BC Interior StewardshipBrenda Melnychuk (left), a volunteer with the Adams River Salmon Society, accepts the 2015 BC Interior Stewardship Award for Ecosystem Excellence, presented by FBC's Erin Vieira. The award is a shed antler featuring an intricate carving. The 2015 WorkshopThe Fraser Basin Council and Fisheries and Oceans Canada hosted the 2015 (11th annual) BC Interior Stewardship Workshop in Grindrod and Enderby on November 4 and 5. The event brought together 54 people active in stewardship work in the BC Interior, with strong representation from the Shuswap region. The annual workshop offers an opportunity to learn, network and get out in the field, and 2015 was no execption. Participants enjoyed presentations from two first nations and the provincial government, and updates from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and non-governmental organizations. The group also toured Trinity Dairy Farm, the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre and the new Splatsin Community and Recreation Centre. The workshop is an ideal place for participants to learn, expand networks and make personal connections helpful to ecosystem monitoring, conservation and restoration. It brings together a broad range of participants, including watershed stewards, agency and industry representatives, local governments and First Nations. For a look at the workshop summary and presentations, see: Stewardship Workshops 2005-2015. BC Interior Stewardship Award for Ecosystem ExcellenceA highlight of the 2015 workshop was presentation of the Fraser Basin Council’s BC Interior Stewardship Award for Ecosystem Excellence, with the most recent honour going to the Adams River Salmon Society. The Adams River Salmon Society has been described as a leading force in the promotion of salmon habitat protection, river ecosystem restoration and public engagement for nearly 20 years. The Society’s most widely known achievement is the “Salute to the Sockeye,” a fall event held for three weeks every four years at Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, welcoming as many as 150,000 visitors during each time. Other achievements of the Society include a dedicated volunteer community, a positive partnership with the Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band, and education on the virtues of clean land, water and air. See our Stewardship Award page for more about the Award and past recipients. “Connecting with people who share a passion for watershed stewardship is always an energizing experience for me ... [the] Annual BC Interior Stewardship Workshop left my brain spinning with new contacts, resources and ideas. If you’re a community steward or part of a watershed organization active in BC’s interior, this workshop should be high on your agenda! Contact usFor more information, contact . |