Created in 2012 by Victoria’s Aaron Slingsby as a way for other local sport fisherman to share fishing reports, the Vancouver Island Salmon Fishing (VISF) Facebook group has since grown to over 10,000 active members. A team of volunteer moderators from various facets of the industry keep conversations clean, on point, and engaged—it has truly become a comprehensive online salmon fishing community. The group is unique in that it has no commercial interest, does not allow any solicitation, and not does it take sponsorships or dollars from any vendor wanting to promote products and services.
Wanting to give back to the sport they love, the team at VISF held a contest calling for creative anglers to submit their best logo designs for the site. The winner was Bryan Wilson, a local artist from Youbou, a small community on the north side of Cowichan Lake. Bryan’s successful design was then turned into decals that were sold at various locations for $10 each.
Multiple retailers happily came on board to host sites across the Island to purchase the stickers, and as a result $750 was raised for salmon enhancement in the first 6 months.
The Jack Brooks Hatchery build was chosen as the first recipient of sticker proceeds, with 100% of the funds being dedicated toward hatchery production costs.
VISFs Nathan Milne presents Hatchery Manager Bill Pedneault with $750 raised by sticker sales. Bill and the volunteers from the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society can use every penny they can get and the funds will go directly to their production costs.
“I think one of my favourite moments so far was passing a boat on the Island Highway with a VISF sticker on it and knowing the word was getting out and people were proud to show support of our initiative to raise funds for our local salmon enhancement programs.” – Aaron Slingsby, Founder of VISF
The campaign is far from over; If you haven’t got you sticker yet, you can buy one at Harbour Chandler and Gone Fishin’ in Nanaimo as well as at Cheanuh Marina, Island Outfitters and Trotac Marine in Victoria. You can also purchase decals directly through the group, or email them at [email protected].
