11th ANNUAL FESTIVAL EVENT SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

Salmon Fest Kickoff Concert featuring Sonic Alley & Sangria

Friends of Clayoquot Sound and Tuff City Radio present Caleb Hart’s new band Sonic Alley, and Sangria to kickoff the Festival with a night of celebration and dancing under the stars.

Friday, August 29

The Village Green

Free Event, 6-10PM

Upstream Shakedown Party featuring Nesto, Parab Poet, & Friends

A fun night of music featuring Nesto and Parab Poet – 2 upbeat DJs whose raw energy will get you moving and grooving co-presented by Friends of Clayoquot Sound and Tofino Tea Party.

Friday, August 29

The Maq

$5 @ the Door, 10PM-1AM

Salmon Forest Big Tree Trailbuilding & Restoration Excursion

Join Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks and Friends of Clayoquot Sound to build and restore the iconic Big Tree Trail on Meares Island and learn about the local ancient salmon forest ecosystem. There is limited space for this special excursion so registration is required.

Saturday, August 30

Big Tree Trail on Meares Island

Free Event, 10AM-3PM

Family Fun Beach Day Sand Castle Competition with Music & Beach Clean

Tuff City Radio is organizing a fun day on the beach building sand castles. You can celebrate Clayoquot Salmon Festival by helping us build a big salmon or cleaning the beach with a silent disco headset. There’ll be food vendors, music, and prizes for the best sand castles and most marine debris collected.

Sunday, August 31

Cox Bay

Free Event, 9AM-5PM

Spawn Til Dawn Dance Party featuring Tofino Tea Party

Friends of Clayoquot Sound team up with The Maq and local legends Tofino Tea Party to bring you a fun evening of the most danceable music. And for your get down, it’s all free!

Sunday, August 31

The Maq

Free Event, 9PM-12AM

Salmon Printingmaking Workshop

Come learn from Tla-o-qui-aht artist Ivy Cargill-Martin 1pm-4pm to design, carve, print your very own salmon. Create a print or card for the love of salmon. Supplies are provided and this workshop is for all levels of experience. Space is limited so registration is required.

Monday, September 1

Tofino Community Hall, Multi-Purpose Room

Free Event, 1PM-4PM

Voices for Salmon, Tla-o-qui-aht Cultural Group

Witness the Tla-o-qui-aht Cultural Group sharing songs, stories, and dances about salmon, their interconnected role in a healthy ecosystem, and important perspectives on salmon protection and solidarity.

Monday, September 1

Anchor Park Totem Pole

Free Event, 7-8:30PM

Salmon play an integral role for coastal livelihoods, cultures, and ecosystems in Clayoquot Sound. And they lead incredible lives, starting in freshwater then migrating to the ocean. Salmon stay at sea for years before their homing instincts guide them back, to the freshwater systems they were conceived in, to reproduce. Celebrating this magnificent species that provides that backbone of this coast is what inspires Friends of Clayoquot Sound to organize the annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival and this marks the 11th Annual!

From August 29 – September 1 there will be a variety of events, with something for everyone. The Clayoquot Salmon Festival is timed to coincide with the return of the salmon for spawning on the west coast. Anyone who has witnessed salmon hurling themselves upriver and over obstacles during the spawn knows their tenacious and inspiring drive to give life to the next generation. The Festival always prioritizes celebrating the salmon return together as a community with creative spirit. For the 11th Annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival, we have an awesome lineup of music including Sonic Alley (Caleb Hart’s new band), Nesto, Parab Poet, Sangria, Tofino Tea Party, and definitely a couple surprises.

Clayoquot Salmon Festival aims to offer residents and visitors an opportunity to reflect upon, and build an active appreciation for, the irreplaceable value of salmon in Clayoquot Sound. Salmon are essential to protecting a way of life rooted in the Pacific northwest environment, which is why salmon protection is a central theme for the Festival. Register for our special excursion with Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks at the Big Tree Trail. Come learn about the salmon forest ecosystems and throw down for some trailbuilding and restoring.

At least 137 different species depend on the marine-rich nutrients that wild salmon provide. As a keystone species, salmon support coastal life including orcas, bears, wolves, and eagles while providing nutrients to the ancient rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. Celebrate your love of salmon by creating your own salmon print during a workshop Ivy Cargill-Martin.

Salmon are also under significant stress in the environment from climate change and water pollutants from industry. As a coastal community, it’s critical for us to protect salmon by keeping the ocean and local beaches clean. At the Beach Day and Sand Castle Building Competition hosted by Tuff City Radio, you can help build a big salmon and participate in our beach clean. Shoutout to all the local businesses providing prizes for the best sand creations, as well as the most marine debris collected.

Indigenous Nations continue to lead society in upholding a vibrant, life-sustaining relationship with salmon. In 2024, Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation introduced conservancies, nearly doubling the protected forest area of Clayoquot Sound to over 60%. These remaining intact salmon watersheds are composed of free-flowing rivers and dense forests that shelter clean drinking water for Tofino and absorb global carbon emissions, helping to guard against the most severe impacts of climate change to us humans, salmon, and all life. The ancient salmon-forest ecosystems of Clayoquot Sound and across the west coast need to be protected. On September 1, at Voices for Salmon, Tla-o-qui-aht Cultural Group will share songs, stories, and dances about salmon, their interconnected role in a healthy ecosystem, and important perspectives on salmon protection and solidarity. This is not to be missed!

Thanks to the District of Tofino, contributing organizations, and all the sponsoring businesses. To stay up to date about events and location specifics, please check the Festival website or Clayoquot Salmon Festival on Facebook. And to volunteer for the Clayoquot Salmon Festival contact the organizers at salmonfestival@focs.ca or (250)725-4218.

See you there!

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From August 23 – September 2 there will be a variety of events, with something for everyone. The Clayoquot Salmon Festival is timed to coincide with the return of the salmon for spawning on the west coast. Anyone who has witnessed salmon hurling themselves upriver and over obstacles during the spawn knows their tenacious and inspiring drive to give life to the next generation. The Festival always prioritizes celebrating the salmon return together as a community with creative spirit. For the 10th Annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival, we have an awesome lineup of live music including Handsome Tiger, Downtown Mischief, Wave Dalton, Crazy Fish and DJ Cypress Che, Mountain of Wires, Kieran Campbell, Brothers, Berlin, a night for the poets, and probably a couple surprises.

Clayoquot Salmon Festival aims to offer residents and visitors an opportunity to reflect upon, and build an active appreciation for, the irreplaceable value of salmon in Clayoquot Sound. Salmon are essential to protecting a way of life rooted in the Pacific northwest environment, which is why salmon protection is a central theme for the Festival. Come learn about the salmon forest ecosystems during a Guided Salmon Forest Walk with Raincoast Education Society. Come participate in a Washed Up Wednesday Beach Clean, and learn about ocean protection with Surfrider Pacific Rim.

At least 137 different species depend on the marine-rich nutrients that wild salmon provide. As a keystone species, salmon support coastal life including orcas, bears, wolves, and eagles while providing nutrients to the ancient rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. But salmon are also under significant stress in the environment from climate change and water pollutants from industry. We are offering free screenings of some incredible films – called “Coextinction”, “Warrior Spirit”, and “Salmon Warriors” – about salmon protection for a special presentation of the Tofino Night Market’s Gust of Wind series.

Indigenous Nations continue to lead society in upholding a vibrant, life-sustaining relationship with salmon. This year, Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation introduced conservancies, nearly doubling the protected forest area of Clayoquot Sound. These remaining intact salmon watersheds are composed of free-flowing rivers and dense forests that shelter clean drinking water for Tofino and absorb global carbon emissions, helping to guard against the most severe impacts of climate change to us humans, salmon, and all life. The ancient salmon-forest ecosystems of Clayoquot Sound and across the west coast need to be protected. On September 2, at Voices for Salmon, Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks will share songs, stories, and dances about salmon, their interconnected role in a healthy ecosystem, and important perspectives on salmon protection and solidarity. This is not to be missed!

Thanks to the District of Tofino, contributing organizations, and all the sponsoring businesses. To stay up to date about events and location specifics, please check the Festival website www.focs.ca/salmonfestival or Clayoquot Salmon Festival on Facebook. And to volunteer for the Clayoquot Salmon Festival contact the organizers at salmonfestival@focs.ca or (250)725-4218.

See you there!

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• Indigenous Nations Facilitate $1.1 Billion Nature Agreement with Governments Aiming to Protect 30% of Land and Sea in BC by 2030

• New Film “Rematriation” Explores Canada’s History with Logging as an Extension of Colonialism

• Trees + Seas Festival Makes Community Connections on the West Coast

• How the Wanačas Hiłhuuʔis Blockade Protected Tofino’s Water & Inspired Innovative Approaches to Environmental Justice Since 1984

• Celebrating the Frontlines of Environmental Conservation Movement Building & Actions for 45 Years!

• First Nations Coalition Supports Fisheries Minister’s Decision Closing 15 Salmon Farms in the Discovery Islands

• Salmon Farms Quietly Expanded in Clayoquot Sound? DFO’s Conflict of Interest Exposed as 2025 Salmon Farm Removal Date Nears

• Building Community + Remembering What’s Important at the Clayoquot Salmon Festival

• Salmon Story Reflections with Michael Mullin Friends of Clayoquot Sound Founder & Director

• Understanding the Social and Environmental Impacts of War Provides Motivation to Advocate for Peace

• UN Climate Summit Highlights Need for Fossil Fuel Phaseout

Read the FOCS 2024 Winter Newsletter here.

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In September, Friends of Clayoquot Sound coordinated the 9th annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival. Across the peninsula, we celebrated this magnificent species because salmon play an integral role for coastal livelihoods, cultures, and ecosystems. The Clayoquot Salmon Festival continues to offer residents and visitors an opportunity to reflect upon, and build an active appreciation for, the irreplaceable value of salmon on the west coast. With salmon protection being a central theme, the Festival included the Love Your Beach Clean at tinwis with Surfrider Pacific Rim, as well as the Salmon Fun Run Fundraiser with Redd Fish Restoration.

The Village Green hosted a Salmon Solidarity Film Night as well as the Strawberry Island Marine Research Society in constructing the skeleton of a real orca while learning about the biology, ecology, anatomy, evolution, and conservation of killer whales and other marine mammals who are part of the salmon ecosystem. Due to the road closures caused by the Cameron Lake wildfires in the summer that postponed some of the Tofino Jazz Festival, for the 2023 the 2 festivals collaborated for 2 nights for free live music events. The celebrations culminated with a dance party curated by Tofino Tea Party at the Village Green. Thanks to all the contributing organizations, activists, artists, festival goers, sponsors, and supporters including the District of Tofino, Hotel Zed, Long Beach Lodge, Pacific Sands Beach Resort, Tofino Time, and Tuff City Radio. We’re already stoked for 2024!

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Salmon play an integral role for coastal livelihoods, cultures, and ecosystems in Clayoquot Sound. And they lead incredible lives, starting in freshwater then migrating to the ocean. Salmon stay at sea for years before their homing instincts guide them back, to the freshwater systems they were conceived in, to reproduce. Celebrating this magnificent species is what inspires Friends of Clayoquot Sound to organize the annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival!

From September 1 – September 10 there will be a variety of events, with something for everyone. The Clayoquot Salmon Festival is timed to coincide with the return of the salmon for spawning on the west coast. Anyone who has witnessed salmon hurling themselves upriver and over obstacles during the spawn knows their tenacious and inspiring drive to give life to the next generation.

The Festival always prioritizes celebrating the salmon return together as a community with creative spirit. For the 2023 Clayoquot Salmon Festival, we are featuring outdoor live music collaboration with Tofino Jazz Festival for the nights of September 1 and 2 . And the music continues inside with Roar Sessions during the afternoons on both weekends. The celebration culminates with a dance party curated by Tofino Tea Party DJs on September 8th at the Village Green.

Clayoquot Salmon Festival aims to offer residents and visitors an opportunity to reflect upon, and build an active appreciation for, the irreplaceable value of salmon in Clayoquot Sound. Salmon are essential to protecting a way of life rooted in the Pacific northwest environment, but salmon are also under significant stress in the environment from climate change and water pollutants from industry. This is why salmon protection is a central theme for the Festival. Come participate, and learn about ocean protection with Surfrider Pacific Rim at the Love Your Beach Clean at tinwis on September 9, or the Salmon Fun Run on September 10 with Redd Fish Restoration.

At least 137 different species depend on the marine-rich nutrients that wild salmon provide. As a keystone species, salmon support coastal life including orcas, bears, wolves, and eagles while providing nutrients to the ancient rainforests of Pacific Northwest. Learn more at the Tofino Community Market on September 2 by assisting researchers from Strawberry Island Marine Research Society in constructing the skeleton of a real orca while learning about the biology, ecology, anatomy, evolution, and conservation of killer whales and other marine mammals who are part of the salmon ecosystem.

Throughout Clayoquot Sound, the remaining intact salmon watersheds are composed of free-flowing rivers and dense forests. The forests shelter clean drinking water locally and absorb global carbon emissions, helping to guard against the most severe impacts of climate change to us humans, salmon, and all life. Come learn about the ancient salmon-forest ecosystems of Clayoquot Sound and across the west coast that still need to be protected with a free screening of “Rematriation” and “Salmon Stories” on September 7.

Indigenous Nations continue to lead society in upholding a vibrant, life-sustaining relationship with salmon. On September 5, at Voices for Salmon, Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks will share songs, stories, and dances about salmon, their interconnected role in a healthy ecosystem, and important perspectives on salmon protection and solidarity. This is not to be missed!

Thanks to Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks, Tribal Park Allies, Surfrider Pacific Rim, Redd Fish Restoration, Strawberry Island Marine Research Society, Tofino Jazz Festival, and all the sponsors including District of Tofino, Tourism Tofino, Pacific Sands, Long Beach Lodge, and Hotel

To stay up to date about events and location specifics, please see the event listings here or follow Clayoquot Salmon Festival on Facebook.

And to volunteer for the Clayoquot Salmon Festival contact the organizers at salmonfestival@focs.ca or (250)725-4218.

See you there!

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Join Us for the August weekend for the Trees & Seas Festival at different locations within Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks.

Are you passionate about protecting, conserving, and preserving our beautiful planet and eager to make a positive impact? We invite you to be part of an incredible environmental stewardship events during the August long weekend, in collaboration with Redd Fish Restoration,  Surfrider Pacific Rim, and Friends of Clayoquot Sound 🌎

Mark your calendars:

August 4th

“Rematriation” Film Screening from 8-10pm at the Tofino Night Market, following the Gust of Wind performances and hosted by Friends of Clayoquot Sound and the talented filmmakers themselves!

Let’s kick off the event with an inspiring documentary set in our own backyard on Vancouver Island! Thanks to Pacific Sands Beach Resort for their generous support hosting the filmmakers.

Event link: https://focs.ca/event/trees-seas-festival-rematriation-film-screening-gust-of-wind/

August 5th

Rain Garden Restoration with Redd Fish

Meet us at Wickanninish Community School at 10am for snacks and coffee before we roll up our sleeves and give some love back to the Rain Garden. Breakfast will be provided. Don’t forget your closed-toed shoes!

Event link: https://focs.ca/event/trees-seas-festival-rain-garden-restoration/

August 6th

We’ll continue our mission by participating in a beach cleanup (Cox Bay, 10am) with Surfrider Pacific Rim. Together, we’ll collect litter and debris to ensure our precious coastline remains pristine for generations to come. After the cleanup, we’ll gather at Long Beach Lodge for a delicious lunch, courtesy of our generous partners at Long Beach Lodge Resort.

Let’s come together as a community and create a positive impact on our environment.

Event link: https://focs.ca/event/trees-seas-festival-beach-cleanup

Spread the word, invite your friends!

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