Yesterday I attended the announcement of the Living Rivers Trust Fund, where BC Premier Gordon Campbell announced a tripling of the fund to $14-million. The story seems to have totally missed all local news outlets, with the except of the lamentable paywall at the Vancouver Sun, so here’s the story and some photos I took of the event.
The Fraser River Park played host to the event held on a day when wind gusts topped out at 80 km/h. The north arm of the Fraser River provided the backdrop to a podium and speakers. Whitecaps rolled along the river in great undulating waves. A throng of handlers, reporters and interested folks had formed when I arrived. The Premier arrived a few moments later with Dianne Ramage of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, both sporting rubber boots.
BC Environment Minister Barry Penner kicked off the speaking and said a few words before introducing the Premier. Gordon Campbell spoke well about the importance of rivers to BC, how they provide the lifeblood of our province, and how salmon are the key species for the health of both the people and land. He announced an increase in the funding of the Living Rivers Trust Fund to the tune of $14-million. (I expect a press release with the details of the funding will appear one day. When it does I’ll update this post.)
John Woodward, the Chair of Living Rivers Trust, followed the Premier. Then came George Hungerford, Chairman of Pacific Salmon Foundation and Patrick Reid, Chair of the Fraser Basin Council. All of them talked about what the announcement of more funds meant to the rivers of BC, how they had worked long and hard to achieve the recognition of the importance of rivers, and how the money would bolster conservation and rehabilitation efforts. Barry Penner wrapped up the event.
Everyone then followed the Premier and Dianne Ramage down a path along the riverbank. Bystanders stood on a raised wooden platform while a ceremonial tree was planted by the Premier, Minister Penner and Dianne Ramage. This was the photo opportunity and it felt surreal to see all the cameras focused on this singular event while so much more happened outside the focus of the event. An eagle flew overhead and landed in a tall fir tree.
The Premier did a few television interviews. People milled about and chatted. Gradually they dispersed. As I left I walked past reporters sitting in their cars, writing their stories on notepads and filling in the details they remembers. This, I thought, is how the news gets made.
