Beer!
It’s an attention-getting word and, this month, the bubbly brew may have more to do with the Coquitlam River and protecting the environment than many people realize.
That’s because an alliance of community groups, government agencies and industry representatives working on projects to keep the river clean and healthy is using a Coquitlam craft brewery to help get its message out to the public.
On Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m., the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable will be holding a family friendly event at Mariner Brewing, featuring talks, tastings and displays where people can find out more about the roundtable and what it’s doing to protect the Coquitlam River.
“We’re really hoping to bring in some new faces and to bring in new people to volunteer and further the watershed plan,” explained Jill Dwyer, roundtable co-ordinator.
“It’s more like a meet-and-greet networking event,” Dwyer told The Tri-City News, although she said the group still wants to get its message out so there will be five-minute “pop-up” talks where roundtable members will talk about the latest initiatives, including what’s being done to encourage the development community to be more environmentally sustainable.
“It’s for anyone who wants to come and listen,” added Dwyer, who said snacks, along with beer tastings and non-alcoholic drinks, will be served.
As well, the first 50 attendees will receive a free, limited edition Roundtable/Mariner Brewing growler bottle.
Dwyer agreed said the roundtable is a bit of a challenge to describe to people because it is not a single group but a collaboration between groups, government agencies, utilities and others who work in and around the river, all of them with a stake in its long-term viability. For example, current members include representatives from the local arts community, the gravel mining industry, developers, BC Hydro, Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam cities, and the Kwikwetlem First Nation as well as conservation groups and BCIT.
This kind of cross-collaboration is necessary, Dwyer said, because no one agency is responsible for the river’s health, so everyone has to work together to protect it.
The event at a brewery is one of many initiatives, including appearances at local festivals, to spread awareness of the importance of conservation to ensure a healthy watershed.
“There are a lot of people in the community that want to get more involved in these kind of issues and they might not know about the roundtable,” Dwyer said, “and there are lots of opportunities to volunteer.”
• More information about the roundtable is available at www.coquitlamriverwatershed.ca. Mariner Brewing is located at H-1100 Lansdowne Dr., Coquitlam
