Standing in modern-day False Creek, it was difficult to imagine what it would have looked like before colonial influence. Seeing historical images of the area allowed me to recognize the changes that have occurred. Vast forests have been replaced by towering skyscrapers, indigenous fishing boats have given way to industrial shipping vessels, and diverse intertidal zones have transformed into barren, manmade ledges. It is seldom that we reflect on how our cities came to be, but this reflection is a critical step in planning for the future. My favorite part of our field trip to False Creek was reconnecting with the ocean in the context of conservation and interacting with people who are making practical changes to my community.

When I heard that we were going to False Creek, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have lived in Vancouver for years, I thought, what is a walk down to the beach really going to teach me? I moved to British Columbia from a landlocked province and I was extremely excited to live near the ocean. However, despite my best intentions, I rarely ever visit the beach and I haven’t stepped foot near the ocean in months. This trip reminded me of the connection to the ocean that many of us feel. When you are communicating the importance of the ocean, it is important to remember the ways that the ocean benefits people beyond subsistence. In 2019, I attended a talk by David Suzuki where he spoke about the importance of caring about where you live and having a connection to that place. If people cared about their lands more, they might have more interest in undertaking conservation projects to protect their environment. I think that the same is true about the ocean: If people are able to connect with ocean life in some way, they will be more interested in preserving it.

Talking to Fraser was incredible because fishers are the people who connect with the ocean the most, so it is critical that we include them in discussions of ocean conservation. I have never interacted with a fisherman before and I was surprised at his multidisciplinary knowledge. In a short talk, he touched on the economic, ecological, social, and political issues surrounding Canadian fisheries. It was fascinating to see all of the gear that they use and hear about companies who are doing things right. That part of the trip was a large dose of ocean optimism, especially when volunteers passing by told us that herring were spawning in False Creek for the first time in decades!

During our visit to Habitat Island, I asked Mark Adams why he thought it was important to recreate nature in a city rather than protecting natural habitat. He mentioned the importance of natural spaces for low-income families who couldn’t afford to take trips into nature. I appreciated that perspective because I often approach conservation from a more scientific position rather than considering how people are interacting with nature. In this course, we have learned that you need to engage people’s minds and hearts in order to make change. By bringing natural spaces into urban areas, you can pique the interest of many more people than you could with a journal article or a pamphlet.

While I see Mark’s habitat island as a positive change, it is sad that many people will walk by unaware of its significance. He described the sign at the island entrance as ineffective, noting that the text was far too small and the placement was inadequate. While I was strolling through the islands with some of my classmates, we discussed how people walking by could just think that the island is a dirtier area of the coast if they didn’t see the sign. If you have never been exposed to the natural environment in BC, you might just think that the island is an unkempt part of False Creek rather than a deliberate educational tool. The lack of signage highlighted the importance of good communication for conservation efforts. Even if you do a good thing, if you don’t amplify the achievement it will not live up to its full potential. By engaging the community in your efforts, you can gain support for future projects and inspire more people to take action.

This trip led me to consider what I want my impact to be. Fraser and Mark are great advocates for the ocean, but both of their projects were meddled with by people in power. Fraser could not afford the startup costs of becoming a fisherman, so a billionaire who makes money mining gold helped him out. Now he has restrictions on where he can sell most of his fish. Similarly, Mark couldn’t get support from the Vancouver Parks Board, so he had to create a new island instead of operating in an existing park. Then, when he had the project running, the Board adjusted his design and included features he did not want. While I understand that sometimes you have to make compromises for the greater good, it is frustrating to know that no matter what I do, I am working in a system where much larger players can thwart my plans at any moment. If you are being funded by someone who benefits from the status quo, how can you have a large impact? I don’t mind having a small impact, but it seems that the world is headed for disaster with the current climate crisis and I don’t think moderate change is going to cut it.

Although it may be difficult to imagine what False Creek was like in the past, talking to people like Mark and Fraser made it a little bit easier to look toward a positive future. Although it is challenging to avoid being pessimistic about the state of the world, it is incredible to meet some of the amazing members of my community who want to work towards ocean conservation.