Rick StiebelThe Chronicle
The Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club are one of three groups to reel in $10,000 that will go towards protecting local salmon habitats.
Dave Judson, president of the Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club, said the funding the club received went toward a major repair of the failed culvert at Ladysmith Golf Course.
“This was brought to the Town’s attention a couple of years ago but wasn’t addressed,” Judson said. “That caused a much more extensive project because the culvert plugged and the bank collapsed.”
Judson said the Ladysmith Sportsmen’s Club, which does extensive work rebuilding creeks and restoring salmon habitat, greatly appreciates the funding it receives from the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
“We couldn’t do the work we do without them,” Judson noted. “We also greatly appreciate the support we receive from local contractors who volunteer their services to assist with projects.”
The PSF announced the grants last week that have a value of close to $50,000 when factoring in volunteer time and community fundraising, said PSF, president Dr. Brian Riddell.
“We are pleased to support the projects by the Ladysmith Sportsmen Club, the Stz’uminus First Nation and the Mill Bay and District Conservation Society,” Riddell said.
The salmon habitat assessment and restoration projects are key components of the foundation’s Community Salmon Program, which supports community groups, volunteers and First Nations throughout B.C.
These groups put in countless hours monitoring watersheds, developing and implementing habitat rehabilitation projects and educating communities about the conservation and protection of salmon, Riddell explained.
The majority of funding for the Community Salmon Program is raised through sales of the Salmon Conservation Stamp, which is a decal that anglers must purchase annually in order to keep salmon caught in saltwater off of Canada’s west coast.
Currently, all proceeds from the $6 stamp are returned to B.C. through the PSF, generating more than $1 million for community grants annually.
The foundation also raises money through fundraising dinners, auctions and donations from corporations, businesses and individuals. Major corporate support is provided by TimberWest and Goldcorp as well.
“The Community Salmon Program is the heart of the Pacific Salmon Foundation’s work,” Riddell noted. “By working together with government, business, First Nations, communities and volunteers, we can find the best way to ensure the future of wild Pacific salmon.”
For more information, visit psf.ca.
