Coho Festival Press

As the sun rose on a stunningly beautiful day last Sunday Sept 11th the first annual Coho Festival Open Water Swim starting shot sounded at 8am and the race began. 39 Swimmers from around the lower mainland and beyond participated – 22 swam the 3KM option 17 swam the 1.5 KM option. Appropriately, returning salmon were seen occasionally jumping high out of the water as the swimmers competed around the 1.5KM marked course that formed an elongated triangle of 1.5 KM. As the swimmers turned around the swim flugel close to John Lawson Park they headed directly into the rising sun and current of the out flowing tide struggling to complete the course and chart a direct line to the finish.

For more information http://www.cohosociety.com/coho-swim

English Channel and Salish Sea Swimmer Rod Craig of North Vancouver came in with the winning time for the 3KM distance in 40:00.20 min. Rachael Shoeler of North Vancouver came in with the best Female time for the 3KM at 46:51.30 min.

Top female and male times for the 1.5KM distance went to Deborah Robertson from North Vancouver with 23:48min. and Rick Gustavson from West Vancouver with 24:37 min.

Kudos to Eiko Sakamoto aged 71 of West Vancouver, who completed the 3KM course in 1:28:51.00  2:58 min.

Race Director,

Ron den Daas

ecosystem@shaw.ca

604 988 7544

For those attending the 32^nd annual Coho Festival at Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver September 11^th, something new has been added. For the first time, the festival will feature an Aboriginal Village along with all its other entertainment and attractions.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is free.

For further information, please contact:

Carrie Hunter

Administrator  604-926-6956

Lewis is involving the Klahowya Village from Stanley Park in the Coho attraction.  In addition, he has support from the Aboriginal Museum at Whistler

The Coho Society is getting a head start on its annual Adopt-A-Fish program this year.

“Typically, we wait until April when we are ready to have the  smotes  (baby salmon) released into local creeks,” said Tom Boppart, co-chair of the Society and Chair of Adopt-A-Fish program.

This year, the society will introduce its Adopt-A-Fish program into the annual Coho Festival at Ambleside Park September 11^th.  The festival opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m.  Admission is free.

There will be a special booth where parents can take their children to sign up early to adopt a fish.  Adoption certificates will be there to be filled out.  The fee is $5.00 and goes toward Coho’s education and salmonid enhancement programs.

In April of 2012, the children can bring their certificates to the West Vancouver Memorial Library where they will be able to take a baby salmon in a bucket over to McDonald Creek and release it into the creek.

Annually the Streamkeepers contribute 200,000 to 300,000 salmon fry — chum and coho — into 15 North Shore streams. The salmon roe are raised at the Streamkeepers’ fish hatchery, which sits on district land beside Nelson Creek and the Capilano Salmon Hatchery.

In 2006, 343 salmon were observed in eight streams the society helped bring back to life and continuously monitor. Last run that number jumped to 893. And in 2012, there is hope for more.

Upon release, the Coho stay in the creek until May before going to the ocean.

Smotes spend a portion of their out-migration time in brackish water, where their body chemistry becomes accustomed to osmo-regulation in the ocean — meaning the fishes body fluids balance between becoming too dilated or too concentrated.

The Adopt A Fish Program helps promote awareness and education regarding North

The Vancouver Aquarium is bringing the ocean to the kids at the 32^nd annual Coho Festival this year Sunday, September 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Aquavan introduces kids “of all ages” to the underwater world of the BC Coast.  It’s a colourful new addition to the festival that features entertainment, food, fun and interactive exhibits for all ages.  Admission is free.

For further information, please contact:

Carrie Hunter

Administrator

604-926-6956

Just as one can valet park a car at a restaurant or special function – cyclers biking to the Coho Festival September 11^th will be able to valet park their bicycles.

Tom Boppart, Coho’s Co-Chair, said the Society is really pleased with this new initiative.  “The Coho Society is all about the environment,” he says. “We’re happy to be doing more each year to “green” our festival – and this is an idea whose time has come.”

Obsession Bikes on Lonsdale is sponsoring the Bicycle Valet.  Owner James Wilson leapt at the opportunity to do so.  James is noted for his social consciousness and his desire to  get more of the population on bikes.

For James, it isn’t all about selling bikes. He has a program called Bikes for Tikes that he amps up each October.

“When our warehouses are empty, we ask people to donate the bikes they no longer use and we tune them up and repair them and donate them to children of needy families at Christmas each year.”

James began Bikes for Tikes when a single mom stopped in to see him. She was in need of a bike for herself so she could get to and from her two jobs each day, and needed something for her child as well.  Having a bike would mean that mother and child could see more of one another.  James, a father himself, wells up when he tells the story.  He donated bikes and that stirred in him the idea to create a program that would provide bikes to lots of children in need.

James hopes that by spreading the word about Bikes for Tikes, he can engage more bike shops to join him in this initiative.  There’s a touching story to be told for each reconditioned bike that finds a new home – and gives others a hand up – or in this case – transportation – and that’s what makes his business worthwhile.

The festival opens at 1l a.m. and runs until 6 p.m.  Admission is free.

For further information, please contact:

The 32^nd Annual Coho Festival gets a face lift this year when it opens September 11^th at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver from 11-6 p.m.

It features three stages of entertainment for people of all ages.  The big salmon barbecue with Celebrity Chefs continues.  The Beach Bar, Sustainability Zone and Kids Park will be as entertaining as ever.  In addition, Coho has incorporated an Aboriginal Village that features native artists; children’s dancing, story-telling and colourful exhibits.

The Coho Walk will go from Cleveland Dam to Ambleside Park. The Coho Run goes from Kits Beach to Ambleside Park. And this year, for the first time, Coho hosts the first annual open-water swim, offering swimmers the option of a 1.5 or 3 km race.

For information about registration, go to www.cohosociety.com.

Admission to the festival is free.  Funds raised from barbecue and beach bar sales help to support Coho’s salmonid enhancement programs.

For further information, please contact:

Carrie Hunter

Administrator

604-926-6956

What time does it start?

The festival opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.  The Beach Bar opens at 12 noon.  There is on-going entertainment on three stages all day.

How much does it cost to attend the festival?

Admission to the festival site is free. However, you can expect to pay for food (salmon, hot dogs and burgers), beverages (coffee, soft drinks, water, beer, wine, coolers).  There is also a modest charge for the kids bungee ride, bouncy castle and locomotive.

Can I use credit cards or debit cards?

Yes, Coho will have wireless machines this year to take your credit/debit cards.  In addition, there will be two ATM’s on site – one near the barbecue and the other in the Beach Bar.

Do I need money for anything else?

You can buy a membership in the Coho Society for $10 and have your name put into a draw for two nights at Painter’s Lodge on Vancouver Island – and for other prizes.  Also, there will be a raffle for a bike, valued at $800, from Obsession Bikes in North Vancouver.

What do you do with the money you make?

The Coho Festival is our major fundraiser of the year.  Funds go to support salmonid enhancement programs, educational projects and other environmental projects in which we partner.

How do I get to Ambleside Beach?

The Coho Festival Proudly Serves

WILD ALASKA SALMON

Endorsed as an ethical seafood choice by

The Audubon Society’s Living Oceans

And the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Alaska's Salmon Harvest is Wild, Sustainable stringently regulated by Alaska Law. !