On September 21st, I had the honour and privilege of speaking at the inaugural Guichon Creek Day.

Guichon Creek is one of the most significant tributaries of Still Creek and runs directly through BCIT’s Burnaby campus. Guichon Creek was dammed, urbanized and partially culverted.  For decades it was sterile for salmon and other fish. In the 70’s and 80’s restoration work began at its south end and in 2006, the creek was restored to largely natural state thanks to the efforts of BCIT, students, the Rivers Institute and the City of Burnaby.

Trout and salmon still cannot currently navigate upstream through the underground section of the culvert. ‘Daylighting’ the entire length of Guichon Creek will complete the ecological restoration and yield a functional aquatic ecosystem.