We’re thrilled to announce that Molly Cooperman’s video of spawning sockeye on the Adams River has been randomly selected as the grand-prize winner of our 2021 #SalmonSpawnWatch contest!

In our first ever #SalmonSpawnWatch campaign, we received over 70 entries from supporters who headed out from July into late October to document salmon returning in many areas of our province! We received entries from the Nechako River, Bella Coola, the Interior and dozens of pictures and videos taken at rivers and streams all over Vancouver Island and at waterways in the space between Squamish and Hope (the Mamquam near Squamish was particularly popular!). 

The salmon spawn is one of the greatest animal migrations on Earth. While we created this challenge to celebrate that, we also recognize, from the comments and messages, that some of you visited streams that once teemed with salmon, and discovered record low numbers of fish, or even no salmon returning at all. If this was your experience, we hope you will share it. We want to hold space for these stories as well. 

Please note, even with the contest wrapping up, wild salmon are still spawning in some areas of B.C. and we encourage you to continue to go out, document the returns and share online with the #SalmonSpawnWatch tag. 

Congratulations, Molly, you have won a truly incredible prize: a 3-day, 2-night, all-inclusive experience at REO Rafting Resort on the banks of the Nahatlatch River in the Fraser Canyon, where four species of salmon return to spawn! 

It was a pleasure to partner with a B.C., family-owned and operated resort and give one lucky supporter their most popular package, valid for two guests and worth over $1300 the prize includes meals, snacks and drinks, yoga classes, and a guided hike. As well as the opportunity to self-select a white water rafting adventure, or a more relaxation track with a full-body massage. Enjoy your getaway, Molly!

This prize was made possible by the generous support of Bryan Fogelman, REO Rafting Resort’s owner/operator. It was an honour to have Bryan support our work in this outstanding way!

Check out our awesome photo gallery below!