Connect & Protect Hamilton
On September 17th, 2022, Trout Unlimited Canada, in partnership with Brown Girl Outdoor World (BGOW) hosted the second Connect and Protect event at Joe Sams Park in Hamilton Ontario. Connect and Protect is a program that was designed for the BIPOC community that provides them with a space and the opportunity to get involved in connecting with and protecting the wild outdoors around us.
The morning started off with Conservation Halton (CH) leading an interactive activity on how to build a sediment trap. Throughout the process participants learned about various restoration techniques and how it impacts the stream as a whole. Everyone got the chance to use earth anchors, aircraft cable and mallets to secure old Christmas trees in a section of Grindstone Creek.
Participants learning about in stream restoration techniques while installing a sediment trap with Conservation Halton.
Over lunch participants got to share their own experiences with each other as well as their goals and future aspirations. After lunch, Demiesha Dennis from BGOW gave a talk on her personal experiences and how she got involved with nature and why she started BGOW. She shared how important it is to have Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities involved in conservation and restoration work. Dionne Daley from BIPOC Outdoor Gear Library (BOGL) also spoke to participants about the gear library program in Guelph. The program makes getting outdoors easier and more accessible for everyone. The BOGL allows people to borrow equipment that they may not have such as tents, fly rods, coolers, just about anything!
Patricia, Ontario Biologist at TUC, inspiring others to get involved in restoration work.
After the talks Demiesha Dennis and Shelly Vo from BGOW lead a fly-fishing tutorial where participants learned how to set up their rods, tie on flies, casting techniques, as well as various equipment used in the sport. Demiesha and Shelly also discussed ethical fishing practices and regulations that need to be followed to ensure the safety of wildlife and anglers. With their newfound skills, participants got to hit the stream and practice their casting techniques.
Participants eager to use their newfound skills and ready to try flyfishing in the stream!
Connect and Protect Hamilton was another huge success! A huge thank you to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund for funding this program, as well as Merrell, Redington, Claire Kemp Creative, and Conservation Halton for providing prizes and park passes to participants!