Celebrate BC &
World Rivers Day
Celebrate BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day at the FRDC! We’re thrilled to announce the return of RiverFest for its 24th year! Proudly presented by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, representing the Port of Vancouver, this beloved community event is a FREE, family-friendly celebration of the living, working Fraser River.
This year, RiverFest will take place on September 26, and 27—offering a dynamic mix of exhibits, live performances, exhibitor expo and artisan market, the Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade, and many fun activities for all ages.
On September 19, we’re excited to offer a series of walks and workshops that invite you to connect more deeply with the river and its stories. These include an Indigenous plant walk, a forest health and ecology workshop, a guided walk along the quayside, and a workshop about aquatic animals in cities. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Pre-registration will be open soon.
Enjoy free admission to the Discovery Centre all weekend on September 26-27 and join the festivities! The festival program is below; different activities are planned for each day.
SATURDAY, SEPT 19
Guided Walks and Workshops
10:00am – 11:30am @ New Westminster Quay
with Senaqwila Wyss
Join Senaqwila Wyss for a guided plant walk exploring Indigenous plant knowledge, cultural teachings, ecology, and relationships to the Fraser River and surrounding plant communities.
Participants will learn about traditional and contemporary uses of local plants, Coast Salish perspectives on stewardship, and ways of reconnecting with the land through observation, storytelling, and sensory experience.
Senaqwila Wyss is Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, Tsimshian, Sto:lo, Hawaiian, and Swiss. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Faculty of Communications, Arts and Technology, with a minor in First Nations Studies. She also holds a First Nations Languages Proficiency Certificate in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim. She and her husband are raising their 5-year-old daughter, along with her adopted 10-year-old niece, to be first-language speakers — something that had not been done in her family for four generations following colonial impacts. Senaqwila practices ethnobotany alongside her traditionally trained mother, Cease Wyss, working with Indigenous plant medicines. Raised with these ancestral teachings, she uses plants in teas, medicines, tinctures, and ceremony through her Indigenous tea company’s loose-leaf teas.
Notes:
- Meeting location: Fraser River Discovery Centre
- Suitable for all ages.
- Please come dressed for the weather as the event will take place outdoors.
Register here.
11:30am – 1:00pm @ Mundy Park
with Priya Puri
Have you ever wondered what makes a forest healthy? In this immersive workshop, you will explore the ecosystems of Mundy Park to learn about all things forest health. Using real field tools and guides, you will discover the ecological connections and species that work together to make a healthy forest. Taking a closer look at different species of fungi, you will learn their role in forest structure and diversity. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of forest health and ecology, as well as how to monitor and study natural environments.
Priya Puri is the Forest Conservation Program Coordinator at Raincoast Conservation Foundation. She completed her Master of Science in Forestry at UBC in 2024, where she specialized in forest pathology and tree breeding. Priya also completed her Bachelor of Science Honours in 2020, also at UBC Forestry, where she focused on plant/forest physiology, genomics, and ecology. Priya studied the decline of native Arbutus menziesii – a unique tree species characteristic of Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems.
Raincoast is a team of scientists and conservationists empowered by research to safeguard the land, waters, and wildlife of coastal British Columbia. The organization investigates coastal species and ecological processes to deepen understanding, informs decision-makers and communities by translating science into action, and inspires efforts to protect wildlife and wildlife habitats.
Notes:
- Meeting location: Mundy Park (south entrance at Hickey and King Albert)
- Suitable for ages 12 and above.
- This walk takes place outdoors, rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
Register here.
1:30pm – 2:30pm @ New Westminster Quay Boardwalk
with the Fraser River Discovery Centre
Learn about the many communities, both human and non-human, the Fraser River is shaped by and supports as you stroll down the New West Boardwalk.
Notes:
- Meeting location: Fraser River Discovery Centre
- Suitable for all ages but intended for older children to adults.
- This walk takes place outdoors, rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
Register here.
3:30pm – 4:30pm @ New Westminster Quay Boardwalk
with Jaylen Bastos
Urban ecologist and wildlife educator, Jaunting Jay, is leading this workshop to provide you with a hands-on, wet and wild opportunity to learn about urban waterways, including sampling, stream assessment, mapping, riparian vegetation identification and more!
Jaylen is Vancouver’s leading Black, Queer, and Non-binary Urban wildlife ecologist. Their research focuses on urban predator behaviour, to better understand human-wildlife interactions within the city of Vancouver.
Jaylen strives to bring the intersections of their identity into their advocacy, education, and research. Presently, Jaylen is focusing on raccoon behaviour across Vancouver’s different land-use areas. You can connect with Jaylen through social media @jaunting.jay on all platforms or through their website at zoboomafoolish.com.
Notes:
- Meeting location: Fraser River Discovery Centre
- Suitable for all ages but intended for older children to adults.
- This walk takes place outdoors, rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
Register here.
SATURDAY, SEPT 26
Activities
Family Fun Zone • 10:00am – 4:00pm @ the Centre
Explore the FRDC’s interactive exhibits and participate in hands-on activities located throughout the building to learn about the stories of the Fraser River.
These river-themed workshops invite children and parents to create their very own river creature using air-clay. Explore the world of sculpture while having fun learning basic clay shaping techniques. This workshop is presented Arts New West.
Sturgeon Stage
The mainstage will feature live performances throughout the day:
JB the First Lady @ 11am
Jerilynn Webster, aka JB the First Lady, is a member of the Nuxalk & Onondaga Nations. She is a Vancouver-based hip hop and spoken word artist, beat-boxer, cultural dancer and youth educator. With four studio albums under her belt, JB sees her songs as a way of capturing oral history and isn’t afraid to write lyrics that speak to challenging subjects like residential schools and missing and murdered indigenous women.
Uptown Swing @ 12pm
Uptown Swing Collective is a New Westminster based registered non-profit society. They are passionate about creating intergenerational connections between musicians, dancers, and toe tappers, by providing live music in accessible and welcoming spaces in the heart of New Westminster.
Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) @ 1:30pm
Returning to the Sturgeon Stage for their fifth year, Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) celebrates their ancestral lands and Coast Salish communities through traditional song and dance. Composed of near and extended family, Coastal Wolf Pack has members ranging from as young as 6 months old to over 50 years of age.
ZORNITZA Dance Ensemble @ 3pm
Zornitza Dance Ensemble is a group of young dancers who love and cherish their European roots and aspire to showcase their culture and celebrate their community. Most of them have been involved in Bulgarian dancing for over 10 years. The group’s mission is to highlight and showcase all of the unique and diverse qualities of Bulgaria and its surrounding Eastern-European regions. With colorful costumes and captivating music, Bulgarian folklore is an exceptional collection of spiritual wealth that has been built over centuries, and these dances embody that.
Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade – Presented by Ledcor @ 2:15pm
The Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade takes place on the New West waterfront! Find a good place to watch vessels from a variety of companies and organizations cruise by. This is a great opportunity to learn about just a few of the 42,000 jobs that the Fraser River supports! The FRDC would like to thank Ledcor for sponsoring the workboat parade
Exhibitor Expo & New West Craft Artisan Market
Soak up the sights as you stroll along the New Westminster Quay where exhibitors will share their expertise and makers will showcase their skills and wares.
Samson V Museum • 12:00pm – 4:00pm
The museum will be open from 12pm to 4pm for visitors to interact with maritime community members aboard the vessel!
SUNDAY, SEPT 27
Activities
Explore the FRDC’s interactive exhibits and participate in hands-on activities located throughout the building to learn about the stories of the Fraser River.
Samson V Museum • 12:00pm – 4:00pm
The museum will be open from 12pm to 4pm for visitors to interact with maritime community members aboard the vessel!
The Fraser River Discovery Centre would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in making RiverFest 2026 possible.
