Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program

2008 Final Report Template

FSWP File Number* 07350-35/FSWP 08 EE LR 5 *Please use the FSWP File Number provided in previous FSWP 2008 project correspondence

Contact Information Sponsoring Organization’s Legal Name

Stream of Dreams Murals Society Are you a federally registered Charity, Non-profit organization or Business (Yes /No)? Yes If yes, please indicate which. X Charity Non-profit organization Business Registration number 87947 3809 RR0001 GST number N/A Are you a registered Society (Yes / No)? Yes Society Registration number S-46451

Mailing Address

#182 5489 Byrne Rd, Burnaby BC V5J 3J1 Street Address (if different from above)

Project Manager1 Name: Joan Carne Title: Executive Director/Instructor

Affiliation: Stream of Dreams Murals Society Phone: ( 604 ) 434-4304

Fax: ( ) E-mail: [email protected] 1 All correspondence will be directed to the Project Manager. Alternate Project Contact Name: Louise Towell Title: Instructor/Artistic Director

Affiliation: Stream of Dreams Murals Society Phone: (604 ) 434-4304

Fax: ( ) E-mail: [email protected]

Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report 1 Partners / Subcontractors Name: Maureen LeBourdas/Sue Hemphill Affiliation: Independent Stream of Dreams Instructors. Maureen is also with Fraser Basin Council Phone: ( 250 ) 620-3505 E-mail: [email protected]

Name: Tammy Perron/(Dennis Windsor – now Affiliation: Independent Stream of Dreams stepped down) instructors Phone: ( 250 ) 547-2200 E-mail: [email protected]

Name: Joanne Towe/Kelly Affiliation: Simon Fraser Society for Community Living/Mainstream Association for Proactive Community Inclusion Phone: ( 604 ) 529-5115/522-2944 E-mail:

Name: Tracey Mason Affiliation: University of British Columbia, Community Service Learning Initiative Phone: 604-822-6401 E-mail: [email protected] Others: 23 Fraser Basin Elementary Schools, Contact information available if needed Prince George Rivers Day Event, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion

Project Information Project Title

Fraser Basin Streams of Dreams 2008 Project Location

Lower Mainland to Prince George

Amount Total Project Non-FSWP $42,000 $142,049 $100,049 Requested Value funds2 2 Non-FSWP funds include both cash and in-kind funding. In-kind funding refers to all non-cash contributions such as equipment, supplies, labour, etc. Please refer to Budget Section for further details.

Project Summary Please provide a single paragraph describing your project, its objective, and the results. As this summary will be used in program communications, clearly state the issue addressed and avoid overly technical descriptions. Do not use more than 300 words.

Many people are still unaware of how their homes, properties and streets are connected to Fraser River salmon habitat and of how their actions affect salmon survival. The objective of the Fraser Basin Stream of Dreams 2008 project was to use the Stream of Dreams watershed education and community art program to increase awareness of these issues for at least 5000 Fraser Basin residents and to encourage them to change behaviours to reduce pollution and conserve water for salmon and people.

- 2 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report From April 1, 2008 to the end of March 2009, the Stream of Dreams program was presented to more than 6300 participants at twenty-four elementary schools and at two festival/summer camp events in the Fraser Basin from Prince George to Delta. We used stories, props, maps and painting wooden salmon to educate participants who learned how we can all prevent pollution into waterways via storm and sanitary sewage systems and through groundwater and surface runoff. Participants were encouraged to take the message home to their families and neighbours to help others understand these connections to salmon habitat. We encouraged the following behavioural changes: do not allow anything but rain to go down storm drains; wash cars in a fish- friendly manner; use environmentally safe products indoors as well as out; reduce water consumption; reduce use of cars (both for stream protection and reducing impact on global climate). Twenty-six new Stream of Dreams fish fence murals speak to thousands of people in each community about the importance of salmon. In this way our younger generation is helping to educate their community.

OPTIONAL If your project lends itself to sparking interest through a compelling sound bite (for potential use in FSWP media communications), please tell us what that sound bite would be. Do not use more than 150 words.

Thousands of children have painted Dreamfish for their Stream of Dreams fence murals from Prince George to Delta in the Fraser basin to remind everyone that “All Drains Lead to Fish Habitat” and that we must all share a dream of healthy rivers, streams and oceans, then act to make the dream come true. Please do not pollute our waterways. Know your connections. Species and life stage(s) the project targets: please list

All Fraser salmon species; all aquatic species. Most lower mainland discussions focus on chum and coho. In stream, egg to smolt stages, spawners; in ocean, smolt to adult stages. Humans: all stages.

Watershed(s) the project targets: please list

Listed below under deliverables results.

Project Deliverables and Results . Paste in the deliverables outlined in your Detailed Proposal (question #3 under project ‘relevance and significance’ heading) into the table below. Then, please list the results

- 3 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report associated with each deliverable. . Please include copies of any relevant communications products (brochures, posters, videos, website addresses etc.) resulting from this project. Deliverable Result Objective #1: Educate at least 5000 people about their We reached over 6300 participants in the Fraser Basin region as local watershed and detailed below. its link to the Fraser and the health of Fraser salmon Chalmers Elementary, Delta Nestor Elementary, Were on proposal for early 2008 and were completed before April 1, Coquitlam 2008 Prince Charles Elementary, Abbotsford A.R. Lord Elementary, 250 participants learned about their lost stream, their connection to Vancouver ocean salmon habitat and created a Stream of Dreams mural. Completed April 4, 2008 Ridgeview 430 participants - VIncent, Brothers, Lawson Creeks. April 10, 2008 Elementary, West Vancouver Prince Charles 350 participants on Robson Creek, Manson Creek. Completed April 18, Elementary, Surrey 2008 Vancouver Oral 40 participants in the Still Creek, Brunette River watersheds. Completed Centre for Deaf April 23, 2008 Children, Vancouver Horsefly School, Horsefly Stream of Dreams team delivered program to 80 participants in Horsefly the Horsefly, Quesnel watersheds. Completed April 23, 2008 Dallas Elementary Vernon/Lumby Stream of Dreams team delivered program to 350 School, Kamloops participants in Thompson watershed. Completed April 24, 2008 Alexis Creek School, Horsefly Stream of Dreams team delivered program to 70 participants in Alexis Creek the Alexis Creek, Chilcotin River watersheds. Completed April 30, 2008 Brentwood Park 475 participants in Beecher Creek, Still Creek, Brunette River Elementary, Burnaby watersheds. Completed May 2, 2008 Simon Cunningham Cancelled the program Elementary, Surrey Chief Maquinna 115 Participants in Still Creek, Brunette River watersheds. Completed Annex, Vancouver May 22, 2008 Chief Maquinna 265 participants in Still Creek, Brunette River watersheds. Completed Elementary, May 23, 2008 Vancouver Completion of Mural Installation and creation of signage. Located on edge of Byrne Relocation of Byrne and Jerry Rogers watersheds. Completed May 23, 2008 Creek Stream of Dreams, Burnaby Fromme Elementary, 250 Participants in Kilmer, Hastings and Lynn Creeks. Completed May North Vancouver 28, 2008

- 4 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report Hall’s Prairie School, 110 Participants in Little Campbell River watershed. Completed May 30, Surrey 2008 FW Howay 140 participants - Lost Glenbrook Creek watershed. Completed June 6, Elementary, New 2008 Westminster, added after proposal submitted Mountain Meadows 225 participants in Noons Creek watershed. Completed June 12, 2008 Elementary, Port Moody John Diefenbaker 300 participants on the Fraser delta. Completed June 18, 2008 Elementary, Richmond Heffley Creek Stream of Dreams Vernon/Lumby team taught program to 100 Elementary, Heffley participants in Heffley Creek, Thompson watersheds. Completed June Creek 18, 2008 Still Creek - Burnaby 40 participants at summer camp live throughout the lower mainland. Association for Mural location at Still Creek, Brunette River watershed. Completed July Community Inclusion 7, 2008 summer camp Leigh Elementary, 280 participants in Smiley Creek, Hyde Creek, Pitt River watersheds. Port Coquitlam Completed September 8, 2008 New since proposal Parkside Elementary, 500 participants in Bertrand Creek, Nooksack River and Fraser Valley Langley watersheds. Completed September 12, 2008 New since proposal Prince George Rivers Stream of Dreams went to Prince George Rivers Day celebration in Day Festival September, 2008. 70 participants. Anmore Elementary, 190 Participants in Mossom Creek, North Schoolhouse Creek, Anmore Anmore Creek watersheds. Completed September 18, 2008. New since proposal 108 Mile Elementary, Horsefly Stream of Dreams team presented to 200 participants. 108 Mile House Completed October 29, 2008 South Park 500 participants in Fraser Delta area. Completed October 10, 2008. Elementary, Tsawwassen Lord Selkirk 630 participants in lost streams into False Creek watersheds and Still Elementary, Creek watershed. Completed February 23, 2009 Vancouver Hamilton Elementary, Est 450 participants in Fraser River lowlands. Completion date March Richmond 27, 2009 Developing more Developed follow up tools for classroom teachers – Salmon Activity Kit. educational tools. Collaborated with UBC Community Service Learning Initiative to create outdoor activities and a demonstration water filter Looking ahead 10 schools plus a training program (Kamloops) are booked for 2009-10. Objective # 2 - We receive anecdotal evidence from parents and teachers at every Inspire behavioural project that students go home, teach their parents what they have changes to protect learned and request changes to how they wash their cars and what water quality for products they choose to use in and around the home. “My child came salmon and people. home, sat me down and said, ‘Mom, we need to talk.’”

Objective # 3 - There are 25 new salmon Dreamfish murals in the Fraser region as a

- 5 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report Bring awareness to result of this years’ project. Media coverage and people’s discoveries the larger and comments can be found at numerous web locations: community through http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=d70f3e93- display of 15 or more 4f51-40b4-866d-63cd1f667a47 Article also appeared in the Burnaby salmon murals on NOW and is posted on the Ottawa Citizen, Canada.com website. fences and through http://www.flickr.com/photos/chloebaby/82821422 related media http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpen/3033796958 coverage. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mseyler/195093471/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e5OJiFTV0M&feature=channel Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=3e5OJiFTV0M&feature=channel School newsletters: http://schools.deltasd.bc.ca/sp/Stream%20of %20Dreams

- 6 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report - 7 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report Project Effectiveness Please evaluate the effectiveness of the project, using the objective standards, quantifiable criteria and/or quality control measures identified in your Detailed Proposal (under question #1 in the ‘performance expectations’ heading).

We measure success by the number of participants, students, teachers and community members, who by the end of the project, know where their local streams are or were, how they are connected to Fraser River salmon habitat, how storm and household drains work, how they impact salmon habitat and simple changes they can make to keep water safe for salmon.

We are happy to report that 6300 participants at 26 schools and community events were introduced to their local creeks through the Stream of Dreams program, more than 1300 participants more than projected. New Stream of Dreams murals are displayed on fences from

- 8 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report Prince George to the Fraser Delta to remind people to think about the salmon in our neighbourhoods and to spread hope and joy for salmon.

Follow up surveys and interaction with parents of participants indicate that students brought home what they learned: the salmon life cycle, the value of Fraser salmon to people and to the entire ecosystem, their stream (watershed) address and its link to the Fraser, that storm drains (rain drains) and household drains, surface and groundwater flows lead to streams, that toxic chemicals can travel to streams through them, and that their behaviours can affect Fraser salmon. New tools are providing teachers with follow up activities to reinforce the message in their classes.

Stream of Dreams projects also often bring media attention to help extend the message of what the murals mean. We are especially pleased with an article written for the Vancouver Courier detailing the story behind the program that has been picked up by other media.

The 2008 Stream of Dreams in the Fraser Basin project exceeded our projections by more than 25%.

We are pleased to share the following speech made by a student now in Grade 2, which was presented at the Environmental Educators conference and at the Stream of Dreams Murals Society AGM:

“Hello. My name is Adam Rushin. I go to Nestor Elementary School in Coquitlam. Before the Stream of Dreams came to my school, I had seen the yellow fish on the roads but did not know what they were for.

Now I know why there are yellow fish near all the storm drains where I live. It is to remind people that the drains go to the rivers and if they put poison and cleaning things down the drains it kills the fish.

Since the Stream of Dreams came to my school I have taken bottles and plastic out of Coquitlam River and put it in the garbage. I have also taken bits of plastic out of the water at Harrison Hot Springs and put it in the garbage. It is important for me to take any garbage out of the water because no matter where the water is, it all connects together and will kill fish everywhere.

I now look for yellow fish wherever I go. I also look for schools with the Stream of Dreams on their fences and tell everyone why the school has them because it is important to get everyone to stop putting things down the drains.

One of our neighbours washes his car with soap and I am trying to get him to stop.

Also we all need to help when there is an accident like the Burnaby oil spill because all of that oil ended up in the sea and was killing the fishes.

Last year when we lived in England, Daddy used to wash our car with soap and we used to live near the sea. Now I know that the sea here is connected to the sea where we used to live, so in England we were killing the fish which is bad.

Since the Stream of Dreams came to my school I have taught my Mummy, Daddy and sister all about the Stream of Dreams and now my daddy doesn’t wash the car with soap anymore.

The most important thing for us all to do is look after the environment and tell everyone else to

- 9 - Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program 2008 Final Report also look after it too because fish are important.”

What are the top three lessons learned from this project that would be important to communicate to others doing similar work throughout the Basin?

Children care about water and fish, want to help and can help inspire others.

Children understand how storm drains work much better than many adults already and make excellent teachers.

Many people still take water and drainage for granted and have little idea of their impact.

Project Effectiveness Please describe how your project has addressed each Priority Activity identified in your Detailed Proposal. How the Priority Activity has been Priority Activity1 Addressed 6300 participants in threefold workshops in Maintain salmon as highly valued good. Direct classroom broadening understanding of classroom education. Integrating arts. watersheds, transforming a wooden fish into a Dreamfish, transforming a chain link fence into a message of hope and joy for salmon. Encourage behaviour change Discuss and demonstrate alternative behaviors to protect salmon. 1Please paste each priority activity identified in your Detailed Proposal in the space provided. Further Comments Please provide any further comments including recommendations for future conservation efforts and suggestions for helping partners to meet the goals of the Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program. If your project produced a narrative or scientific report or additional project products (e.g. maps, photos), attach them as an appendix.

Perhaps we need to focus even harder on expanding education about salmon issues, the challenges, and some solutions, to our elected representatives and to media people. Maybe a full length “inconvenient Truth” about salmon?

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