April 11, 2014

Third annual Bring Back The Salmon Duffins Creek cleanup

Local students and conservationists to release Atlantic Salmon 

Media are invited to cover this rain or shine environmental event, offering photo and interview opportunities

Highbush Public School students, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority employees will be joining Bring Back The Salmon (BBTS) staff in improving fish habitat by cleaning litter from stream banks throughout Brock Ridge Community Park. Later in the day, the students will help release over 100 yearling Atlantic Salmon from Fleming College’s fish hatchery into Duffins Creek as part of the effort to restore this historically significant species to Lake Ontario. 

Date:                         Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Location:                    Brock Ridge Community Park
                                 2030 Brock Road, Pickering, ON 

Time:                         9:30 a.m. – Students arrive
                                9:40 a.m. – Stream clean up begins
                               12 p.m. – Students stock yearling Atlantic Salmon
                                   PHOTO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MEDIA

Background: BBTS involves more than 40 partners working to restore the once thriving Atlantic Salmon to Lake Ontario and its tributaries. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) head the initiative, with integral support from lead sponsor Ontario Power Generation (OPG). The LCBO and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation are also major contributors. The MNR is raising production salmon in two facilities – Fleming College is raising Atlantic Salmon in its teaching hatchery, and OPG’s Pickering Nuclear Station is also playing host to a small Atlantic Salmon classroom hatchery. Bring Back The Salmon includes fish stocking, habitat rehabilitation, research and education, and there are promising signs that this long-term restoration effort is working. 

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 720 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.bringbackthesalmon.ca or follow Bring Back The Salmon onFacebook (ontariosalmon) and Twitter (@ontariosalmon).

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