Submitted by Jenny Ly
Since the BCWF Fall Harvest Celebration, hosted to applaud those that have worked endlessly to save the heart of the Fraser River and continue to raise awareness of the issues at hand, I have spent a lot of time pondering on the discussions given.
I’m shocked at the events actively happening around the area. I am also failing to understand why anyone presented with the facts would want to do harm to an ecosystem. Especially since it has such a direct impact on all the things we love about our beautiful British Columbia, such as our cherished salmon and sturgeon.
In case you missed the Fall Harvest Celebration…
I’m so grateful to have been invited to such a lovely evening filled with food, friendly faces, and festivities. Walking into the event, hosted appropriately at the Fraser River Discovery Centre, I was surprised at the lofty fun space, a hidden gem in New Westminster and the grand set up of the Fall Harvest.
On one side of the space, there were tables lined with generously donated silent auction items from local wines, outdoor adventures and art. The other side was where I spent the majority of time connecting with the guest – can you guess what that area contained? If your mind wandered off to the food and wine, you’re correct! Oh, it was a gorgeous spread of a continuous supply of cheese, meat, and seafood bites. The highlight was the warm bites which included things like wild game meatballs created by Chef Tammy Wood and Tiffany Bader. Heck, there was even deep fried cheese! Both ladies had dreamed up a menu that pleased all palates and delighted the guests.
Things you should know about the “heart of the Fraser River”
The guest speakers of the evening included Harvey Andrusak, Mark Angelo, Ken Ashley, Marvin Rosenau, and Jesse Zeman. Below are some important highlights of the discussions these men hosted:
- The heart of the Fraser consists of islands that make up a (very rare) large area of gravel beds from Hope to Chilliwack and is considered a global treasure.
- There are only five islands left, and most of them are logged. The motivation to develop the area is for cheap land and profit.
- Currently, developers have applied to build a bridge connecting from the mainland to one of these islands, if built it will lead to the destruction of critical fish habitat.
- When these islands flood, the gravel areas are perfect spawning conditions for salmon and the ancient sturgeon.
- The area is home to about 40 species of fish in many stages of their life.
- Destroying this area will have a direct impact on the salmon run and salmon are a prime food source for our already declining population of killer whales.
Action items you can take to help defend this crucial habitat
- Follow BCWF for more information and updates on efforts made: http://bcwf.bc.ca/
- Sign the Heart of the Fraser river petition: https://www.heartofthefraser.ca/
I strongly feel that everyone should be aware of what is happening at the heart of our Fraser River. Please share this article with those that you feel would appreciate a high-level overview of the matters at hand.