Did you know that BC Rivers Day started off with one cleanup on the Thompson River and is now celebrated as World Rivers Day in over 100 countries? TNCC celebrated by participating in two events in the Thompson Watershed: a Rivers Day cleanup at McArthur Island Park and Bert Edwards Rivers Day Event.

Thompson River Cleanup

On Sunday, September 24, TNCC’s intern, Alex, collaborated with Kamloops Naturalist Club (KNC) to host a volunteer river cleanup in celebration of World Rivers Day. This event not only helped clean Kamloops’ Thompson River of garbage, but also educated the public about World Rivers Day and the importance of keeping our rivers clean. The event also paid homage to the original BC Rivers Day which began with one cleanup event on the Thompson in 1980. In 2005, BC Rivers Day evolved to World Rivers Day and this year more than 100 countries across 6 continents participated in what has become one of the planet’s biggest environmental celebrations. Thanks to all the volunteers who joined us. Read an article published on the cleanup efforts by CFJC Today.

Bert Edwards School Rivers Day Event

TNCC and KNC collaborated to join Bert Edwards School’s Rivers Day event on September 28. This event is hosted by the school every year to bring awareness of the world’s rivers, their importance to our environments, and how students should care for them. Various organizations from across Kamloops come to support this event and share different activities with the students that show how we can help preserve and protect our rivers.

TNCC and KNC led a scavenger hunt bingo activity and a nature walk around the beach of the North Thompson River where students would search for the items on the sheet. The students seemed very interested in this activity, and they learned a lot about native plants and the salmon lifecycle along the way!