We are very pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Bill Nichols Bursary, Mr. Michael Vigurs and Mr. Zakhar Kazmiruk, both very dedicated volunteers at our Noons Creek hatchery. 

Bill Nichol has collected over 60,000 recyclable cans and bottles around the hatchery over the years, helping to maintain the pristine condition around the hatchery and surrounding park area.  His individual commitment of providing a bursary is a thoughtful and generous act and one that is appreciated by all of our volunteers and members of the public that use the park.

Since his arrival in Canada 22 months ago, Zakhar Kazmiruk has become an accomplished, award winning student and leader.  He works very hard and is liked by both his peers and the managers at our Noons Creek hatchery.  Zakhar will be studying Earth and Ocean Sciences at UBC with the goal of becoming an oceanographer.  He has volunteered at the hatchery since 2010, helping with raising salmon, water quality collection and sampling, training new volunteers, and is an integral team member. 

Michael Vigurs is a mature aged student who has returned to study at BCIT in the Fish Wildlife and Recreation, Renewable Resources Programme, studying environmental conservation and restoration, focussing on fisheries.  He ultimately hopes to work in a hatchery environment, with stream and river restoration and conservation.  Mike is a highly esteemed member of our board and has contributed more than 130 volunteer hours to our hatchery;  he has been a leader in our water quality laboratory, during the Fingerling Festival and the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.  Mike has adopted a stretch along the Coquitlam River, removing litter and over 100 kilogrammes of invasive species and hopes to remove more than 1,000 kilogrammes before the end of summer 2011.

The Bursary Committee wishes to thank all of the volunteers that applied for the bursary.  We are blessed to have such a wonderful, dedicated group of people that commit their free time to helping the environment and their community and we wish them all the very best for the future.

Cheques for $1,500 will be presented to Mike and Zakhar on Saturday, July 9th at 9.30am and we invite members of the public to join us for this presentation, which will take place at the Noons Creek Hatchery, Ioco Road, Port Moody (to the right of the Recreation Centre).  Please contact Sandra Niven on 778-861-1972 for further information.

We have the most delicious drinking water in the WORLD and we only have 4 (yes, four !) places in our great city to get it from according to Metro Vancouver’s Tap Map which you can download onto your phone.  Congratulations to Hogan’s Restaurant and the UPS store for adding their information.  You can also get drinking water at City Hall and the Old Orchard Park picnic grounds.  There must be more places in the city to get free drinking water. 

We can do better than this, Port Moody !  Let’s aim for a WATER BOTTLE FREE PORT MOODY !

If you know of a water bubbler or a restaurant or business that is willing to refill water bottles, please consider putting your information on the Tap Map. 

Congratulations to John Dunn, a long time volunteer at our Noons Creek Hatchery, who received Port Moody’s Environmental Award at their Civic Appreciation dinner on January 15th held at the Port Moody City Hall.  This award recognises initiatives and accomplishments that raise environmental awareness in our community.  John is a tireless worker at the hatchery, which we truly and genuinely appreciate, and we congratulate him on this award.

Now we have “four amigos” who have won this award over the years – Jim, Eric, Dave and now John.  Congratulations, team !

The Chum and Coho salmon from our hatchery have travelled thousands of kilometres in their four-year lifetime and continue their life-cycle by spawning in Noons Creek.

• Stay on the trails and boardwalks and move slowly when you spot salmon in the waters.

• Don’t throw anything in the river.  Carry out what you carry in or place it in the bins provided.

• Avoid wearing bright coloured clothing, especially reds, purple and pinks which salmon can see.

• Please leave your dog on a leash and keep it out of the creek and estuary.