Located just east of Vancouver, British Columbia, the Fraser Valley is a haven for wildlife and lovers of the outdoors. The majestic Canadian Rockies provide the perfect backdrop for the lush wilderness of the valley. All of the stunning natural attributes provide the perfect location for the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival. For two decades, thousands of people have traveled into the wilderness near Mission and Harrison Mills to observe the beautiful eagles in their natural habitat. However, eagles are not the only attraction. The cycle of salmon and the biodiversity of the area are also featured at different locations during the festival.
The event is spread out between nine different sites, each giving you a unique perspective and different activities to try. The Inch Creek Hatchery gives you an up close look at the day-to-day functions of the hatchery. The Kilby Historic Site is a great place to go on a living history tour as well as a place to warm up and catch a meal. The Pretty Estates Resort is a place that has thousands of eagles on its property ready for you to check out on their beautiful trails which wind through the dense forests. This event is free to attend due to the diligent work of the dedicated staff and is great festival for any lovers of wildlife and the outdoors. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportunity to interview Event Representative, Jo-Anne Chadwick, about the festival and everything it includes.
RAL: How long has the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival been running?
JC: This year is a big milestone, 2015 marks the 20th Annual Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival.
RAL: How many people attend annually and what demographics do you typically see?
JC: We have anywhere from 3500-5000 people come through the festival region. Last year we had visitors from BC, Alberta, Eastern Canada, the U.S., Great Britain, and Australia. The two-day event is free to the public so it is perfect for families. There is something for everyone.
RAL: What makes the event unique?
JC: The thousands of eagles in such a condensed area makes this event bucket-list worthy (As we have been told many times).
RAL: What can attendees expect for activities, guest appearances and dining options?
JC: For activities the indoor exhibitor’s fair features nature displays, green businesses and organizations, vendors and they even have live raptors. Some outdoor activities include jet boat eagle viewing “Safaris”, nature walks, fish hatchery tours, along with land-based eagle viewing sites of Scowlitz First Nation and Kilby Historic Site.
RAL: Is there maybe one place in particular that guests have been flocking to since the event started?
JC: There are two sites that attract the majority of attention (and rightly so). First, at the Tapadera Estates, you’ll find the Celestron Scopes, Sonsie, lectures in the clubhouse and hotdogs for all to enjoy! The second location is the Fraser River Safari’s Eagle Viewing Boat Tours, where they provide the best and most weather protected way to get up close to the eagles.
RAL: What is the overall environment like?
JC: The Festival offers a variety of “Edu-tainment” activities to help people reconnect with their environment. Thousands of spawning salmon attract thousands of eagles to the area because it is a healthy, strong ecosystem. This area was named as the most important river system in Canada by the Salmon Stronghold organization.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
JC: Harrison Hot Springs and Harrison Mills offer a wide variety of lodging from B & B’s to five-star suites. A few of the lodging options in the area include Harrison Beach Hotel, Fraser River Fishing Lodge and Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
JC: The communities along the Scenic 7 Highway all benefit from thousands of nature lovers flocking to the Fraser Valley to take in all the area has to offer during the festival weekend AND for many days after. In many years, the “eagle show” just keeps getting better until the salmon carcasses are gone or the winter freeze hits.
The Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Society is a registered charity and thanks to a committee, which is made up entirely of hard-working volunteers, the event is able to remain free to the public.
RAL: Why should people come to the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival?
JC: The festival occurs in an area that is home to the world’s largest gathering of over-wintering bald eagles. In 2010, on a single boat tour, biologist David Hancock counted 7,362 eagles. It was estimated that there were upwards of 10,000 eagles in a two kilometer section of the river, on just that day. Need we say more?
For more information on the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival please visit their website.