LOCAL stewardship groups are winning praise from members of the federal government.
Specifically, West Vancouver Streamkeepers and the Pacific Salmon Foundation are being recognized for the salmon rearing pond the groups installed in Centennial Park in West Vancouver.
The Streamkeepers held a grand opening for the pond, which will serve as a temporary home for salmon fry to mature safely before they head to sea, earlier this year.
"As a member of the standing committee on fisheries and oceans, fisheries biologist, passionate angler, and a fisheries conservationist, I was struck by the dedication, creativity and passion of the angling groups that we met with in British Columbia," said Robert Sopuck, MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette, in a press release.
John Weston, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, recently hosted Sopuck for a tour of the North Shore.
The feeling is apparently mutual.
"Our ability to successfully engage the government on wild pacific conservation was greatly enhanced by Weston's leadership, involvement, and direction as he has been a vocal and active supporter of our proposal of having 100 per cent of salmon conservation stamp revenue returned to the community and volunteer groups that can make the most of it like the West Vancouver Streamkeepers Society," said Mike Meneer, the foundation's director of marketing, development and communications.
