Community Advisor: Brian Smith
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Kevin retired in 2015 after a 41 year career in Sales and Marketing with Canadian Pacific Railway. Not one to sit around, with lot’s of energy he needed to figure out what to do once retired. Having lots of experience volunteering for years while when his kids were young. Helping out with various school activities that eventually moved into sports activities they were involved in.
Approaching retirement and reading about Mossom Creek hatchery and the devastating fire that happened in 2014 he was so impressed that a volunteer organization could bring the community together and raise enough capital to have a beautiful 2 story building built. He decided to meet Ruth Foster and Rod MacVicar (co-founders). Truly impressed and inspired by their passion and stories they shared about their 40+ years of environmental teaching. He started volunteering there immediately. He quickly realized Mossom could use his business knowledge and experience to help run Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement society. They were looking for a President and he offered his services in 2017. Having spent the last 7 years as the president, it’s been a wonderful rewarding experience. Running a community hatchery and education center is like operating a small business. Kevin’s primary functions are to ensure financial viability of the operation, and to attract the best volunteers with skill based knowledge which will keep the operation in good shape. Working with like-minded volunteers makes the job fun.
Most recently Kevin has branched out working with various groups developing ways to protect and monitor creek water quality. I have spent time with other stream keepers assisting them in a variety of areas building on the strengths developed at Mossom. I have worked with North shore stream keepers on a couple projects in their efforts to improve their rivers and creeks on the North Shore.
Most recently teamed up with a company called Flowlink Environmental. They have designed a system which can be used on any construction and creeks site to continuously monitor water quality on a 24/7 continuous basis. They are an independent 3rd party to ensure water leaving the site is released only when meeting provincial and municipal guidelines. Kevin is working hard to promote this technology so it is used on as many construction sites as possible to protect our creeks, streams and rivers. Working on the SEHAB board has greatly expanded my horizons and given me the opportunity to speak with many of our stream keeper and hatchery volunteers. It’s very inspiring to hear all their dedication and tireless efforts to improve the life cycle for our salmon.