Come late summer, the return of Pacific salmon to spawn in North Shore rivers and streams in great abundance holds hopeful anticipation, and just as optimistically, the return of thousands of people to the 45th Annual Coho Festival at West Vancouver's Ambleside Park, the first 'full-scale' festival since 2019.
Hosted by the Coho Society of the North Shore, this family-friendly free event on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., brings community, local businesses and all levels of government together in one of the largest and oldest environmental conservation festivals with a focus on salmon in North America. The backbone of the festival is its firm commitment to uphold a community-wide effort to protect salmon on the North Shore for future generations.
"Wild salmon continue to struggle to survive in impacted North Shore streams and rivers," says Tony Wachmann, president, Coho Society of the North Shore.
"Attending the Coho Festival is an opportunity for the community at large to learn about what individuals can do to mitigate their impact on local salmon species and salmon habitat while concurrently supporting locally-driven salmon conservation efforts by partaking in the Coho Festival Barbecue and other fundraising activities the festival offers."
As in previous years, the Squamish Nation Canoe Family will perform the traditional “Blessing of the Salmon Ceremony" on the Main Stage around 1 p.m.
"The Coho Festival is very grateful and honoured to have a long-standing salmon conservation partnership with the Squamish Nation," notes Wachmann.
Proceeds, donations, Coho Swim
100% of the proceeds raised at each year's Coho Festival go towards salmon conservation initiatives on the North Shore, as well as funding the Jim McCarthy scholarship program and Coho Discovery Day Workshops, salmon conservation workshops in local elementary school classrooms.
"Ideally we hope to raise about $50,000 for the various environmental groups around the North Shore," says David Jones, Coho Festival chair.
"We accept all forms of donations, including credit cards and cheques, at the Coho Society kiosk situated on the west side of the Main Stage. You can also give cash at various donation jar collection points throughout the festival."
Come cheer on the participants of the "Face the Challenge" Coho Swim at 9 a.m., an open water swim race, with 1.5 kilometre and 3-kilometre loops, starting and finishing close to the iconic welcoming totem pole that marks the entrance to the Capilano watershed on Ambleside Beach.
Education, local conservation, Tent Talks
A must-see is the Stewardship Zone, where you can learn from more than 20 exhibitors who are involved in rejuvenating, maintaining and improving streams, rivers, oceans, parks and forests, today and for generations.
"Festival goers of all ages will learn about the environment and their impact, and how to be better stewards of what we have," explains Jones. "They can visit booths like the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Vancouver Aquarium and the Streamkeepers, among other groups."
Interactive displays and tanks with live salmon provide a fun and immersive experience to learn more about salmon species face-to-fin. Further engagement can be accessed (pre/post festival) among four self-guided Interpretive Walks (online or in person) in West Vancouver, Mackay & Mosquito Creek, Lynn Creek and Seymour River.
Coho Society partners and community members offer engaging Tent Talks throughout the day to help bring awareness to local issues and offer ways to get involved to be responsible stewards of the environment. The enlightening lineup includes:
· Safer, More Plentiful Waters for Whales: How Citizen Science and Innovative Research are Helping to Protect and Restore Whale Populations in the Salish Sea, with Jessica Scott, senior manager, Ocean Wise whales initiative.
· Lynn Creek: a focus on the estuary and highlights of other restoration works upstream of the estuary, with Glen Parker, North Shore Streamkeepers.
· Research on the freshwater impacts of climate change on salmon, particularly Coho salmon, by Samantha Rhodes, UBC grad student, Forest and Conservation Sciences.
· The unique story of the majestic White Sturgeon and conservation efforts for its recovery, with Sarah Schreier, executive director of the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society, a research-based non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to the recovery of the Fraser River White Sturgeon population.
Salmon barbeque, entertainment
While enjoying some barbecued wild salmon (local and/or sustainably harvested), you'll be making less impact as the festival has only organic, compostable and recyclable materials on site, marking a Zero Waste event since 2013.
"With help from WCS Recycling we've sent over 5,000 pounds of organic and compostable material to be composted and 600 pounds of recyclables to be recycled," reveals Wachmann. "That's a 99% diversion rate each year!"
While you sit back in the Coho Garden and soak in the stunning water view, you can pair your salmon with local craft from Coho Beach Bar, as well as offerings from wine and cider providers, too. You'll be entertained by “Bitterly Divine,” Squamish Nation rock 'n' roll/blues, “Interstellar Riders,” rockabilly, “Sounds of New Orleans,” with Gary Comeau and West Vancouver's “Adam Woodall Band," delivering original rock and roll.
Check out how to get involved and volunteer, or for more information, visit cohofestival.com.
