Volunteer of the Month: Jiaming Sun

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 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!

Volunteer of the Month: Al D.

View fullsize

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.

Society Members Tour Kwikwetlem Sockeye Hatchery

View fullsize

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.

View fullsize

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.

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)

View fullsize

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

Restoring Hoy Creek’s Riparian Zone: A Community Effort

We’re excited to share that restoration of the riparian area around Hoy Creek—disturbed last summer during the removal of old concrete structures—is now complete!

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our amazing volunteers, the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) team, and supportive friends and family, the area has now been replanted and is ready to thrive.

It wasn’t easy work—digging, hauling, planting—but the spirit of teamwork made the effort lighter and the days brighter. As always, we are grateful for our incredible community and those who stepped up to help.

💚 Special thanks to Tyler, Thomas, Anne, Amy, Jiameng, Eric, Glenda, Dillon, Kathy, Madeleine, and Sam for giving your time and energy to make this restoration possible.

We also extend a BIG thanks to the Pacific Salmon Foundation for their ongoing support of salmon and habitat recovery in our region!

🌱 If you’re walking the Hoy Creek Trail, you may notice green fencing in the restoration area. Please respect the barrier and help us protect this young growth by reminding others to do the same. With a little time and care, this area will return to a lush, vibrant habitat that supports both wildlife and the health of our watershed.

Local Schools Release Salmon Fry and Visit Hoy Creek Hatchery

View fullsize

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!

View fullsize

Minds light up when they connect with nature!

View fullsize

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