Salmon Celebrated and Eggs Incubating at Hoy Creek Hatchery

The annual Salmon Come Home celebration brought the community together on October 26 at Hoy Creek Hatchery to witness the wonder of the salmon returning home. Despite the forecast, the rain held off, and the trails were alive with visitors, families, and friends who came to learn, connect, and celebrate the salmon’s incredible life cycle.

This year’s event was a partnership between the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society, the City of Coquitlam, and numerous community environmental organizations and sponsors who share a passion for local conservation. From salmon education to hands-on activities, the day was filled with opportunities to learn about watershed health and the vital role salmon play in our ecosystem.

A huge thank you goes out to our dedicated volunteers, who made the day possible. They spoke with visitors about the hatchery’s work, shared insights on the Coho salmon fry currently rearing on-site, and assisted Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) with egg and incubation demonstrations during the salmon talks. Approximately 11,000 eggs incubated, and it was wonderful to share this process with the community.

Hoy Creek Hatchery manager and HSWS Vice President, Tyler Storgaard (left) and DFO Community Advisor, Eric Kukulowicz during Salmon Talks where the community witnessed egg take, fertilization and preparation for incubation.

The hatchery is now busy with egg incubation, marking the start of a new generation of salmon that will one day return to Hoy Creek to continue the cycle. The next two months will be key for Chum and Salmon egg incubation.

The festival also served as a special occasion to honour a past member of the Society, Niall Williams, a former hatchery manager and long-time advocate for the watershed. Rodney Lee made the presentation, sharing stories of Niall’s tireless work and dedication in the Society’s early days. His leadership helped shape the foundation of what Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is today — a thriving community of volunteers committed to education, stewardship, and salmon conservation.

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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.

As another spawning season unfolds, the Society extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate and support this meaningful event. Your enthusiasm and participation keep the spirit of stewardship alive at Hoy Creek.

👉 View our Facebook photo gallery and relive the highlights from Salmon Come Home!

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Thank you Volunteers! Just some of the volunteers who helped prepare the hatchery for broodstock and incubation as well as prep for Salmon Come Home!

10,000 Coho Marked at Hoy Creek Hatchery

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HSWS student volunteer, Ririka works alongside DFO members on her first fin-clip.

On June 10 our annual adipose fin clipping session took place at Hoy Creek Hatchery. Over 10,000 Coho fry, approximately 6 months old had their adipose fin removed to identify them as 'hatchery fish.'

Led by hatchery manager Tyler Storgaard, the procedure is overseen by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada who had three members on-site assisting. The adipose fin, located at the top back of the salmon is removed after the fish have been sedated. It's a fast process and many careful hands make light work.

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The clipping station set up outside the Hoy Creek Hatchery on June 10, 2021.

The markings also help the society identify the hatchery fish during returns in the fall.

Thanks to Hoy-Scott Watershed volunteers who put in the time to assist with this exercise.

The fish will be moved to the outdoor rearing pond in the coming days and will remain there until May of 2022.

• View more photos in our Facebook album.

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Sedation area

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society Loses Founding Member

Chris Hamming in 2018 during Salmon Come Home.

Our society is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our founding members, Chris Hamming who passed away this month. Chris was a beloved retired school teacher and salmon educator; and a hard-working volunteer of not only the Hoy Creek Hatchery but Tynehead Hatchery as well. Chris also volunteered for many years at Science World.

In 2018 the Society honoured Chris for his many years of service. The photo above was taken during Salmon Come Home in 2018.

“Chris was such an extraordinary person,” said Keith Kozak, founding member of the Society. “His energies, inspiration, and dedication to his passions, and teaching was something to be admired. Chris was an invaluable resource for the formation of HSWS. When I was president, and our group decided to officially form a society, the time and numerous meetings with Chris for his feedback were extremely vital to our agenda.”

“I am sure that all Hoy members who knew Chris will miss his warm smile and positive attitude,” said founding member Linda Gorsline who now lives in Ontario. “He was a natural teacher, a lover of nature and was always interested in the opinions and ideas of others. He was always willing to help in Hoy projects. I am sad to know he has left us, but will always have happy memories of him and I am very pleased that I was lucky to know him.”

"Chris was one of the original members that encouraged me to get involved," said Tim Tyler, a former HSWS president. "He led with that smile and by doing, and was a pleasure to deal with: funny, enthusiastic, practical, optimistic and always willing to ‘lift his end of the log’ so to speak. A runner and rower, it was not widely known that as an educator he was also involved in the Science Fair on a regular basis. He was one of the good ones and his passing is a loss to us all. My condolences to his family."

His memorial service was held at Tapestry Mundy Park Church in Coquitlam on June 5. Hoy-Scott Watershed Society president Robbin Whachell spoke on behalf of the society. Read her remarks here.

Chris Hamming was knows as the “Salmon Educator” (seen here in 2015 at Salmon Come Home)

Chris being interviewed on radio in 2015.

Hatchery tour provided to Communities in Bloom judges

Left to right: Maya Uno of Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, Jim Baird and Evelyn Alemanni of Communities in Bloom. 

Hoy Creek Hatchery was once again a point of interest for visiting judges of the Communities in Bloom competition.  

"Communities in Bloom - Collectivités en fleurs is about greening through environmental, natural heritage conservation and horticultural actions that involve citizens, businesses, institutions, and municipalities.  The program is focused on environmental stewardship through enhancement of green spaces."

On July 19 Jim Baird (USA) and Evelyn Alemanni (USA) spent a busy day visiting City parks and locations and the salmon hatchery is one of the key places in the city that exemplify their ethos.

Leading the tour for the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society was Maya Uno, a City of Coquitlam environmental award recipient.

HSWS member and environtmental award recipient, Maya Uno at Hoy Creek Hatchery. 

Back pond reinforced at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Over a few weeks in May 2018, the back rearing pond  (west of the screened rearing pond) was partially drained and inspected. This has not been done in many years. 

A new liner was added to the pond, and the banks were reinforced with new sandbags. Work sessions took place on Saturday mornings and during the week.

It was discovered that a small channel had formed around the pond's outflow area and salmon were getting confused by it since it didn't lead to the creek. It's all good now - we fixed it! 

What the pond area looks like with most of the water drained. 

Leo and Steven working hard to fill sand bags to secure the pond area. 

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) is a volunteer-run non-profit society that operates a small salmon hatchery beside Hoy Creek and conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and with technical expertise from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The group stewards the Hoy and Scott Watersheds, promoting public awareness and education, and is involved in watershed habitat restoration and preservation. 

Salmon Leave Home on Sunday, May 6

A young boy releases a fingerling coho salmon into Hoy Creek during Salmon Leave Home. (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Join the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society on Sunday, May 6 for Salmon Leave Home at the Hoy

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society invites the community out for their annual Salmon Leave Home event on Sunday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam.  People of all ages will have the opportunity to help release 18-month-old coho smolts into Hoy Creek. 

“Salmon Leave Home is a special event for families with small children. The kids find so much delight in releasing fish into the creek,” said society president, Robbin Whachell.  “Once the salmon are released, they make their way downstream to Scott Creek, then Coquitlam River, the Fraser River - which empties into the Strait of Georgia on the Pacific Ocean. They return in approximately 2 years to the same location where they were spawned.”  

The family-friendly free outdoor event will run rain or shine and the society will have families engaged in fishy fun. Students from the Pinetree Secondary environmental club will be providing face painting, while the Wild Salmon Creative Cafe will be serving up Spirit Bear coffees and will host an art build activity.

It’s a great opportunity to learn about the local fish hatchery and get information on the year-round salmon enhancement program, which includes work with plants in the riparian area of Hoy and Scott Creeks.  Our 5-month old coho fry will also be on display.

The hatchery is located in the Hoy Creek Linear Park behind Douglas College and north of Guildford, a few minutes walk inland and is only a ten-minute walk from the Lafarge Lake-Douglas Skytrain station.  To find the exact location, simply Google “Hoy Creek Hatchery.”  

Let us know you're coming, or invite your family and friends on our Facebook event page.

Hoy Trail has several entrances:
- Walk in from Princess Crescent;
- Walk in from behind Douglas College;
- Walk in from Guildford Way (between Johnson and Pinetree);
- Walk in from Walton Avenue, or behind Walton Elementary;
- Walk in from the foot of Lasalle Place.

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. We are actively involved in watershed restoration, public awareness, education, and preservation.

To find the exact location simply Google, "Hoy Creek Hatchery."

Our event hashtag is #salmonleavehome, so if you attend, feel free to tweet or share, and check out what others are posting with our event hashtag.

(Photos from last year)

Watch a Blue Heron Eat a Lamprey in Hoy Creek

Check out this blue heron who frequents Hoy Creek for his evening meals.  This video was taken by by the Hoy Creek salmon hatchery by a Hoy-Scott Watershed Society member.

The blue heron catches a lamprey, and through patience, perseverance and careful beak skills he finally consumes his take.

The snake-like lamprey put up a good fight!  

"Lampreys are any jawless fish of the order Petromyzontiformes, placed in the superclass Cyclostomata. The adult lamprey may be characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth. " - Wikipedia

Fourth annual fin clipping exercise at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Volunteers carefully snip the adipose fin off a sedated coho fry

On June 15, 2017 we performed our fourth fin clipping exercise at Hoy Creek Hatchery for our coho salmon fry.

The adipose fin is removed after the fish are sedated. It's a fast process and many careful hands make light work.

The entire procedure is overseen by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. All fry recovered expect one of approximately 5500 fishmarked.  The markings help the society identify hatchery fish during returns in the fall.

Thanks to Hoy-Scott Watershed members who provided the photos seen here.

Many hands make light and fast work! Hoy-Scott Watershed Volunteers during our fourth annual fin-clipping exercise

Sedated coho fry. 

New Art Fixture Installed at Hoy Creek Hatchery

A new dragonfly metal art-piece is proudly displayed above the rearing pond at Hoy Creek Hatchery contributed by local artist, Patricia Gaspar.  All three of the pieces here were created over the years by the same artist.

The local salmon hatchery in Coquitlam, nestled in Hoy Creek Linear Park and operated by the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) has just welcomed a new art piece by local artist, Patricia Gaspar.

The metal dragonfly was installed in time for Salmon Leave Home on May 7th.

The sparkling and bejeweled dragonfly is mounted above the rearing pond which houses coho from May to May of each year before they are released into Hoy Creek at Salmon Leave Home.

"We are so pleased to have yet another charming piece of artwork from Patricia on the hatchery grounds," said HSWS president Robbin Whachell.  "Patricia's artwork can be enjoyed by the entire community, and is in sync with our objective of bringing public awareness and education toward the restoration and preservation of our local habitat."

View other artwork at Hoy Creek Hatchery by Patricia Gaspar HERE.

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society executive would highly recommend Patricia Gaspar for any art projects, in particular those that benefit the community.  Visit the artist's website HERE.

The rearing pond at Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam. Home to our coho salmon from May through May.  When grown to smolts, the salmon are released into the creek at Salmon Leave Home.

The new dragonfly art piece by Patricia Gaspar, mounted above the rearing pond at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

Happy Holidays from Hoy-Scott Watershed Society

Snow at Hoy Creek(Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Happy Holidays!  2016 was a great year for us!  Here's just some of what we accomplished at the Hoy Creek Hatchery:

FISH (Coho) MARKED (clipped): 6,068
FISH (Coho) RELEASED in May:  18,732 (13,336 fry; 5396 smolts)
EGGS HARVESTED* by mid-December: Est # of 65,889 (Coho: 30298, Chum: 35,591) - this is our first year raising both chum and coho since the mid 1990s.

We take this time to welcome our 2016 new HSWS members: AJ, Sarah, Tiffany, Lily, Jamie, Tyson, Carlos, Etienne, Ivo, Isabella, Daniel, Maurice, Tyson, Simone, Shannon, Patrick and Ashley, and thank all of our existing members and supporters such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the City of Coquitlam, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Pacific Streamkeepers Federation, Pacific Salmon Foundation, 98.7 The Point radio, Coquitlam Foundation,  and Vancity.

You can read all our 2016 happenings and news HERE.

We hope to see you at our Salmon Leave Home event on May 7th, 2017!

"Get to know your watershed. Salmon and their habitat can’t protect themselves - we need to care and advocate for both. Visit a stream, talk to your local stewardship group, and view the fish and habitat. Understand the issues. Monitor and report suspicious activity." - HSWS quoted in the Tri-City News

From from all of us at Hoy - Scott Watershed Society we wish you every happiness this Holiday Season and throughout the coming New Year...

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) is a volunteer run non-profit society that operates a small salmon hatchery beside Hoy Creek, and conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and with technical expertise from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The group stewards the Hoy and Scott Watersheds, promoting public awareness and education, and is involved in watershed habitat restoration and preservation.  Learn more at our website: hoyscottcreeks.org