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Junction Creek Festival and trout release this weekend

Trout, turtles, bugs and more at 8th annual festival
090516_trout_release
Those who attend the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee's 8th annual festival this weekend will help release brook trout into the creek, get to meet live turtles that live in the watershed and identify some of the aquatic bugs that call the creek home. Supplied photo.
The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee is inviting the public to attend their eighth annual festival this Saturday, May 14 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Twin Forks Playground on Gary Avenue.
 
This year, with the help of a grant from the Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network (BEAN), the committee will be focusing on biodiversity of Junction Creek with lots of activities for everyone to help out. 
 
Festival-goers will help release brook trout into the creek, get to meet live turtles that live in the watershed and identify some of the aquatic bugs that call the creek home. 
 
Attendees will also help make "seed bombs" they can bring home. These clay vessels are filled with native milkweed seeds to help increase the disappearing monarch butterflies.
 
As well, there will be an opportunity to plant native Highbush cranberry seedlings  that were grown with the help of Collège Boréal from seeds collected in the Junction Creek Watershed.
 
"Biodiversity is really the stepping stone for a vibrant and healthy ecosystem,” said Restoration Manager, Shannon Dennie. 
 
"All the activities taking place at our Festival this year, from the trout release to planting native seedlings will ensure that we help Junction Creek thrive. Every little bit helps. That's the message we'd like to get across."
 
The JCSC was formed in 1999 with the mission to “restore all life to the Junction Creek ecosystem: native wildlife, insect and plant life, and to improve the quality of life for humans as well.”
 
They have been reintroducing brook trout into the waterway in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources since 2000. 
 
The hatchery-raised trout are provided as a donation from the OMNR. Members of the public are asked to keep an eye out for brook trout in the stream, and to let the group know if they see one. 
 
The festival will run this Saturday May 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is a free event for everyone. For more information contact Dennie at [email protected] or 705-525-8736.

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