achievement Award celebration on Sunday, June 24 recognizing community volunteers who excel in the areas of conservation, public awareness, environmental education, habitat enhancement and sustainable living.  In addition, the award recipients show initiative and leadership while volunteering for projects that have long-term environmental benefits for the community.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) received a certificate of appreciation for the volunteer work that we do. 

Representing the Society at the event held at City Hall, was the president, Robbin Whachell; director Lani Lehun; past director, Nathen Blower; longtime members Earl and Lilian Elliott; and newcomers, Steven Wang, and Leo Li. 

"It's wonderful to connect with like-minded groups at this annual event and learn about the wonderful things others are doing," said Robbin Whachell. "It's definitely motivation for our team, and, while not everyone was able to attend, they are appreciated. It means a lot to be recognized for the effort we put in." 

Below is a video produced by the City of Coquitlam showcasing local environmental groups. 

For a full list of recipients, check out the City's press release HERE.

25th Salmon Come Home Draws Record Attendance in Coquitlam

25 years!  A group photo and cake to commemorate 25 years of "Salmon Come Home."  Seen left to right: Maya Uno (front), Tyler Thibault, Rodney Lee, Robbin Whachell (front), AJ Currie (back), Dave Bennie, Earl Elliott, Tony Matahlija, Scott Ducharme, Caresse Selk, Kyle Uno (back), Sandra Uno, Lilian Elliott (back), Dr. Elaine Golds, and Chris Hamming. 

The 25th instalment of Salmon Come Home on August 22 at the Hoy Creek Hatchery had close to 4000  people turn out to celebrate the return of the salmon.

After a very dry summer and fall, rains did come through in time for salmon viewing although not in the same numbers as years prior. 

THROWBACK: A 2004 Tri-City News ad for Salmon Come Home

One patron said, "What an awesome event it was! Thank you for all that you planned and thanks to the gorgeous salmon who gave us all quite the show!"

A great time was had by all as people enjoyed seeing live salmon demonstrations, a salmon dissection, live entertainment by the Wild Salmon Creative Café featuring Raymond Matthew, Lana Crockett, Etienne Siew, Amy Lubik, and First Nation spoken word artist, Ostwelve (a Kwikwetlem descendant). 

The ever popular Angela Brown: The Ta Daa Lady & The Nylon Zoo entertained children of all ages with stories and a costume parade of woodland creatures. 

A live chum salmon. (Photo: Tina-Louise Harris) 

A celebratory cake was served, with an official photo to commemorate the 25th year of the event which is a collaboration between Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) and the City of Coquitlam. Founding HSWS member, Chris Hamming was there to help cut the cake along with Dr. Elaine Golds of the Burke Mountain Naturalists, and Tony Matahlija from the North Fraser Salmon Assistance Project who was one of those who helped build the hatchery. 

When the festival started in 1992, today’s Hoy-Scott Watershed Society was known as the Hoy-Scott Watershed Streamkeepers and the hatchery did not yet exist. The event was in its fifth year when the hatchery was built in 1997 on the grounds of a former trout-rearing facility on the old Frederick Brewer property. The site was restored in 1995 with help from the City, federal government and volunteers, and the pond that used to rear trout now helps raise salmon.

Cutting the cake for 25 years of Salmon Come Home - left to right: Dr. Elaine Golds of Burke Mountain Naturalists who have been coming to Salmon Come Home probably since day 1, Tony Matahlija from North Fraser Salmon Assistance Project, who helped build the hatchery, and HSWS founding member and salmon educator, Chris Hamming.

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Streamkeepers formed a society in 1992, with an expanded mandate to promote watershed restoration and public awareness of the need to preserve the creek and surrounding habitat. Having met the original goal of rebuilding the coho population, the society extended its focus in 2015 to include chum salmon. 

A big thank you to this year's sponsors, Vancity and 98 7 The Point radio. 

Visitors and residents of Coquitlam view salmon in Hoy Creek during Salmon Come Home - salmon viewing is at its peak into December.  (Photo: Tina-Louise Harris) 

Close to 4000 came out from far and wide for Salmon Come Home 2017! (HSWS photo)

See more photos below or view the City of Coquitlam Facebook album HERE
View more candid photos in the HSWS Facebook album HERE.

Photos seen below were taken by Tina-Louise Harris. 

Laptop computer donated to Hoy-Scott Watershed Society

Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS

A big thank you to Hoy-Scott Watershed member, Lilian Elliott who donated her laptop computer to the Society. It will be used for public presentations.

Lilian and her husband Earl have been active members of the society since 2006.

Accepting the donation on behalf of the society is Kyle Uno, Treasurer.   The presentation was made at our monthly meeting at Coquitlam Library on March 15th, 2017.

Thank you Lilian!

Hoy-Scott Watershed Exhibits at Hyde Creek Salmon Festival 2016

Lilian and Earl of HSWS manning our station at the Salmon Festival. Kyle and Robbin also assisted.

Members of the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society volunteered their time to share information about our group at the Hyde Creek Salmon Festival on November 13th in Port Coquitlam.

It was wonderful to see so many chum salmon in Hyde Creek.

It was a great event for engaging prospective volunteers and creating more public awareness about all we do!

Presenting at the Hyde Creek Salmon Festival in Port Coquitlam

See more photos here on our Facebook page.

Children enjoyed colouring salmon at our table...

A barred owl and turkey vulture on display at Port Coquitlam's Salmon Festival

Long-serving HSWS member acknowledged at Coquitlam Environmental Achievement Awards

Some of our current members in attendance from left to right: Chris Hamming, Ducle Paulino, Lilian Elliott, Robbin Whachell, Kyle Uno and Nathen Blower. (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)

On June 11th the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society attended the annual awards night put on by the City of Coquitlam at Dogwood Pavillion to honour and thank local groups and recognize individuals, organizations and educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to promoting, conserving and enhancing Coquitlam’s natural environment.

It was an extra special evening for us as our one or of society's longest-serving members, EARL ELLIOTT (Seen below, right), was honoured in the individual category. Earl happened to be out of town on a kayaking trip, but his wife Lilian accepted on his behalf.

Earl Elliott joined the Hoy Scott Watershed Society in November 2006, starting as one of our daily feeders, which he still continues to this day.  Earl is a conscientious and committed volunteer and is always there to lend a hand where needed. He participates and helps out at our annual Salmon Come Home and Salmon Leave Home Festivals, our annual stream clean ups, as well as assists with our invasive plant removals and hatchery maintenance, now contributing close to 1000 man hours.

Lilian Elliott accepted her husband Earl's award certificate on his behalf.

In 2012, the Society was at a crossroads, with a decline in volunteers and/or those retiring from active service.  Earl stepped up and assumed the Vice President role, as well as assisted hatchery manager, Rodney Lee, in a new weekly public engagement activity that boosted membership and commitment levels.  Without Earl’s commitment and active role in operations, the Hoy-Scott Creek Watershed Society might not exist today. He even recruited his wife, Lilian to join the Society, and they are a solid fixture at meetings and events. Thank you Earl!

As always the city put on a lovely evening full of great food, fun environment-themed trivia, and there were lots of special guests and raffle prizes.

A big THANK YOU to Ed Paulino for taking these photos to capture our night.
See MORE PHOTOS on our Facebook album.

The two Hoy-Scott Watershed Society tables 9 and 10. (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)