Staff here at the Discovery Centre are heading into our biggest week of the year. This Sunday we’ll be joining millions of others around the world to celebrate World River’s Day. Us BC-ers can be especially proud of this day, since World Rivers Day has its roots firmly planted in BC. (Or perhaps I should say that World Rivers Day has its headwaters running from BC? *insert groans here*)
In 1980 river conservationist and BCIT instructor, Mark Angelo founded BC Rivers Day. Its success led to the establishment of World Rivers Day in 2005. The day, now endorsed by the UN, offers a chance for millions of people to gather together at hundreds of events held worldwide on the last weekend of September to celebrate river systems and promote water stewardship. We are especially excited for this year, since the 2009 World Rivers Day feature river is our own Fraser River.
The Discovery Centre has been working for the past few months with the City of New Westminster and the Arts Council of New Westminster to plan this year’s World Rivers Day event, the 6th Annual Artists on the River. Thanks to financial assistance from Canadian Heritage and from the City of New Westminster, this coming Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 3pm, the Quay and the Discovery Centre will be filled with artists and activities all designed to encourage an appreciation for the Fraser River.
Over 20 visual artists will gather at the Fraser River Discovery Centre and along the boardwalk at the Quay to share with the public how the river inspires their work. I invite you to drop by and watch art demonstrations and chat with the artists. Inside the Discovery Centre, you can get creative at a number of stations celebrating art and our connection to the Fraser River. Kids can create a river hat, get their hands dirty at the pollution model, enjoy puppet shows or paint a fish with Stream of Dreams to decorate the fence adjacent to the Discovery Centre. And on Sunday (BC and World Rivers Day) musicians will be entertaining the crowds.
Click here for a full schedule of events. Click here for more information on BC Rivers Day and here for World Rivers Day.
Artists on the River will be held rain or shine so cross your fingers for another sunny weekend and come to the Discovery Centre to be inspired by the river!
