Yesterday, the Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Project held the official commencement of the stream restoration activities of Phase 2. It was accentuated by a successful get together of Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Society staff, and government officials from agencies such as the District of Campbell River, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. As well, members of the community, press, and of course, the Mayor of Campbell River, Jim Lornie, were present at the ceremony. It was held at the initial stream access point directly across from the Haig-Brown House Education Centre, north of Campbell River.

A symbolic turning of the sod by the Mayor was the highlight of the event, with Kevin Brown, the Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Society's Education Coordinator, as master of ceremonies. This gesture symbolized the beginning of the first physical steps towards creating a new stream channel to handle the flows for Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek's East Branch.

In his speech, Mayor Jim Lornie extended thanks and recognition to those groups that have seen this project come to life. Specifically, appreciation was expressed for the three levels of co-operating government, the Haig-Brown Kingfisher Creek Society, Barrie Brown (who owns of much of the upper watershed), Campbellton Elementary, and everyone else who has contributed time and effort over the past years.

The first stretch of stream channel is 170 metres long, and will hopefully be completed by the end of the week. Once this section is finished, the work will continue as the machinery and labour crew work their way further upstream. They will work step by step in hopes of completing the construction of the thousand or so metres of new stream channel by the end of the summer. It is certainly an ambitious goal, but it is this type of ambition that has enabled the project to advance to its present stage in the first place.

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