A new kind of catch-and-release program has been going on at Gabriola Elementary School
Patricia McKay
Gabriola Elementary School
Monday, February 8 2010
Gabriola Elementary School has its very own beautiful Stream of Dreams mural! Last week each child, teacher, a few lucky parents and some of the local homeschoolers, learned all about their local watershed and how to keep water clean for people and fish, and then painted the beautiful “Dreamfish” that are now part of the amazing mural outside their school.
The Stream of Dreams mural project began after someone in Burnaby dumped toxic material down a storm drain, killing everything in Byrne Creek in 1998. More than 5,000 fish died in that disaster, but it inspired local community members to take action and to educate others on the importance of protecting local watersheds.
A bright sign hangs with this stunning mural to remind the community that, “The purpose of this project is to inspire everyone to protect and conserve water to ensure a healthy future for our rivers, lakes, oceans and communities. Each fish painter has learned about their local watershed and how to keep it healthy.” To find out more about Stream of Dreams visit www.streamofdreams.org.
A huge thank-you goes to Christy Wilson who helped every step of the way. Thanks also to Dimitri Tzotzos, Al Jensen and Bryan Jeffery for carefully cutting out nearly 200 fish. An amazing group of volunteers helped with prepping the fish and the installation of the magical mural now located at the front of the school. Funding for this exciting project is still in the works. Donations of any amount would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the school for more information.
For more information on the Stream of Dreams, head to the web site www.streamofdreams.org.
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