On a beautiful Saturday, 300 individuals participated in a Project Watershed-sponsored event, the Day of the Estuary. The event took place at the K鈥櫭砿oks Band Hall, where community members were able to view displays that described estuary and restoration projects that have been completed and are in progress. Other environmental groups including the Comox Valley Naturalists, Comox Valley Conservation Strategy, the Sierra Club and MARS had displays. North Island College also had a display and representative at the event. The Estuary Working Group of Project Watershed featured their new initiative to prioritize and find resources to acquire and protect land along the shores of the Estuary. One of the features of the day was to have a ceremonial arrival of a number of local politicians in the traditional First Nation cedar dugout canoe. A highlight of the afternoon was to allow community members to make a written pledge to do something positive towards the estuary. People then hung their pledge on a symbolic maple tree donated by Home Depot. Over 80 pledges were made during the afternoon forum and during the breaks in the evening program after making their pledges, people received a stake in the Courtenay River Estuary donated by Slegg Building Supplies and featuring a stamped art logo created by Andy Everson. Some examples of pledges are: 鈥� to explore, appreciate, respect, and learn more about our local watershed; 鈥� to help turn Field Saw mill site into estuary park; 鈥� to help with invasive plant removal along estuary shores; 鈥� to pick up litter as I walk along the shores of the estuary; 鈥� to vote for politicians who will make protection of the estuary a鈥╬riority.鈥―uring the day estuary walks took places that were led by biologists Kathy Campbell and Kayt Chambers. Over 70 people went on the walks and biologist Lora Tryon and DFO coordinator Dave Davies conducted a beach seine. A wonderful traditional First Nation salmon barbecue was enjoyed by all; unfortunately this was followed by an unexpected interruption in hydro service. 鈥淲ith no electricity, we started the evening program in semi-darkness,鈥� said MC Paul Horgen. 鈥淲e probably lost a number of potential attendees but still had a crowd of 80-plus people.鈥� Ken Kirkby talked about efforts on the Nile Creek estuary and how communities could rally to bring back a damaged estuary. According to Kirkby, over 150,000 coho salmon returned to the Nile estuary last year. Betty Donaldson moderated a discussion with Mary Everson, Norma Morton and Ruth Masters. The three 鈥渨ise women鈥� as panel moderator Donaldson called them, shared with the audience their earliest memories of the estuary, and their memories of when it began to decline. The panel discussion ended in an upbeat prediction that with all of the heavy industry gone the future looked bright for the return of abundance to the estuary. Finally, the evening audience was treated to an up-to-date analysis of the findings of the ancient wood stake trap study by Nancy Greene and David McGee. The silent art auction and competition was quite successful. A total of 193 votes were cast for the People's Choice Award and Richard Mravik鈥檚 Sand Waves emerged the winner. For further information about estuary initiatives, visit www.keepingitliving.ca.