2026

Blue Mountain Watershed Trust, established in 1995, has been hosting See The Salmon every fall for the past 10 years. Our mission is to protect and enhance the Blue Mountain Watershed through advocacy, education, and action. See The Salmon was created to educate the public and invite them to be witnesses to the amazing salmon run. Each fall, the Chinook salmon swim up the rivers of our local watershed to reach their spawning grounds. The event provides an opportunity for participants of all ages to come together and celebrate our watershed and community, and Ontario’s salmon run, while simultaneously paying homage to the importance of the Chinook salmon and other freshwater fish in the prosperity and health of the indigenous first keepers of the land. Whether participants are nature enthusiasts, music lovers, or just want to get more involved in our local events, See The Salmon has it all.

The event consists of a full day of fun outdoor events for all ages:

• See the salmon run upstream in the river as participants hike on the trail.
• Learn from local conservationists, fish experts and Indigenous spokespersons.
• Focus on youth participation and learning.
• Live music
• Nature-based face painting
• Receive educational information on the other places the salmon run upriver nearby.
• Eat delicious food from local vendors.
• Lots of other games, crafts, and fun for kids

Our local watershed ecosystem faces increasing pressure from regional development. The See The Salmon celebration serves as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the public and the health of our water systems. The community lacks the opportunity to learn and take an active role in environmental stewardship for our watersheds and all they offer, in a structured, centralized way. Our mission is to provide that structure and empower the community as environmental stewards.

We are an entirely volunteer-based organization that absorbs all labour costs, but we still need to pay for operations and equipment to ensure the event runs safely and has an educational impact.

We aim to challenge resident apathy. The Chinook salmon run is shaped by human activity, and the fish deserve clean, safe waterways.

Community and Social Benefits:

•  Bringing locals together to enjoy the nature and creatures in our own backyard: The event gets participants out of their homes and into the natural world
• Youth engagement: The event is family-centric and focused on education for both youth and adults through hands-on activities. This year, we are also planning on partnering with youth groups, such as the Boy Scouts, through our Optimist Club connections.
• Partnering with the Optimist Club: This year, we plan to partner with the Optimist Club, which will provide in-kind support. They will organize family-friendly youth activities and assist with the volunteer load.
• Encouraging outdoor activity: See The Salmon is a free opportunity for families, individuals, youth, seniors, and newcomers to get outside and learn about the local ecosystems, which have both physical and mental health benefits.
• Builds community spirit by transforming our watershed into a space of local pride: People protect what they know and love; by showcasing the incredible systems in our area, participants are more likely to advocate for them.
• Eco-tourism and eco-volunteerism: Encourage tourists to participate in eco-tourism and provide opportunities for eco-tourism. Entirely volunteer-based and with a mission to preserve and protect our watersheds.
• Acknowledges Indigenous people as the first keepers of the land: The event has an integrated Indigenous framework that honours the traditional and ongoing relationship that Indigenous peoples have with the space and water.

Environmental Benefits:

• Raises awareness of our local watersheds, rivers, animals, and nature: See The Salmon, an educational event focused on the ecosystems we need to continue to thrive. The event educates the public on what they can do to help us do that.
• Attendees leave the event understanding the vital role of our water systems and why they need protection: Watching the fish swim upstream firsthand helps participants feel emotionally connected to the event, fueling their desire to take tangible action in advocacy.
• Showcases the dynamic ecosystems in the area that deserve to be clean and celebrated: Provides residents with an example of how clean and preserved our water systems should be and look. Encouraging them to pick up trash and clean the rivers whenever necessary.
• Highlights the impact of everyday choices: Educates the public on how stormwater runoff, lawn fertilizer, littering, and other activities affect salmon migration and the health of watersheds.
• Shifts the perspective on watershed protection from a chore to a collective responsibility: By showing how beautiful the salmon run is, and how vital it is to care for the environment in a shared community event, it directly challenges apathy and highlights that we are a collective.