Prince George, B.C. – Today is BC Rivers Day and, in a uniquely-organized celebration, festivities will be taking place along the banks of our two rivers from the CN train bridge to Cottonwood Island Park.

The Executive Director of REAPS, Terri McClymont, says her organization, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Spruce City Wildlife Association and the Bank of Gratitude have teamed up to present today’s celebration with the them “Connecting with our Rivers through recreation, spirituality and stewardship.”

McClymont says “BC Rivers Day is always on the last Sunday in September, in Canada making it the largest rivers celebration event.  It has been happening for over 30 years in BC.  The Prince George Rivers Day occurred from 2000 to 2011 and was more of a music festival.  The Bank of Gratitude has been doing an appreciation of rivers for the last three years, and this year Spruce City wildlife, DFO and REAPS came together and said how can we make this a bigger community event to get more awareness out there, bring more interested people that use the rivers.”

“So we came up with a celebration that’s happening today from 10 am to 6 pm and it’s at Cottonwood Island Park.”

There is an opening ceremony at 10 am at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako Rivers at the CN train bridge.  It features the Water Gratitude Project with Imani Miller and the Northern Warrior Women: Khast’an Drummers.  That’s followed from 11 am to 1pm by a number of family activities at that location.

McClymont adds “the Neighbourhood Time Exchange, a joint effort with the Downtown Business Association, are creating an art exhibit that will also be at the CN bridge in celebration of Rivers Day.”

She says “at 12:30 pm to 2:30 we have a free lunch, which is barbecued salmon and bannock, and that’s in partnership with Aging With Attitude.  We’re very excited about that.”

“We have almost a dozen community booths that are going to be set up, providing information around stewardship of the water, rivers and lakes, and children’s art crafts as well as some music happening down at the canoe launch.”  You get there by taking the road that is right next to the stone works plant off River Road.

“From 2:30 to 3 o’clock, as people are making their way along the Cottonwood Trail we have the Polar Coachmen doing a fly fishing lesson at the boat launch at Cottonwood Park.  And then 3:30 to 5 O’clock we have tours, First Nation storytelling, displays and more children’s art activities at the Spruce City Hatchery.”

In all there are four stations between the rail bridge and the hatchery and you can access all of them by walking along the Cottonwood Trail.