35th Annual BC Rivers Day Set for September 27

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 21, 2015) - Up to 75,000 British Columbians are expected to participate in BC Rivers Day celebrations this weekend, marking its 35 year anniversary as one of the world's biggest environmental events. The BC event led to the creation of World Rivers Day, also set for September 27, and millions of people in more than 70 countries will be participating.

BC Rivers Day started with a clean-up on the Thompson River back in 1980 organized by founder, Mark Angelo, in conjunction with the Outdoor Recreation Council and the British Columbia Institute of Technology. The event has since grown dramatically, leading Angelo to approach various agencies of the United Nations about the creation of a global event in 2005.

With many of the world's rivers facing severe and increasing threats associated with climate change, pollution, and industrial development, more than 70 countries are participating in this year's festivities. Many events, both in BC and around the world will focus on educational and public awareness activities while others will include river and stream cleanups, habitat restoration projects, educational outings and community riverside celebrations.

Rivers Day strives to increase public awareness of the importance of our waterways as well as the many threats confronting them. "Rivers are integral to all life. Yet, many waterways continue to face an array of threats and are often impacted by inappropriate practices and inadequate protection," says Mark Angelo, Rivers Day chair and founder as well as Outdoor Recreation Council Rivers Chair. He is also Chair Emeritus of the Rivers Institute at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

With the Pacific Salmon Foundation as its lead sponsor, BC Rivers Day events will include activities around the province ranging from a series of Fraser River festivals to numerous school programs and field trips. Events are also planned in many cities and towns ranging from Burnaby, North Vancouver, New Westminster (Riverfest), Langley, Kamloops, Fernie and Port Moody (fishfest) - to Chilliwack, Whistler, Cawston, Port Coquitlam (Rivers and Trail Festival) and Cowichan Bay (with their planned clean-up of the Cowichan estuary) to name just a few.

Globally, events will take place in countries ranging from Canada to England, Australia to the United States, Russia to South Africa, and across most of the major rivers of Europe.

"Tens of thousands of people in BC, and millions globally, will be contributing to Rivers Day," says Angelo, a recipient of both the Order of BC and the Order of Canada for his river conservation efforts. "The event provides a great opportunity for people to get out and enjoy our waterways. At the same time, the event strives to create a greater awareness of the urgent need to better care for our rivers and streams."

"To know that World Rivers Day, now a massive global celebration, has its roots right here in BC is something all of us in this province can take pride in," added Angelo.

Robert Sandford, EPCOR Chair of Water Security at United Nations University, says, "BC Rivers Day should be hailed for its impact on the global effort to increase awareness around the vital importance of our water resources and the need to properly protect and steward them."

Further Rivers Day event details can be found at orcbc.ca as well as worldriversday.com