About SCSS
Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society is a group of people from different communities along the Sunshine Coast. Our goal is to have each creek monitored and to advocate for wild salmon!
We will continue to speak for those with no voice.
Salmon are a keystone species, vital in sustaining many ecosystems and creatures including orcas, bears, eagles, and insects. Each creeks needs to be pristine. The forests also need the salmon as they contribute to the whole health of its eco-system.
It is more important than ever that we stand up for wild salmon! They are under severe threat by so many issues. Sadly, the numbers in almost all species of wild salmon are decreasing, many are listed now as endangered.
We value the watersheds along this coastline. There are many projects that could put those watershed in peril with the push for residential developments/projects, cut block logging, including a proposed new highway that could affect many of our creeks.
Please join us!
Please like and follow us on facebook too!
Directors of SC Streamkeepers Society
Kelly Paddock, Secretary
Kelly has lived in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast since 2017 when she retired from a career in Education. Kelly has a deep appreciation for mother nature and its gifts. As a defender of the natural world she has found her work as a Streamkeeper, monitoring local creek health and witnessing the amazing return of spawning salmon, extremely rewarding.
Denise Olson, Vice-President
Denise is a retired midwife who has had a home on the Sunshine Coast for 37 years. A biologist at heart , she is dedicated to helping nature maintain her balance and is excited to see wild salmon recover with the work of Streamkeepers.
Shirley Samples, President
Shirley is a Cook’s Ferry Indian band member (Spences Bridge, BC). She moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2017 and founded Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society shortly after. She is a fierce warrior for Mother Earth and her inhabitants. Her mantra and her motivation for her life work is: “When the most vulnerable are at risk, we are all at risk. We must speak for those with no voice.” Shirley is a proud mom of 2 grown sons and a brand new grandson named Leo born July 6, 2024. His arrival has renewed her commitment to protect what we have for future generations.
How did Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society begin?
Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society was founded on August 16, 2018. As a new resident of Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast, Shirley was amazed at the beauty and diverse creeks and forests that were virtually untouched. Malcolm Creek flows through the property she resides and this watercourse raised some questions: Are there salmon in this creek? What can I do to protect this creek and the wild salmon?
Most of our work comes from the framework started many years ago by the Pacific Salmon Foundation. Please see the Streamkeepers Handbook for a description of the different modules. We are very appreciative of the work that has gone into this handbook and the support we receive from the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation.
What are SCSS goals and how do we plan to accomplish those goals?
Our main goal is to speak for wild salmon. We do this by gathering data so we will have a solid record of the salmonids that inhabit the creeks on the Sunshine Coast. We have many volunteers who have taken up the role to be advocates for the creek in their community. We hope to have an advocate for each creek! If you would like to be one of those, please contact us! An advocate is someone who watches over the creek so anything that could put at risk the healthy environment is brought to the attention to the local government or take steps to remedy it ourselves if possible.
The riparian areas have federal, provincial and municipal laws that are there to protect them. In order for those laws to have an effect, we need eyes and ears on the creek! That is what Streamkeepers are – by our regular visits to the creek to take water quality assessments and other projects, we are the eyes and ears!
We recognize with honour and gratitude that we live and work on the unceded lands of the Skxwú7mesh-ulh (Squamish) and shíshálh (Sechelt) nations, who have been here since time immemorial.
Please email us at scstreamkeepers@gmail.com for more information and to volunteer!! 🙂
Video credit: Dolf Vermeulin