The first Great Salmon Send-Off fish release was celebrated beside the Brunette in 1990 and moved to Stoney Creek Community School the following year.

In May 2011, we released 25,000 Coho fry from Kanaka Creek Hatchery. Our Community Co-Ordinator, Maurice Coulter-Boisvert, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada supplied the young fish. The fry will live in Stoney Creek for a year before heading down through the Brunette and Fraser Rivers to the ocean. We hope to see them return in the fall of 2014.

Children released the fish while their families took in the activities and educational displays on the wet school grounds. It was fun if you were dressed for it.

Our theme for 2011 was "Healthy Forests, Healthy Fish" to coordinate with the United Nations' Year of Forests.

Burnaby City Councillor Dan Johnston and MLA Harry Bloy unveiled the new sign for the renamed Jennifer Atchison Environmental Centre and MLA Richard Lee presented a plaque of congratulations from the Province.

We gratefully acknowledge the following agencies for their financial support of the 2011 Great Salmon Send-Off:

• Aardvark Armadillo Tents - $500 (promised)
• BC Hydro - $1000
• Cameron Seniors Society - $100
• Chevron Canada- $1000
• FastSigns Coquitlam - $250 (promised)
• Kinder Morgan Canada - $1000
• Kingfishers Rod and Gun Club - $500
• Price Smart Foods supplied the food
• SFU Community Trust (UniverCity) - $500
• Stoney Creek Community School Council - $50
• Sure North Road Copy - $100

We also thank the follwing other groups for their efforts (past and present) toward protecting Stoney Creek - home of the Great Salmon Send-Off:

• BCIT
• BurnabyNow Newspaper
• Burnaby North Secondary School student volunteers
• Burnaby School Board
• Canada Trust
• Creekside Youth
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• City of Burnaby Parks, Recreation & Culture Department
• Eagle Creek Streamkeepers
• Metro Vancouver
• Investors Group
• Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
• Red Robin
• Sapperton Fish and Game Club
• Save On Foods
• Shell Canada
• Stoney Creek Community School Staff and Students
• Stimulite Toastmasters

Next year’s GSSO will be on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. on the North end of the Stoney Creek Community School grounds, 2740 Beaverbrook Crescent in Northeast Burnaby.