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Coho Festival at Ambleside Park

Welcome to the 34th annual

The Coho Festival will go back to a one day event this year and will feature our famous Coho Salmon Barbeque, the Coho Beach Bar, Stewardship Zone, Kids Park, Main Stage, the Squamish Nation Village, the Coho Walk, Coho Run, Coho Swim and much more.

The Coho Salmon Barbeque has been the cornerstone of the Coho festival since it's inception 34 years ago. This year we will again be featuring wild Coho Salmon provided by Albion Fisheries. The salmon is endorsed sustainably harvested by Ocean Wise, SeaChoice and Ecotrust. Wonderful organic wild greens and cherry tomato salad, organic BC corn on the cob dressed with spiced butter and beef smokies are being provided by Whole Foods Market.

The Coho Beach Bar is celebrating its 10th year as part of the Coho Festival this year. Located right on Ambleside Beach will be offering fresh craft beers from Russell Brewing Company, premium wine and cider from our friends at Liberty Wine Merchants. The Village Taphouse will be on deck providing great burgers, smokies and hand cut fries. Adam Woodall will get the day rolling with great music in the Beach Bar. As we are a family event children 9 and under may accompany their parents into the Beach Bar.

The Stewardship Zone has over 20 exhibitors who are all involved in rejuvenating, maintaining and improving our streams, rivers, oceans, parks and forests for now and generations to come. Guests of all ages will learn more about the environment and how to be better stewards of what we have. A must see at the festival.

The Coho Kids Park is filled with fun activities for children of all ages. The Kids Park is a bonus for kids who come to the festival. Kids as young as 3 will have fun on bouncey castles & tossing games. Older kids can take selfies in our photo booth or try out the climbing wall. Treats include scoop icecream! The Squamish Nation will again be participating in the festival welcoming all to Swá?wi (Ambleside Park). The Squamish Nation Village will have displays and materials to share and educate all on Squamish Nation traditions and culture with a focus on their interconnections and relationship to the salmon. This year the village will offer more artisans including weavers and carvers who will be offering their precious crafts for sale to the public.

The Coho Festival became a Zero Waste Event last year and with great success. Again this year the Coho Festival will have only organic, compostable and recyclable materials on site.

For many years the Coho Society which governs the Coho Festival has been working towards a "Zero Waste" event and last year we made it happen. With help from WCS Recycling we sent over 5000 pounds of organic and compostable material to be composted and 600 pound of recyclables to be recycled a 99% diversion rate. The Coho Festival did not generate any material destined for a landfill.

The continued focus of the Coho Festival is the environment. The festival is now primarily a fundraising event to assist North Shore stewardship groups' efforts to rebuild, repair and maintain salmon and other aquatic species habitats. It is also an educational event where we can all learn how to be better stewards of our communities and our planet.

I hope to see you there, David Jones Festival Chair, Coho Festival 2013

Coho Swim 1.5km or 3km

Choose from 1.5 km or 3 km options starting and finishing close to the iconic welcoming pole that marks the entrance to the Capilano watershed. Swimmers can register on site but are encouraged to pre-register with an entry form from www.cohosociety.com

PACKAGE PICK-UP 7:45 -8:30 AM at the Beach

Bar (on Ambleside Beach)

CHECK-IN 8:00 -8:30 AM at Start Line

RACE START 9:00 AM

AGE GROUPS Under 19 to 70+ in five year age groupings

Coho Run 14km

This incredible 14 km journey starts from Kitsilano Beach, takes you through Vanier Park along the seawall, then over the Burrard Street Bridge along the English Bay seawall to Second Beach in Stanley Park, and finally, over the Lion's Gate Bridge and into Ambleside Beach Park to the birthplace of the North Shore Coho salmon. The 14K distance provides a great challenge for the 10K runner and a fabulous training run for the ½ marathon trainer. Please visit www.cohorun.com

CHECK-IN 7:30 -8:45 AM at Start Line

RACE START 9:00 AM

START LOCATION Kits Beach, Kitsilano

FINISH LOCATION Ambleside Beach, West Vancouver

AGE GROUPS Under 19 to 70+ in ten year age groupings

SHUTTLE BUS From Ambleside to Kitsilano before event. Bus leaves at 7:45 AM.

The buses depart from the intersection of Bellevue Ave and 13th Street across from the West Vancouver Police station. Shuttle service will also be available back to the start line at about noon. You may purchase your ticket for the shuttle at the time of registration. Cost $5.

Coho Walk 4.5km or 8.5km

Follow the journey of salmon from hatchery to ocean with this walk/hike. Enjoy performers and discovery stations along the 4.5 km walk from Cleveland Dam to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, or hike the entire 8.5 km trail to Ambleside Park. Participate in the Geocaching treasure hunt. Get your passport stamped to win prizes! Free buses to Cleveland Dam run 9:30 am to 2 pm. Park your car at the Park Royal North/East parkade located at corner of Taylor Way and Marine Drive. Board the bus on Clyde Avenue at Taylor Way, across from the gravel parking lot. Dogs are permitted along the trail but not permitted on buses.

The last bus returns from the Capilano Suspension Bridge at 2:45 pm. We suggest you start your walk no later than 12 Noon to catch the last bus.

No registration required. Admission by donation. For more info, visit www.cohofestival.com