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First Time Salmon Art Show and Charity Auction

man holding salmon in a stream regarding restoring fish habitat

Maintaining and restoring fish habitat helps our environment

The Pacific Salmon Foundation and the Sandbar Restaurant on Granville Island are getting together to raise money and support salmon restoration and regeneration with a charitable “Salmon Art Show” on Wednesday, March 2.

The show will provide an opportunity to purchase striking images of salmon in their natural B.C. habitat. For anyone who has purchased a fishing licence in the last twenty years, the romantic images of silver fish, dynamic in their natural environment and pursuing their prey, will be very familiar. These images have appeared for the last 23 years on the Salmon Conservation Stamp that every angler must buy in order to keep salmon caught in B.C.’s tidal waters.

Accent Inns Business Development Manager, John Espley, had the privilege of being a judge for the most recent art contest in which they choose the winning piece that becomes the annual salmon “stamp”.

“The quality and beauty of these pieces is phenomenal. I certainly would have enjoyed owning several”.

Now, for the first time, high-quality lithograph reproductions of these images are being put up for silent auction at the Sandbar Restaurant. As a special bonus, each of the prints will be individually signed by the artists themselves, who are among Canada’s most renowned wildlife artists. They are Curtis Atwater, Mark Hobson, and Bill Munsie. Mr Munsie will be in attendance at the event to talk to the guests.

Sandbar Restaurant’s executive chef Will Tse has created a mouth-watering spread of salmon-inspired canapés for the event. Guests at the 150 person stand-up event will enjoy items like salmon ginger cakes with citrus tarragon crème fraîche, smoked salmon & white cheddar quiches & sockeye salmon tataki.

“This is truly a one-of-a-kind event,” said Brian Riddell, President and CEO of the Pacific Salmon Foundation. “Whether you are an angler, conservationist or just someone who appreciates salmon, these images are very special.”

Money raised from the art show will support volunteer programs across the province that address salmon conservation and habitat renewal – Since 1989 the Pacific Salmon Foundation has provided these groups with $8.8 million for 1,236 projects, which was then leveraged locally by more than 30,000 volunteers for a total impact of $64 million for salmon.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlgYxv0kf4M[/youtube]

The event takes place Wednesday, March 2nd, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sandbar restaurant. Tickets are $30 and include a ‘host’ drink. Call the Foundation for reservations at 604-664-7664, ext 100.

Remember, when travelling around B.C. show your fishing license at any Accent Inn front desk and portion of every stay will go to support the work of the Pacific Salmon Foundation. Learn more at Fish for the future.