Thank You to RBC for Supporting Salmon and Stewardship

RBC Coquitlam team present a cheque to HSWS secretary, Robbin Whachell for $2500.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to RBC for their generous donation and for taking the time to visit the Hoy Creek Hatchery to learn more about our work.

Their visit provided an opportunity to share the vital role salmon play in British Columbia’s ecosystem—from supporting biodiversity to enriching the health of our forests and streams. The tour, led by Robbin Whachell and Anne Woosnam, highlighted the importance of community-based stewardship and the impact of local conservation efforts.

We are especially grateful for RBC’s hands-on commitment to the environment through their trail clean-up efforts in Hoy Creek Linear Park, in partnership with the City of Coquitlam Park Spark team. Initiatives like these play a meaningful role in protecting and maintaining the health of our local watershed.

Support like this—both through financial contributions and volunteer action—directly strengthens our ability to carry out essential programs, including habitat restoration, hatchery operations, and environmental education. These efforts not only support salmon populations but also help connect our community to the natural environment around them.

We are truly grateful for RBC’s generosity and their shared commitment to environmental stewardship. Together, we are making a difference right here in our community.

Society Participates in Gleneagle Secondary Volunteer Fair

Big thanks to Maya Uno who represented us that day!

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was excited to be part of the Volunteer Fair at Gleneagle Secondary School on April 2, connecting with students eager to make a difference in their community.

Throughout the day, students stopped by our table to learn about the unique—and yes, a little “fishy”—volunteer opportunities available at the Hoy Creek Hatchery. From caring for salmon to helping protect and restore our local watershed, there are many meaningful ways for students to get involved.

Volunteering with HSWS offers more than just hands-on environmental experience. We’re proud to support students by providing opportunities to earn school volunteer hours, gain valuable skills, and receive reference letters for future academic and career pursuits. It’s all part of our commitment to helping youth connect with nature while building confidence and experience.

We would like to extend a big thank you to Gleneagle Secondary for the invitation and warm welcome. Events like this are an important way to engage the next generation of environmental stewards.

A special shoutout also goes to longtime HSWS volunteer Maya Uno for representing us at the booth and sharing her knowledge and passion with fellow students.

We look forward to welcoming new student volunteers and continuing to grow our community of stewards dedicated to protecting Hoy Creek and beyond.

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Gleneagle Secondary signage. The school is closest to Scott Creek.

11,953 Coho Clipped at Hoy Creek Hatchery

HSWS Photo

On June 19, a dedicated team of volunteers and partners came together at Hoy Creek Hatchery to carry out an important milestone in our salmon enhancement efforts — fin clipping. Beginning at 4:00 p.m., our crew worked carefully and efficiently to clip the adipose fins of 11,953 young coho salmon, now approximately three months old.

The adipose fin, a soft, fleshy fin located behind the dorsal fin and ahead of the tail (caudal fin), is clipped for several key reasons:

• Stock assessment: Once these salmon return to spawn, the missing fin identifies them as hatchery-raised, aiding researchers and streamkeepers in tracking returns.

• Selective fisheries: In some regions, marked fish may be legally retained, supporting more sustainable fishing practices.

• Population tracking: Clipping allows for a manual fish count, providing a more accurate tally than previous weight-based estimates.

This year’s activity was led by DFO community advisor Eric Kukulowicz, with hatchery manager Tyler Storgaard overseeing on site. Additional DFO support came from Grace (biologist) and Cathy (former CA).

We’re incredibly grateful to our Hoy/Scott Watershed Society volunteers who contributed: Anne, Jiameng, Amy, Thomas, Suzz, Carter, Jenn, Tyler, Rodney, Jeremy, Dylan, Katelyn, Adela, and Breanna. A special thanks to Anne, who took time to explain the process to curious passersby in the park, helping educate our community about the importance of this annual task.

The process involves gently anesthetizing the fish in small batches. Once sleepy, they’re transferred to a water-filled trough where volunteers use sterilized surgical scissors to clip the fin quickly — usually within a minute before the fish begin to wake. From there, the salmon are returned to recover in a flow-through trough and then back into the hatchery.

Soon, these coho will be moved from the Capilano trough room to the hatchery’s rearing pond, where they’ll continue to grow until they are released in spring of 2026. If all goes well, we could see this brood return to Hoy Creek in 2.5 to 3 years’ time.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year's fin clipping a success. Your efforts support long-term salmon conservation and community-based stewardship.