Kanaka Creek's Bell-Irving Hatchery Salmon Fry Release, Maple Ridge BC

Join “Goodbye Chums!” fun annual event at the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center and its Bell-Irving Hatchery in Maple Ridge, BC and help baby salmon get released into the wild!

Pacific salmon lifecycle from eggs, eyed eggs, alevins, to fry - salmon enhancement program — Pacific salmon lifecycle from eggs, to eyed eggs, to alevins, and finally to fry ready to be released at the annual Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery event

Every April, Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center and the Bell-Irving Hatchery (also known as Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery) in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada host an annual educational event for kids and families tailored around releasing baby salmon – coho and chum fry – into the Kanaka Creek. We’ve visited this year and here is our report!

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Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship

The Bell-Irving Hatchery is located right at the Kanaka Creek Regional Park in the heart of Maple Ridge.

outdoor fish tanks at the Kanaka Creek Stewardship Centre and Bell-Irving hatchery in Maple Ridge — Outdoor fish tanks at the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center and Bell-Irving hatchery in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

At the far end of the Metro Vancouver region, it takes approximately an hour to get to Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery from Vancouver.

Kanaka Creek Stewardship Centre and Bell-Irving Fish Hatchery in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada directions map — DIRECTIONS MAP: Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center and Bell-Irving Fish Hatchery in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

The Bell-Irving Hatchery

So what is it? Bell-Irving Hatchery or Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery you may ask? Both. The names are used interdependently and mean the same location.

Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society stand at Bell-Irving salmon hatchery event — Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society stand at Bell-Irving Hatchery's annual salmon fry release event “Goodbye chums!”

The Bell-Irving Hatchery has been a partnership among KEEPS (Kanaka Education and Environment Partnership Society), Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada since 1983 – the time when the salmon enhancement program was established on the west coast. Over 30 fish hatcheries were established at that time – including coho and chum salmon hatcheries – all across British Columbia.

the role of Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society in preserving salmon — The role of Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society in preserving Pacific salmon and its work with Bell-Irving hatchery

Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center was built shortly after with its ponds and fish tanks, and educational complex used for exhibits and educational events. Here you can find much information about the role of Bell-Irving hatchery in rearing coho, chum and pink salmon, its ongoing success in attempting to rebuild this once extirpated salmon species.

how will you protect salmon kids exhibit info poster next to fish tank at Kanaka

The Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery Facilities

There is a gravel parking lot, a paved path leading to the Bell-Irving hatchery and its garden, and a large picnic lawn that can be enjoyed all year round. Here, at the parking lot, you’ll find public bathrooms as well – the standard outdoor type and no baby changing station, so plan ahead.

Child reading environmental signage near a pond — Cosmos is reading the information stand and learning about watershed life cycle.

Take a paved path from there to walk over to the Fish Fence and its buildings. There are fish ponds and tanks all around the Bell-Irving Hatchery with signs telling the story of how the watershed project system works, reclaiming cleaner water back into the creek.

The Roof to Creek Learning Landscape information poster — The Roof to Creek – Learning Landscape – colourful information poster near Bell-Irving's pond

Maintaining the natural water cycle information poster — Maintaining the natural water cycle – learn on how plants and soil reduce impacts of development

Almost all of the hatchery's facilities are easily accessed with a stroller or by a wheelchair.

Cliff Falls Hike

Just across the road from the parking lot, you’ll find the entrance to Kanaka Creek Regional Park and the trailhead hike leading to Cliff Falls.

Kanaka Creek Cliff Falls trail — Large fallen tree across Kanaka Creek you can walk over at the entrance to Cliff Falls trail. Fun photo opportunity!

If you haven't hiked the Cliff Falls trail yet, We strongly recommend you stop by – the trail is an easy one and kids-friendly hike, although not stroller or wheelchair accessible. This hike can be enjoyed even if it is raining, so be sure to add it to your to-do list of kids’ rainy day activities in Vancouver.

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“Goodbye Chums” Event at Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery

Every year at the end of April the Bell-Irving Hatchery and the Kanaka Education and Environment Partnership Society host a family event tailored around releasing the fish fry – baby coho, chum and pink salmon – into Kanaka Creek.

This year we went to check it out. It was Sunday, April 24th , and the event ran from 11am to 2pm.

kids activities at the annual event at Kanaka Creek — Plenty of fun kids and family activities at Goodbye Chums event in 2022

Firstly, we must admit, the event was very well organized. As the parking at Kanaka Creek Regional Park site is limited, there was an alternative parking organized at one of the local schools with a frequent shuttle bus taking kids and families to the Kanaka Fish Hatchery.

Right at the entrance to the Hatchery facilities, there was a large information booth where you could find more information on all the available displays, programs of events and entertainment.

Bold Eagle Station

Our personal opinion: the inclusion of a wide range of diverse activities and exhibits non-related to salmon was great! It gave kids and families a variety of things to do at Bell-Irving hatchery event and spiced-up the day at Kanaka Creek.

Bald Eagle and birds of prey information stand and kids exhibit — Bald Eagles exhibit

Bald Eagle mascot and photo booth — Eagle's nest photo prop! Amazing! The Eagle Girl, whoever you are, you rock!

The Bald Eagle station was fun and the mascot was hilarious! special Koodoos!

check your vision bald eagle educational stand — You could even check your eyesight against that of an Eagle!

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Bugs Pond

The largest pond may have been nothing at all, but the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center staff managed to make one of the most addictive experiences out of it! We have lost Cosmos here for over 2 hours!

fishing for bugs in a pond kids exhibit — Cosmos scoops up the muddy water into a pail

All they did was to supply pails and transparent boxes, a few long-handled scoops, a dozen magnifying glasses and a large poster referencing all the bugs and insects that live in the pond. And just like that a real “treasure hunt” activity was born!

bugs and insects living in Bell-Irving Hatchery's pond kids exhibit — a reference poster and a magnifying glass transformed kids into research detectives!

We only had one rule here: once you done playing with your muddy water and looking at the bugs and larvae, you had to let it go back into the pond where it belonged. Teaching kids to Leave No Trace when playing outdoors is extremely important from an early age.

fishing pond at Kanaka Creek Regional Park — They literally spent over 2 hours digging through mud. I am not joking.

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fishing for bugs in a pond — Even Alex got hooked-up like a child.

Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center

The Kanaka Creek Watershed Center had its doors open to all on the Goodbye Chums event day.

Pacific Salmon preservation educational exhibits at the Kanaka Creek Stewardship Centre and Bell-Irving hatchery in Maple Ridge — Pacific Salmon preservation educational exhibits at the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center of the Bell-Irving hatchery in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

Many exhibits talked about the Pacific Salmon life cycle, the differences between different salmon species – chum, coho, pink salmon. Beautiful map showed the wild salmon habitat all across Beautiful British Columbia.

Salmon Life cycle educational stand poster at the Kanaka Creek Stewardship Centre and Bell-Irving hatchery in Maple Ridge — Salmon Life Cycle educational stand poster at the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center of Bell-Irving hatchery in Maple Ridge, BC

Chum Salmon Fry Release Station

This year, over 15,000 salmon fry were “ups-for-grabs” at the Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery event to anyone wanting hands-on experience with wildlife preservation.

Bell-Irving Hatchery salmon fry release stations near Kanaka Creek Stewardship Centre — Cosmos is receiving his “fish pail” at salmon fry release station of Goodbye Chums event at Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center of the Bell-Irving Hatchery

All baby salmon was brought-in in fish tanks, and carefully given to excited kids (and adults!) in white water pails. Participants then took their “buckets of fish” to the creek and released them into the Kanaka water under watchful supervision and direction of the hatchery staff and the forest ranger officers.

child looking at salmon fry in water pail — a bucket full of salmon fry ready to be released into Kanaka Creek!

baby salmon - chum, coho and pink salmon in a pail

child releasing salmon fry into Kanaka Creek at the annual event near Vancouver - in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada — Cosmos releasing chum salmon fry into Kanaka Creek at Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Overall in 2021 Bell-Irving hatchery reported collecting 212,000 chum eggs that will be carefully raised into baby salmon and released into the wild in the upcoming years.

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Nature Kids BC

There were many other cool educational exhibits and eco-stations of course! We were happy to see our beloved Nature Kids BC.

NatureKids BC is a network of family clubs all across British Columbia, holding regular events, explorer days, camps, and educational outdoors and environmental workshops. Their mission is “Helping children and their families get outdoors to explore, play, learn about and take action for nature.”

The organization is membership-based and most of the staff are volunteers. If you haven't heard about them yet, make sure to check out NatureKids BC website and join in on one of the outdoor activities! For example, the Explorer Days are regular outdoor adventures organized by local club leaders that give parents and their children the opportunity to connect with nature and are packed with fun and learning for the whole family.

NatureKids BC educational kids exhibit at Kanaka Creek Regional Park and Fish hatchery — NatureKids BC activities station at the Bell-Irving Hatchery event

NatureKids BC educational kids exhibit and fun activities at Kanaka Creek Regional Park and Fish hatchery — Learn to recognize animals' and birds' footprints activity

NatureKids BC educational kids exhibit activity — Looking at some sculls, bees, bugs, and more at NatureKids BC exhibit

Pacific salmon lifecycle from eggs, eyed eggs, alevins, to fry

Vancouver Regional Parks

Loved the Vancouver Regional Parks angle to how to engage kids and interest them in the salmon preservation.

VRP put together a family activity around creating your own biodegradable and eco-friendly cleaning solutions at home! Less chemicals that enter the watershed = more salmon can survive and thrive in the BC ecosystem. What an amazing way teaching kids sustainability.

Vancouver Regional Parks information booth at Bell-Irving Hatchery salmon release event — Vancouver Regional Parks information booth at Bell-Irving Hatchery where Cosmos just made his own eco-friendly cleaning solution.

Ridge Meadows Recycling Society

Cosmos was super-happy to see Dan “the Recycling Man” at the Kanaka Creek Salmon release event this year! Having experience in film and TV, Dan has supported the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society for over 15 years now. He runs regular workshops on recycling programs, environment and wildlife safety at local schools, including our much loved Kanaka Creek Elementary.

Bear next to suitcase — That's not Dan. That's Dan's pet bear.

Concluding notes

A huge Thank You to the Kanaka Creek Watershed Stewardship Center, Bell-Irving Hatchery, Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society (K.E.E.P.S.), the Vancouver Regional Parks, NatureKids BC, and everyone who participated in making Goodbye Chums 2022 event a true success!

With the previous few years of family lives and kids activities falling pray to the global pandemic, kids desperately needed a break. Here at the Kanaka Creek Fish Hatchery, we got it. What a treat! And what an amazing start of the 2022 outdoor season. Thank you.

We only hope that more kids-oriented events that educate our little-ones on ecosystems, habitat interdependencies, wildlife preservation, environmentalism and help families make our day-to-day lifestyle more eco-sustainable.