Thank You For Joining Us For HerringFest 2021!

We want to thank all of you who were able to participate or support this year's virtual events. Thanks to all 400 people that tuned in live to Herring School and our wonderful speakers, the event was a success! If you were unable to attend or would like to revisit the talks, you can watch them now below. We were so inspired by these talks from authoritative scientists, activists, and First Nations leaders including Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey, Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred of the Namgis, Tlowit'sis, and Mamalilikala Nation, Dr. Briony Penn, wild salmon champion Alexandra Morton, Oceana’s Robert Rangeley, retired DFO Emeritus John Neilson, and MP Gord Johns We would love to hear your feedback on our first virtual the event, please drop us an email at chihornby@gmail.com

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WATCH HERRING SCHOOL WEBINARS PARTS 1 & 2

HERRING SCHOOL PART 1: First Nations Perspective

Watch the first of two live recorded zoom webinars featuring Hereditary Chief of Tsawout of the WSANEC Nation, Chief Eric Pelkey; award-winning writer, naturalist and educator, Dr. Briony Penn; Canadian scientist, television personality, author, and environmental activist David Suzuki; and Archaeologist at Simon Fraser University, Dr. Dana Lepofsky.

HERRING SCHOOL PART 2: Science & Activism

Watch the second of two live recorded zoom webinars featuring the leader of the Swanson Island Marine Harvest fish farm occupation, Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred; famed wild salmon activist and whale expert, Alexandra Morton; Oceana Canada Science Director, Dr. Robert Rangeley; and former Scientist Emeritus at Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dr. John Neilson.

HerringFest 2021 came to an end with a live Q&A session with all of our HerringFest panellists as they discuss possible actions for protecting Pacific herring and achieving a moratorium on the Pacific herring roe fishery.

WATCH HERRING SCHOOL FEATURED FILMS

Casey & Finnegan's First Boat Ride

Join famed puppets Casey and Finnegan of Mr. Dressup as they embark on their very first boat ride onboard the Sun Corona! Captain Grant Scott takes the curious pair on an adventure to discover the spectacular gathering of wildlife that depend on the annual herring spawn.

VIRTUAL SEA LIFE BOAT TOUR

Prepare to experience the annual herring spawn like never before. We’re bringing you as close to the action as possible with views from above, at, and below the surface of the ocean. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and imagine the feeling of fresh sea spray on your skin and the powerful smell of hundreds of sea lions as you take in the best sights and sounds of all the sea life that comes to our waters; seals and sea lions, whales, millions of birds, fish and herring fish boats.

Each year as part of HerringFest, Conservancy Hornby Island offers boat tours by donation so people from all over can experience this spectacular wildlife event in person. Although travel restrictions and an effort to protect our community prevented us from offering these in-person tours for #herringfest2021, we committed time and effort to ensure you could still experience this unique wildlife phenomenon from the comfort of your own home. Please consider DONATING to support Conservancy Hornby Island’s efforts to protect Pacific Herring. All donations receive an instant tax receipt.

HERRINGFEST 2021 ART SHOW OPENING

Conservancy Hornby Island and Hornby Island Arts Council kicked off HerringFest 2021 with an evening of live online performances and the opening of the online Art Show & Sale that benefits both CHI and local artists.

There are still some items for sale and the virtual exhibition will be open until March 31st.

View the Virtual Art Exhibit here!

HERRING SCHOOL PART 1: FIRST NATIONS PERSPECTIVE

Chief Eric Pelkey & Dr. Briony Penn

Hereditary Chief of Tsawout of the WSANEC Nation Chief Eric Pelkey and Dr. Briony Penn present a gripping talk on the state of the herring population in the Strait of Georgia.

Dr. Dana Lepofsky

Archaeologist at Simon Fraser University, Dr. Dana Lepofsky, explains what her findings tell us about what ancient herring fisheries can mean for modern conservation efforts.

David Suzuki

David Suzuki is a Canadian scientist, television personality, author, and environmental activist who is known for his ability to make scientific and environmental issues relatable to the public, especially through his television series The Nature of Things, and for his efforts in environmental conservation. |

HERRING SCHOOL PART 2: ACTIVISM & SCIENCE

Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred & Alexandra Morton

Leader of the Swanson Island Marine Harvest fish farm occupation Hereditary Chief Ernest Alfred of the Namgis, Tlowit'sis, and Mamalilikala Nation shares the success story of the uphill battle of phasing out fish farms in the Discovery Islands and how lessons learned can be applied to achieving a moratorium on the Pacific herring roe fishery.

Famed wild salmon activist and whale expert Alexandra Morton will discuss the impact of salmon farms on herring and the remarkable science under development that allows us to directly ask fish what are the greatest factors that are reducing their survival

Dr. Robert Rangeley & Dr. John Neilson

Oceana Canada Science Director Dr. Robert Rangeley, and Dr. John Neilson, former Scientist Emeritus at DFO, discuss the latest scientific advice on herring.

Gord Johns, MP for Courtenay-Alberni

Gord Johns was elected Member of Parliament for Courtenay-Alberni in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. He was born and grew up in Victoria, settling on the West Coast where he raised his three children and owned and operated a natural clothing and eco-store. He served on Tofino Council and was the Executive Director of the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. Gord is the NDP critic for fisheries and oceans and small business and tourism. His parliamentary motion for a national strategy on ocean plastics pollution was passed unanimously by all parties and led to a single-use plastics ban by the federal government. He has spoken in Parliament more frequently on marine plastic pollution than any other M.P. in Canadian history and second most on wild salmon protection. He has fought against increased oil tanker traffic and for an end to open-net pen fish farming. He was awarded a 2020 Humane Canada Award for Animal Welfare Leadership and Innovation for his role in the passage of the "Free Willy Bill" banning the captivity of whales and dolphins. He is a strong advocate for indigenous rights and proudly received a Nuu-chah-nulth name from the Council of Hawiih in 2015. Gord continues to fight for a whole-ecosystem approach to the allocation of fish harvesting; and, for massive investment in salmon habitat protection, restoration and enhancement. He is widely known for his leadership in protecting our coastal communities.