LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “The challenges we face today are immense, but we just have to keep plugging away. I spend so much time with children; that is one of the reasons that led me to write the book The Little Creek That Could. My grandchildren were my source of inspiration,” stated Mark Angelo – conservationist and founder of BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day (January 2022)
Note to Reader:
Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the vision for Living Water Smart in British Columbia to build greener communities and adapt to a changing climate. The edition published on January 23th 2022 featured The Little Creek That Could, a children’s book by Mark Angelo. Known far and wide for his numerous river conservation and restoration initiatives, Mark Angelo is an iconic figure in British Columbia.
Mark Angelo’s “The Little Creek That Could”
The Little Creek That Could is a children’s book. But it is much, much more. It is an “oral history” about a lifetime commitment to bringing a degraded urban stream back to life. The book is inspired by the true story of how Mark Angelo, as a young teacher, led the charge alongside students, teachers, and community members to restore Guichon Creek, a small urban creek in the City of Burnaby – demonstrating to readers how the power of one can impact change.
Engagement of Community
“I am such a believer in engaging the broader community as best we can. Going back 50 years ago to the 1970s when I was first starting as a streamkeeper, being a streamkeeper was a lonely undertaking. Streamkeepers were few in number. One of the great steps forward that I have seen over the decades is that now there are many many streamkeepers and there streamkeeper groups attached to virtually every stream in the Lower Mainland,” stated Mark Angelo.
“I am sure you could say the same in many other areas around the province. These groups are volunteers. They are people who put in thousands of hours, keep an eye on local waterways, and profile issues when they arise. They are people who approach local governments to help them deal with and correct those issues.
“They are advocates for local creeks and streams, and I am just such a believer in that engagement. That is one of the messages attached within The Little Creek That Could as well. The book talks about when people come together and a community gets involved. When they work to bring a creek back to life, they can do incredible things!”
A Lifetime Influence
“The Little Creek That Could starts off talking about the kinds of things I did as a little boy beside creeks – skipping stones, trying to catch water striders, looking for critters or fish or any aquatic insects I could find, trying to catch a crayfish.”
“The book goes full circle in that it is the kind of thing I do with my grandkids, just as I did as a little boy. It was those experiences as a child that helped cultivate my love for creeks and streams, and the fascination I have always had with moving water.”
“Growing up, I observed that there was a lot more life closer to creeks and streams than away from them. Those memories have had a huge influence on my life and career. If you grow up close to a creek or a stream, and you spend time beside it, those memories in many cases stay with you forever.”
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the complete story published on January 25th 2022, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: The Little Creek That Could.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Mark-Angelo_2022.pdf