Recognition

Bob and Betty Drew-Brook
Founding Members of Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers Society

At a 15th Anniversary Celebration in September of 2010, we honored Betty and Bob Drew-Brook who are founding members of the society and have worked tirelessly over the years in support of healthy habitat for fish in our town.

We are saddened by the recent loss of Bob, who passed away January 30th, 2022 in Qualicum Beach. Betty left us on February 25th, 2013.

Both of them were with us from our beginning in 1995 and were involved in all aspects of Streamkeeper activities.

Betty learned about assessing stream habitat, organized work parties, phoned people, made lists, kept our files in order, but most of all kept the volunteers happy and willing to stay until the job was done, with her famous chocolate cookies.

Bob was an active participant in many major projects, including the restoration of fish passage to Beach and Grandon Creeks in the year 2000, and the removal of the Whisky Creek Dam which was completed around the same time.

They carried their knowledge of healthy watersheds to their home gardens on Dogwood Road. Some of the elements they incorporated, were replacing their lawns with native plant ground cover, thus providing more habitat for insects and wildlife, retaining more water, and requiring less care. Their garden was featured in our Streamkeeper Brochure.

Betty and Bob were true pioneers in Stream Stewardship and their contribution is much appreciated.

Faye Smith Rosenblatt
March 6, 1937 - March 23, 2017

The Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers and the Oceanside Environmental Community lost a great friend and advocate on March 26, 2017 with the passing of Faye Smith Rosenblatt.

Faye was a co-founder (1995) and ongoing director of our society and was a driving force in the delivery of over seventy projects supporting wild salmon habitat from the Englishman River to Little Qualicum River watersheds.

As a Memorial to Faye, Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers along with other Community Groups and the Town of Qualicum Beach, have undertaken a project to replace the well-worn “Brant Viewing Platform” at the west end of Qualicum Beach with a new, enhanced structure.

This will include interpretive signage at this site and at nearby Grandon Creek. This project is planned for completion in 2018.

Faye’s approach and contribution is well summarized in a 2015 editorial in the Parksville Qualicum Beach News which stated in an editorial headlined “Protecting Fish habitat in urban areas challenging” that “Smith’s style and grace is another asset for MVIHES…Smith, like other smart people who are truly working to improve our environment, relies on experts and science. And history. And she reports the good as well as the bad”.

For past awards and recognition of other members, click here.