BC River's Day

BC Rivers Day is a province-wide event, held every year on the last Sunday in September. Established in 1980 and coordinated by the Outdoor Recreation Council (ORC), it has been proclaimed by communities across BC and attracts over 75,000 people to more than 100 events each year. The success of this event in BC has also recently led to the establishment of a "National Rivers Day" - and as part of the UN Water for Life Decade starting in 2005, a new "World Rivers Day" will be celebrated each September. This will use BC Rivers Day as a model and concurrent river-related events will take place in a number of different countries.

click on the links below to learn more about World Rivers Day and the United Nations Water for life and Wonder of Water programs


	World Rivers Day Update and Poster		UN Water for Life and Wonder of Water

BC Rivers Day gives the public an opportunity to celebrate this province's spectacular river heritage. From city streams to wilderness whitewater, British Columbians enjoy a wealth of free-flowing rivers.

BC Rivers Day seeks to raise public understanding of rivers and the many benefits they provide to us --- clean water, spawning salmon, historic trade and exploration routes, a place to play. There is much to celebrate, but BC Rivers Day also profiles the threats to our waterways, and offers the public a chance to get directly involved with creating solutions.

	"BC Rivers Day has done much to increase public awareness while encouraging more people to get involved in river stewardship."
	Mark Angelo, BC Rivers Day founder, ORC Rivers Chair, and Order of Canada recipient
	Read recent article in Vancouver Sun about the origins of Riversday and its founder

Read the BC Rivers Day 2007 Proclamation!

BC Rivers Day began in 1980 with a volunteer clean-up beside the Thompson River. The range of events has grown dramatically since then - consider starting one yourself!

	River clean-ups
	School river projects
	River paddle trips
	Exhibitions of art, photos, or video
	Riverside nature walks
	Community river festivals

Many communities organize events for Rivers Day. To see events in your area and province wide, please visit our events page. Choose the region your are interested in, and events planned for the current year will appear. If you are interested in obtaining records of past events, please contact us and we will send a document to you.

Major Events in Rivers Day History

1980		Inaugural event for BC Rivers Day
1993		BC Rivers Day proclaimed official event by 90 local governments and the province of British Columbia
2003		Rivers Day goes National
2005		World Rivers Day is established based on the success of BC Rivers Day and will take place on the last Sunday of each September

For more information about Rivers Day, contact the Outdoor Recreation Council

47 West Broadway, Vancouver, V5Y-1P1
Phone: 604-873-5546	Web: www.orcbc.ca
Email: outdoorrec@orcbc.ca

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC) is the provincial organizer of BC Rivers Day. In addition to the coordinating work of the ORC, event partners include stewardship groups like the Alouette River Management Society, academic institutions such as BCIT, and communities such as the City of Burnaby.




BC Rivers Day Outdoor Recreation Council of BC Mark Angelo -- BC Rivers Day founder, Rivers Canada co-chair BC Heritage Rivers System	World Rivers Day Canadian Heritage Rivers System



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