Come Celebrate the Return of the Horsefly River Sockeye

HORSEFLY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 6, 2014) - Department of Canadian Heritage

The Horsefly River Roundtable will celebrate the return of sockeye salmon to their spawning grounds on the Horsefly River, thanks to $2,000 in funding from the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program.

Festival activities include musical performances, a variety of interactive centres with hands-on displays about water quality and marine invertebrates, poetry readings, gyotaku (Japanese fish printing) demonstrations and presentations by the Northern Shuswap Nation.

Richard Harris, Member of Parliament (Cariboo-Prince George), made this announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

Quick Facts

• The 9^th Horsefly River Salmon Festival will take place September 27 and 28, 2014, coinciding with BC Rivers Day.
• The Horsefly River Salmon Festival was inaugurated in 2001 to help celebrate and offer education about one of British Columbia's most important resources.
• BC Rivers Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in September each year, making it Canada's largest river-appreciation event.
• The Horsefly River is located more than 750 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean.
• The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in activities that present local arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.

Quotes

"Local festivals bring people of all ages and backgrounds together and help build strong communities. I am proud that our Government has taken action to strengthen our shared sense of heritage. This festival is not only educating residents, students and tourists; it is showcasing the rich culture and heritage of the region and its people."

-The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

"Thanks to the Horsefly River Roundtable's ongoing dedication, visitors and residents can learn about the importance of the salmon run and aquatic life in the Horsefly River. We are pleased to invest in these kinds of celebrations that strengthen our communities."

-Richard Harris, Member of Parliament (Cariboo-Prince George)

"The Horsefly River plays an important role in British Columbia's cultural heritage. The area was part of a north-south travel route used by First Nations prior to the arrival of Euro-Canadian settlers and later by all inhabitants of the area. In 1859, the first gold discovery in the upper Cariboo region was on the Horsefly River. The Horsefly River Salmon Festival showcases the connection between cultural celebrations and the natural world around us."

-Maureen LeBourdais, Manager, Cariboo Chilcotin Region, Fraser Basin Council and Director, Horsefly River Roundtable

Associated Links

Horsefly River Roundtable

Horsefly River Salmon Festival

BC Rivers Day

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage

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