Project Investment:

• Island Coastal Economic Trust: $175,000
• Total Budget: $1,406,000

Project Highlight:

There were over 500 people at the grand opening ceremonies and open house.

The Northern Vancouver Island Salmonid Enhancement Association had been operating out of a series of aging trailers, with their work far outgrowing the structures. They wanted to build a facility that could properly support their salmon conservation objectives, while also supporting Port Hardy’s growing tourism market. Historically, the Association worked with  federal funding, and it became time to create a self-sustaining business that could operate independently, if necessary.

The Quatse Salmon Stewardship Centre project constructed a 4,300 square foot multi-purpose building that includes a family-friendly interpretive gallery with professionally designed exhibits, as well as a classroom and wet and dry labs. The building is also home to the Quatse River Hatchery fish production and rearing facilities.

Completed in 2009, the new Stewardship Centre provides a world class visitor experience, which has proven especially popular with European. Visitors can explore an interpretive gallery to learn about salmon, their relationship to the environment and their cultural importance to the area. The Centre has also attracted the attention of tour operators from Germany, the US, Australia and Japan and provides the region with a quality, no-barrier indoor experience to complement the many outdoor and wilderness activities available on the North Island.