I had an affirming, heart-warming experience on a patrol for spawning salmon today on Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC.

I was getting ready to retrieve a couple of dead salmon from the creek to process for size, sex, and spawning status, when a mom and little girl came along.

“Are you Paul?”

“Uh, yes.”

It turned out the girl had participated in a Coho smolt release with a couple of elementary school classes on the creek three years ago, and had told her mom today that she wanted to go to the creek to try to see salmon spawning.

Well, we did. A couple of pairs of coho, and I processed two morts while they watched, too.

It is so rewarding to know that you sparked an interest in a child that is still there years later!