Spirit Returned

Courier-Islander
Published:Friday, April 16,2010

Through all the diversity that shrouds the wild salmon issues on this coast, one bright light can be directly attributed to the spirit and connectedness Campbell River has with the resource.

And that light shines squarely on the shoulders of the Campbell River Salmon Foundation, an organization that in just three years has raised about $300,000 - all of which goes directly to local fisheries projects.

Theirs is not an easy mandate either. It is "promoting salmon enhancement between the Oyster River and south of the Salmon River Estuary and the adjacent Mainland Coast."

That's one large area. The members of the CRSF realize that it is all connected and all vital in the cause of helping wild salmon.

This year's banquet raised $126,000 - an amount, given the nature of things, that is astounding for this community.

The driving force behind the foundation is Mike Gage, a man who may ruffle some feathers along the way, but who makes projects fly.

And we wouldn't want to ruffle Mike's feathers either by not mentioning the incredible work and dedication of his board and of the many volunteers who get together to put on the auction and who participate all year long in helping the CRSF attain its goals.

At one time this type of community spirit seemed to be on the wane, but the Campbell River Salmon Foundation has been able to revive that spirit to its full splendor. The future of wild Pacific salmon may be up in the air, but the spirit to help is alive and well in the Salmon Capital of the World thanks to the CRSF.

©Courier-Islander (Campbell River) 2010