COQUITLAM, B.C., October 6, 2026 – After spending years in the ocean, Coquitlam’s salmon are returning home to spawn. On October 25, residents are invited to Hoy Creek Hatchery for a day of free, family-friendly activities and hands-on learning at the much loved Salmon Come Home event.
- Date: Sunday, October 25
- Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Location: Hoy Creek Hatchery (see below for directions)
- Cost: Free
This event offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the extraordinary journey salmon take to return to their home creeks in Coquitlam. The fish hatchery will be open to visitors where they can learn about salmon, view returning salmon, and even watch a salmon dissection up close. Attendees can also enjoy:
- Nylon Zoo puppet show, storytelling and costume parade
- Salmon Talks with Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- An introduction to the Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program, including a special owl ambassador
- Musical performances by the Coquitlam Youth Orchestra to start the day and Steven Marriott throughout the day
- Join the Environmental Division to create a festive salmon hat
- Food and hot beverages are available onsite to purchase
In addition to interactive activities, visitors can engage with a variety of educational displays from community stewardship groups, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, Coquitlam’s Environment and Parks divisions and more.
How to Get to the Hoy Creek Hatchery
The Hoy Creek Hatchery is located within Hoy Creek Linear Park, just off Guildford Way.
Parking near the trail is limited so visitors are encouraged to walk or take public transit when possible. To access via SkyTrain, take the train to Lafarge–Douglas Station then walk across Pinetree Way and follow Guildford Way to the trailhead entrance. If you’re driving, free parking is available on Sundays in the aboveground City staff lot by Coquitlam City Hall, accessible from Burlington Drive. This lot is a short walk to the trail entrance across Guildford Way. Additional parking is available in Town Centre Park. For more information, visit our website.
Honouring the Salmon Life Cycle
Co-hosted by the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, the Salmon Come Home event celebrates the remarkable journey of salmon returning back to the creeks where they hatched, then spawning and dying to complete their life cycle.
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 residents are encouraged to visit Hoy Creek and other local streams throughout the fall to catch a glimpse of the salmon as they make their way back into Coquitlam’s creeks. 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 disposing of harmful substances properly, you are playing a key role in safeguarding our fish habitats. For more details or to get involved, visit our Adopt a Catch Basin page. Visit Coquitlam’s Waste Wizard Tool to learn where to take your hazardous waste.
Media contact:
Caresse Selk
Senior Manager Environment
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.