community engagement

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.

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.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society Announces 2025 Board of Directors

President Kyle Uno (right) delivers a Year in Review at AGM on Sept. 24. The meeting was hybrid for society members.

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society held an annual general meeting on Sept. 24, 2025, at the Coquitlam library and voted in the following president, treasurer and directors:

  • President – Kyle Uno (second term)

  • Treasurer – Sandra Uno (second term)

  • Director - Anne Woosnam (past secretary, assistant hatchery manager)

  • Director - Kim Mayes (reappointment)

  • Director - Matthew Watts (reappointment)

The above mentioned join the existing board members:

  • Vice President – Tyler Storgaard (final year of second term, and hatchery manager)

  • Secretary – Robbin Whachell (final year of first term, past director, past president)

The AGM highlighted a Year in Review for the society which highlighted:

  • 20K chum fry/smolts; 17K coho fry

  • Salmon in the Classroom releases

  • Habitat restoration project on Hoy Creek 

  • Public education and awareness: Festivals and Tours

  • Instream water quality monitoring

  • Invasive species removal: Touch-me-knot, Policeman’s Helmet 

  • Spawner survey data

  • Challenges: Break-ins, poaching 

  • New charity status

A Year in Review at our AGM on Sept. 24 at the Poirier Branch of the Coquitlam Library.

Through stewardship, community outreach, education and advocacy, we are dedicated to protecting the Hoy/Scott Watershed.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, (HSWS) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run environmental stewardship group, that conducts a year-round salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Treasurer, Sandra Uno delivers the Financial Overview. In 2025 the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society became a Canadian Registered Charity: 863285847RR0001




Local Schools Release Salmon Fry and Visit Hoy Creek Hatchery

Panorama Heights Elementary | Salmon in the Classroom release at Hoy Creek, Coquitlam

We were thrilled to welcome students from three local elementary schools to Hoy Creek this March, wrapping up another successful season of Salmon in the Classroom!

A big thank you goes out to Smiling Creek, Blakeburn, and Panorama Heights Elementary Schools for participating in this important salmon education program. Each school received approximately 50 Chum salmon eggs from Hoy Creek in the winter, carefully raising them in classroom aquariums while learning about the salmon life cycle and the importance of healthy waterways.

In early March, the students proudly released their young Chum fry into Hoy Creek, knowing they were giving them a strong start on their journey to the Pacific Ocean.

Teachers net chum fry into cups for students to release into Hoy Creek.

After the release, classes toured our Hoy Creek Hatchery, where they got to see firsthand the work being done to support salmon populations in our watershed. Students were excited to observe the 20,000 Chum fry and 3,500 Coho currently being raised at the hatchery.

Tours were led by our dedicated volunteers Anne Woosnam, Maya Uno, and Robbin Whachell, who shared their knowledge and passion for salmon stewardship with each group. It’s always inspiring to see young minds light up as they connect with nature and understand the vital role they can play in protecting it.

We’re proud to support Salmon in the Classroom and thank our local schools, teachers, and students for being part of the solution for salmon and our environment!

Minds light up when they connect with nature!

Each release ended with a tour at the hatchery. Maya Uno (back middle), HSWS volunteer discusses challenges faced with pollution events in our streams.

Stay Connected!

Canadian Registered Charity: 863285847RR0001