A DAY IN THE FIELD TO HELP BRING BACK THE SALMON

In mid-May 2024, I left my beloved Serena Gundy Park for a little adventure—something I’d been curious about for a while but only started pursuing last winter. After a few emails, I had the chance to volunteer with MNRF and OFHA at the Bring Back The Salmon Atlantic Salmon stocking event in Pickering, Ontario!

Being part of the effort to replenish our waterways with these magnificent creatures was deeply fulfilling. Seeing the dedication of the team and the positive environmental impact was truly inspiring. It reminded me of the power of collective conservation efforts. Let’s keep protecting our natural world for generations to come!

And, by the way, I’m pretty sure my next watercolour will feature layers of Atlantic Salmon brilliance.  (See bottom of page for pics of this piece)

It was great meeting so many passionate people, from natural resource professionals to those like me, just eager to get up close to some baby fish and help out.

Swim free, little salmon!

What an unforgettable experience to be part of the Atlantic Salmon fry release! In the spring of 2025, I’ll definitely be back. Over the weekend, 43,000 fry were released, and I got to release 1,000 of them—two trips with 500 fry each. It was inspiring to see the dedication of the OFAH Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program and meet other volunteers working together for this vital cause.

Atlantic Salmon Conservation in Canada

Stocking Atlantic Salmon helps replenish wild populations and improve survival rates for the species. With overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change threatening salmon numbers, these programs play a key role in restoring wild salmon populations across Canada, particularly in Ontario and along the east coast.

Why Atlantic Salmon Matter

Atlantic Salmon are critical to Canada’s fisheries and freshwater ecosystems. As top predators and prey, they regulate fish populations and support and nurture the ecosystem, including bears and wolves, birds of prey, insectsm trees and other plant life.  Protecting these fish ensures the biodiversity of our rivers and lakes.

The whole experience left me feeling at peace. I had a peaceful, easy feeling driving through Pickering with a song in my heart, playing on the radio.

What was that song? Love Train by The O'Jays. Sure, no direct fish connection, but eco-chain is a love train, right? Classic song, classic day!