COQUITLAM, B.C., October 8, 2025 – Coquitlam’s popular Salmon Come Home event is back, inviting everyone to Hoy Creek Hatchery for a day of free, family-friendly activities and hands-on learning as the salmon return.

• Date: Sunday, October 26
• Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Location: Hoy Creek Hatchery
• Cost: Free

Visitors can explore the fish hatchery, learn about salmon fry, view returning salmon, and even watch a fascinating salmon dissection up close. Interactive exhibits and a food cart with vegetarian options add to the fun. Attendees can also enjoy:

• Nylon Zoo: A fan-favourite, this inflatable salmon-themed adventure includes a costume parade for children.
• Well-Worn Trail: Interactive storytelling, songs and remarkable facts about wildlife in Canada.
• Musical Entertainment: Enjoy live performances throughout the day.
• Explore Nature Passport Contest: Participate in this family-friendly contest for a chance to win eco-friendly prizes.

Learn and Explore

In addition to the activities, visitors can engage with a variety of educational displays from community stewardship groups, including the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), City staff from the Environment and Parks divisions and more.

This event offers a unique opportunity to witness the salmon returning to their home creeks and to learn about their extraordinary journey.

Celebrate the Salmon Life Cycle

Co-hosted by the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, the Salmon Come Home event honours the remarkable salmon life cycle. After spending years at sea, salmon return to the creeks where they hatched, spawning and dying to complete their journey.

Chum salmon typically return from early October to mid-November, while Coho arrive from late October to mid-December. The timing can vary based on weather conditions, so Coquitlam residents are encouraged to visit Hoy Creek and other local streams throughout the fall to catch a glimpse of this natural wonder. For self-guided exploration, check out the scavenger hunt map at coquitlam.ca/SalmonComeHome.

Protecting Coquitlam’s Waterways

Help protect local salmon and aquatic life by participating in the City’s Adopt-a-Catch Basin and Storm Drain marking programs. Did you know storm drains empty directly into local streams? By keeping drains clear of debris and preventing harmful substances from entering them, you’re playing a key role in safeguarding our fish habitats.

For more details or to get involved, visit coquitlam.ca/AdoptaCatchBasin or contact the City’s Water Conservation Coordinator at WaterConservation@coquitlam.ca or 604-927-3636. 

Keep Hazardous Waste Out of Streams

Substances like pool chemicals, pesticides, paint and oil can harm fish and wildlife if they are not disposed of properly. These materials must be discarded safely. Visit Coquitlam’s Waste Wizard tool at coquitlam.ca/recycling to learn where to take hazardous waste.

Media contact:
Julie Kanya
Manager Environmental Education and Enforcement
epw@coquitlam.ca
604-927-3500

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.