The annual Kokanee Fish Festival celebrated the annual spawning run of the lovely ruby-coloured fish and for the first time in three years there were actually some Kokanee in Bridge Creek.
About 100 kids from Arrow Heights, Begbie View and Columbia Park Elementary School were bused to Bridge Creek for the annual festival, which was organized by the North Columbia Environmental Society’s Jennifer Meens.
“Thank you so much for your time,” she told the men and women who volunteered for the event. “It should be a fantastic day – rain or shine.”
And so it was. Here are a few photos from the day:
Small, ruby-coloured Kokanee swim against the current in Bridge Creek by the culvert under the Powerhouse Road. These are the first Kokanee seen in the creek in three years. David F. Rooney photo.Biologist Karen Bray draws a Kokanee-shaped name badge at the Kokanee Fish Festival at Bridge Creek on Friday, September 26. Karen was one of several people who volunteered their time to help child enjoy the natural wonder and beauty of spawning Kokanee. David F. Rooney photoVeteran outdoorsman Cyril Keates brandishes the ornately carved walking stick he brought to the Kokanee Festival where he helped provide security in case of bears. David F. Rooney photoThe more than 100 kids from Arrow Heights, Columbia Park and Begbie View Elementary Schools were fascinated by Karen Bray’s description of Kokanee biology and her dissection of her sample fish. David F. Rooney photoKids and adults pay close attention to Jenny Greenwood’s discussion of how water is used in the Columbia River drainage. David F. Rooney photoElementary Aboriginal Student Assistant Lisa Moore (right, in blue) shows students how the native people who lived here before European settlement in the 19th century created fishing nets. David F. Rooney photoWildSafeBC and Revelstoke Bear Aware Coordinator Sue Davies makes learning about our relationship with wild animals fun. David F. Rooney photoSimone Palmer helps a couple of youngsters decorate their T-shirts with salmon-shaped stamps at the Kokanee Fish Festival’s art station. David F. Rooney photoDavid Rooney helps a young girl stamp her T-shirt during the fish festival. Tammy Voykin photo
