This year, the founder of Rivers Day is celebrating three anniversaries. Forty years ago, Mark Angelo paddled the length of the Fraser River, which inspired the annual ecological celebration. Thirty-five years ago, B.C. Rivers Day was born, and 10 years ago, World Rivers Day.
Now, the event is celebrated in more than 70 countries, the world-renowned conservationist said, and it started right here in Burnaby.
I’ve had a passion for rivers ever since I was a little boy,” Angelo told the NOW. “I’ve long believed that rivers are the arteries of our planet, they’re life lines in the truest sense.”
After paddling the Fraser, Angelo joined with some friends in 1980 and approached the province about endorsing a celebration of the province’s rivers.
About 10 years later, they went to local governments asking them to proclaim B.C. Rivers Day as well, he said.
“The very first local government I approached was the City of Burnaby,” he said, adding they were enthusiastic about the initiative. They then approached more than 90 governments in the province, he added.
And now, it’s celebrated throughout the world, he added.
“It’s grown to the point where it became one of the biggest environmental celebrations of its kind,” Angelo said. “To have an event now like this that’s celebrated across the province and around the world, to put the spotlight on rivers and our waterways and the incredible values that they possess, has been great to see.”
The Burnaby celebration takes place on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Burnaby Village Museum. Participants are encouraged to wear gumboots to help test water quality or pull invasive species from the nearby creek. There will be more than 20 environmental organizations on site, along with activities, interactive displays and entertainment. For lunch, there’s a wild salmon barbecue for $12.95.
The museum is at 6501 Deer Lake Ave.
