By Rodney Hsu

As rain clouds began to emerge in Port Moody, organizers began to wonder whether it would drive away participants at the 2003 Fingerling Festival. The community of Port Moody did not let them down. By 11:00am, parents and children strolled in one by one. It was time to show the result of the contribution that volunteers have given in the past few months, in the ongoing effort to restore a tiny urban stream.

Organizer David Bennie, invited me along to take part in this grand celebration. What I witnessed was overwhelming. Hundreds of residents came out and showed their support. In the Port Moody Recreational Centre, around thirty conservation societies, watershed usergroups and advocates showcased their hard work. Local organizations such as Como Watershed Group, Pacific Streamkeepers, Stoney Creek Environment Committee used this opportunity to promote their goals and visions. Pathway to Fishing, a program that was co-organized by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Federation of Driftfishers, informed participants the do's and don'ts of sportfishing.

A short walk from the exhibition, participants could reach the Noons Creek Hatchery. Funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, it's a facility that was build and has been operated by volunteers. This hatchery houses both coho and chum fries before they are released into the stream each year. At this year's fingerling Festival, everyone had the opportunity to release a few chum salmon fries. In total, 35,000 were released.

Despite the rainy weather, it was estimated around 800 people attended the event. Thanks to David Bennie and his Port Moody Ecological Society for bringing the community together to keep Noons Creek and other small streams in Port Moody alive and well.