Description
Celebrate our local waterways at World Rivers Day on Sunday, September 24. Join us for this free family-friendly event and learn about our local waterways and restoration efforts to help protect these environments. Activities include demonstrations, displays, tours, activities, crafts and live entertainment.
Schedule of activities and demonstrations:
Happening all day:
- BAG On A Bike
- Lino art printing & Gyotaku (fish scale printmaking) by Burnaby Art Gallery
- Carp Windsock
- Children’s craft made of colour diffusing paper
- Museum Exhibits & Demonstrations
- Ocean Wise Mobile program
- Special river themed short films – Central Park Theatre
- OWL Orphaned Wildlife Re-habitation Society 11-3:30
- EartHand Gleaners Society 11:00-3:30
- Lower Mainland Green Team volunteer ecosystem restoration activity 11:15 am-2:30 pm
- Fish Leather Demonstration by Valine
- Indigenous Story telling
- Interpretation on the Bridge
- Carousel rides - $2.52 + tax. Discover the history behind this 100+ year old treasure
Community Streamkeepers/ environmental groups:
- Burnaby Lake Park Association
- North Shore Black Bear Society
- BC Wildlife Federation
- Stanley Park Urban Wild Life Ecology Society
- Lower Mainland Green Team
- City of Burnaby Solid Waste & Recycling team
- Stoney Creek Environment Committee
- Cariboo Heights Forest Preservation Society
- City of Burnaby Parks Environment Programs/Eco-Sculpture
- City of Burnaby mobile water refill station
- Urban Forestry
- BC Hydro
Specific Times:
- 11:15 am – Nylon Zoo, Costumed Parade & Stories (Meadow)
- 11:30 am – Kung Jaadee, Indigenous Storyteller (Vorce Stage)
- 11:30 am – Indigenous storytelling and Seed Bomb Giveaway (Real Estate)
- 12:00 pm – Stories on Wheels, interactive story telling (Carousel Plaza)
- 12:30 pm – Indigenous storytelling and Seed Bomb Giveaway (Real Estate)
- 12:30 pm – Opening Remarks (Bandstand)
- Indigenous Welcome by Carleen Thomas
- Opening remarks by Mayor Mike Hurley and Mark Angelo
- 1:00 pm – Nylon Zoo, Costumed Parade & Stories (Meadow)
- 1:15 pm – Ginalina & Family Band, Live music (Vorce Stage)
- 1:30 pm – Indigenous storytelling and Seed Bomb Giveaway (Real Estate)
- 2:00 pm – Nylon Zoo, Costumed Parade & Stories (Meadow)
- 2:30 pm – Kellie Haines, Ventriloquist (Vorce Stage)
- 2:30 pm – Indigenous storytelling and Seed Bomb Giveaway (Real Estate)
- 3:15 pm – Stories on Wheels, interactive story telling (Carousel Plaza)
- 3:15 pm – Kellie Haines, Ventriloquist
- 3:30 pm – Nylon Zoo, Costumed Parade & Stories (Meadow)
- 3:30 pm – Indigenous storytelling and Seed Bomb Giveaway (Real Estate)
Schedules are subject to change.
History of BC River's Day
In 1980, Burnaby resident and river conservationist, Mark Angelo, founded BC Rivers Day in an effort to raise awareness about the importance that rivers play in our environments as well as the need for better river management to protect these vital resources.
In 1993, the City of Burnaby was the first municipality in BC to proclaim BC River’s Day. Since then, the City works with community partners to host an annual community event.
Thousands of Canadians now celebrate each year making this Canada’s largest river appreciation event. In 2005, the United Nations established World Rivers Day which is now a global event to celebrate rivers each year on the fourth Sunday of every September.
Meet the founder
“Rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense.” – Mark Angelo
Mark Angelo, a Burnaby resident, is the founder of BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day. He is an avid river conservationist and has been recognized by his effort throughout Canada, receiving awards, recognitions and even the Order of Canada for his river conservation efforts.
To learn more about the founder and the history behind Rivers Day, visit BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day.
Burnaby Streamkeepers program
The Burnaby Streamkeeper and stewardship groups are dedicated to protecting Burnaby’s waterways and watersheds. These committed group of volunteers dedicate their time to monitor, enhance and advocate for the protection of waterways as well as adjacent streamside riparian areas that support aquatic life.
Do you want to be a steward of your watershed or find out where to watch the salmon spawn?
Check out the Burnaby Streamkeepers program page to see a list of active streamkeeper groups to contact for more information.