Projects
Campbell River Salmon Foundation
More than $90,000 raised for salmon enhancement project
By Paul Rudan - Campbell River Mirror - April 02, 2008
The Campbell River Salmon Foundation landed a “whopper” at the annual dinner, auction and dance on March 22.
But it wasn’t a fish.
They did raise a whopping total of more than $90,000 which will be used to fund local salmon enhancement projects.
“That’s a fairly large chunk of money that will be staying here to help streamkeepers,” said foundation chairman Mike Gage.
More than 400 people attended the annual event at the downtown Community Hall. A bout of laryngitis couldn’t even keep Bill Matthews quiet as he teamed up with Charlie Cornfield as tag-team auctioneers.
The two former city councillors helped raise more than $40,000 at the live auction which featured a West Coast Resorts fishing trip which went for $5,200. The foundation also received donations from the salmon farming company Marine Harvest for $10,000 and BC Hydro for $5,000.
And in keeping with the giving spirit, the foundation presented Linda Sams of the Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences with a cheque for $5,000. The money will be used for a local study on plankton which is an important food source for young coho salmon.
According to Gage, the year-old foundation now has approximately $100,000 in financial assets. Most of the foundation supporters used to be members of the Pacific Salmon Foundation. The Campbell River group was created in order to use locally-raised proceeds to benefit enhancement projects stretching from the Oyster River to the Salmon River, as well parts of the mainland coast. But the split between the two organizations was amicable, said Gage. Representatives of the Pacific Salmon Foundation were at the annual auction and Gage said they will likely team-up on future projects.
“We’re still friends,” he said.
This year the Campbell River Salmon Foundation is supporting
a $275,000 enhancement project, by BC Hydro, on the Salmon River. The local
group will also be creating a reservoir near the Campbell River. The reservoir
will be designed to provide a steady flow of water to the Elk Falls #3 spawning
channel which has been unsuccessful because it dries up.
“It’s been a failure. It has very little grade and flow, and the beavers have had their way with it for years,” said Gage.
The local foundation is run entirely by volunteers and has very few administration costs because Seymour Pacific Developments provides free office space. Seymour Pacific owner Kris Mailman also happens to be vice-chairman of the foundation. Other members include treasurer Ted Martin, secretary Monique Hebert and directors Joe Painter, Mark Gage, Don Bendickson, Kent Moeller, Martin Buchanan, Dale Blackburn, Brian Assu, Bill Fitzgerald, Mike Moscovitch, and George Stuart. Eliza Thomson Sales & Marketing Coordinator