It’s been over a decade since anyone has seen salmon return to Meadowridge School’s side of Latimer Creek. Once a salmon-bearing waterway, the last officially recorded return was in 2005. In 2012, a group of local environmental stewards released 4,000 hatchery-raised coho salmon fry into the creek, hoping to restore its ecological vitality. Since then, there had been no sign of their return—until now.
This spring, in April, returning coho salmon were spotted in the creek for the first time since that 2012 release, marking what may be the fourth generation of salmon coming home. The significance of this moment is not lost on the community, especially those who have worked to restore and care for the creek over the past decade. This also motivated Ms. Rajeev to start a “Salmon Come Home” project, where she combines physics, chemistry, and biology to address the local issue of salmon not returning to Latimer Creek. Students can investigate the factors that have contributed to the absence of salmon over the years.
Much of this work has been rooted in riparian restoration efforts along the creek’s banks. Students, particularly those in Grade 4 from Ms. Chow-Go and Ms. Lum's classes, have been involved in learning about and contributing to this ecosystem. Though their salmon were raised and released at Kanaka Creek, the students are deeply aware of the life cycle of salmon and their vital role as a keystone species. Without them, entire ecosystems can collapse—from the creatures that feed on them to the nutrients their life cycle brings back to the forest.
Earlier this spring, representatives from the Alouette River Management Society (ARMS) visited to help assess the health of the creek. The findings were promising. “Our section of the creek is very healthy overall,” says Mr. Willms. “The major concern now is streamflow. With climate change, we’re seeing longer dry spells followed by intense rainfall events. It’s either all water at once or none.”
For coho salmon, this variability is especially concerning. Unlike some salmon species that migrate quickly to the ocean, coho fry remain in freshwater streams for up to a year. That means they need stable, flowing water for extended periods—something that’s becoming harder to guarantee.
Looking ahead, James Willms has a vision: ten years from now, Latimer Creek could become a pristine salmon spawning corridor. But that vision will require the involvement of the entire community. The creek runs between private properties, including homeowners to the east and Hackers Haven Golf Course to the west.
“We’ll need a full community effort moving forward,” Mr. Willms says. “But that’s what makes it exciting.”
The return of the salmon isn’t just a win for the creek—it’s a reminder that with patience, persistence, and collaboration, meaningful ecological change is possible. With continued care and a focus on long-term resilience, the salmon’s return to Latimer Creek may be just the beginning.