The Kokanee return – and so does the RedFish Festival!
By Contributor
There’s more to celebrating the Kokanee’s return than a good party at the Kokanee Creek Visitors Centre on Sunday, August 30.
“There are an amazing number of people who take the spawning channel tours during the Redfish Festival,” says the centre’s naturalist, Joanne Siderius.
Siderius and her team will give channel walks three times an hour from noon until 6 p.m. during the festival.
The public is welcome to come out and learn how and why the fish return and their importance to the Kokanee Creek ecosystem, says Siderius.
“We are always impressed with the number of families who want to learn more about conservation and the redfish,” she says.
“Understanding the Kokanee life cycle is key to understanding Kokanee Creek and maintaining it as a healthy ecosystem.”
The tours are only one part of the free festival, now in its fourth year, presented by the West Kootenay EcoSociety. Music from the Bessie Wapp Quartet and All Canadian Back Bacon and interactive dance from Slava Doval highlight the celebration.
But there is more -food and snacks from local vendors, art displays and lots of activities for the kids!
“The Discovery Room is packed the whole time with kids, sparkly red fish, and tons of fun,” Siderius says.
“There’s a real buzz on. The fish may have more important things on their minds, but we have a great time and the kids learn a lot about a natural cycle that is the spark of life in the park.
“This is a terrific way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the park before school starts.” she adds.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine.
For more information go to https://www.ecosociety.ca/ or http://kokaneevisitorscentre.org/ . And you can visit us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kokanee-Creek-Visitors-Centre/ ) for Redfish Festival details – and for updates on the Kokanee Salmon when they get here.
Photo Caption: Naturalist Joanne Siderius begins a channel tour with a display of Kokanee eggs.
