The Burnaby Lake Park Association would like to wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday season. Thank you for your continued support through a most unusual year.
A quick recap of what the BLPA was able to achieve. The board and our new coordinator Natasha developed a COVID-19 safety protocol for our programs and we were able to host 5 small and socially distanced work parties with over 30 volunteers and 70 hours. In addition to doing maintenance on various restoration sites in Burnaby Lake Regional Park, our volunteers helped support Metro Vancouver Regional Parks by planting over 400 native species at Sapperton Landing on the Brunette-Fraser Regional Greenway. Although the provincial health orders put a stop to our activities this year, we are pleased with what was achieved given the situation and that people wanted to join us in our work. We are happy to report that the post event volunteer surveys showed that 100% of the participants felt prepared with our registration procedures, the safety protocols were followed and that they felt safe attending the event.
I want to thank the our board members who have continued to meet monthly since the pandemic started. We have been doing a lot of behind the scenes work and getting to some of those projects that have been on the backburner for a long time. We will be in touch in the new year to get your feedback on ideas and possible new ways you could help us with our programs.
We will look forward to seeing you in the park again when it is safe to do so. We hope you can get out into the park with your household bubble.
Warmest wishes and all the best for 2021,
Irene Lau Member – Board of Directors – Chair
If you haven’t been down to Piper Spit in a while, click here or below to enjoy this little walk by local photographer Silvester Law on December 10, 2020.
This is usually the weekend that the BLPA hosts its annual Holiday Open House as well as support Metro Vancouver Regional Park Interpreters with the Christmas Bird Count for Kids. However, due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions, there will not be an official event hosted at Burnaby Lake Regional Park this year. We hope that we will be able to host an Open House event in the new year.
But great news! Our friends at Birds Canada, have provided several resources so you can still do your own Bird Count with your household bubble according to the BC Provincial Health Officer orders. It’s a great way to enjoy and explore nature in the winter. Whether you are an experienced or novice birder, you can join in by tallying birds at Burnaby Lake Regional Park, a neighbourhood field or in your very own backyard or from your patio.
Remember to have fun, stay safe, and if you post on social, tag us at #burnabylakepark, @burnabylakepark and #cbc4kids #BirdsCanada. We would love to see how much fun you get up to and your favourite memories of your count!
We are happy to share the news that Elmer Rudolph, who has been a leader in the Sapperton Fish & Game Club for over 35 years, has been recognised by the City of Burnaby with a 2020 Environmental Award in the category of Community Stewardship, for his outstanding commitment to community action for environmental protection and rehabilitation of the Brunette River, which Burnaby Lake flows into at the east end of the park.
From the City of Burnaby’s September 29, 2020 news release:
Elmer Rudolph has shown outstanding commitment to community stewardship, conservation and environmental protection with efforts that have rehabilitated Burnaby’s natural environment.
Since being recognized with an Environmental Award in 1996 — the very first year of Burnaby’s awards program — Mr. Rudolph spent the following 24 years volunteering to protect Burnaby’s diverse ecosystems. Mr. Rudolph is a former member and president of the Sapperton Fish & Game Club, where he has volunteered since 1984 leading conservation initiatives and rehabilitation programs in the Brunette watershed. He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to community stewardship through his actions and advocacy for pollution prevention and the ecological health of the Brunette River and Burnaby Lake. Mr. Rudolph has worked on rehabilitation projects that include the installation of large woody debris and in-stream weirs, and the cleaning out of spawning beds to provide opportunities for successful salmon reproduction.
In 1997, Mr. Rudolph played a key role in starting a community fish hatchery in Burnaby, which has enhanced salmon populations in the Brunette River watershed, including significant salmon-bearing streams in Burnaby such as Eagle Creek, Still Creek, Beecher Creek, Guichon Creek and Deer Lake Brook. The community hatchery operates through the Salmonid Enhancement Program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which works to conserve fish stocks, rebuild the salmon population and improve fish habitats. Each year, Mr. Rudolph volunteers his time to work on salmon rehabilitation projects, coordinate and manage volunteers, and advocate for the protection and conservation of salmon. He also spends time engaging youth in initiatives and educating them on the importance of species conservation.
Mr. Rudolph has played an exemplary role in community stewardship for the Brunette River and has inspired those who have worked alongside him, as well as his community. His dedication, leadership and commitment to protecting Burnaby’s diverse ecosystem has made a positive impact on species conservation while demonstrating the importance of community action for environmental protection.
You will find this sign installed at Cariboo Dam at the east end of Burnaby Lake which connects it to the Brunette River It features Elmer Rudolph and the important work he participated in to clean up the river so the salmon could return. Congratulations, Elmer! You will find out more history about the Brunette River watershed here.
There City presents two levels of awards:
Environmental Award – Recognises environmental achievements of a larger scale, such as long-term commitments to an organization or cause, leadership, and projects of a significant size and relatively complex scope that have a broader community impact.
Environmental Star – Recognises environmental achievements of a smaller or more individual scale that may serve to catalyse larger initiatives and inspire others.
To find out more about the City of Burnaby’s Environmental Awards Program and the other 2020 winners, click here.
The BLPA and some of its members have been recognised in the past for their efforts in Community Stewardship: (*under its former name)
2016 – Star – Dave Stafford
2008 – Award – John Thomson, Burnaby Lake Advisory Association*
2008 – Award – Tony Fabian, Burnaby Lake Advisory Association*
2006 – Star – Burnaby Lake Advisory Association* Weedbusters
