Sunday, September 27, 2026
Everyone can be a river steward!
JOIN US FOR THE 46TH ANNUAL BC RIVERS DAY — CANADA’S LARGEST RIVER APPRECIATION EVENT!
BC Rivers Day was founded by world-renowned river advocate Mark Angelo and the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC in 1980. It celebrates and builds public awareness for British Columbia’s waterways. Our waterways are incredibly important, yet rivers and freshwater ecosystems are among the most at-risk ecosystems on the planet. They are threatened by urbanization, pollution, industrial development, invasive species, damming, excessive water extraction and climate change.
Good news for BC’s waterways, the love for our waterways runs deep! Recreation clubs, conservation organizations, community groups, schools, local governments and others mark BC Rivers Day by hosting film screenings, community barbeques, stream cleanups, paddling trips, and community ceremonies that help improve the health of BC’s rivers.
This years BC Rivers’s Day theme is “Everyone can be a river steward.” Whether you are a mountain bike organization, paddling club or ATV club, most outdoor activities are somehow interconnected with rivers. This year, think about how your organization can host a BC Rivers Day event or partner with another organization on one. Rivers sustain life and all of us can make an impact together as river stewards!
We'd love for you to take part!
Photo: Tamarack Media from the 2023 Friends of Kootenay Lake clean up
Host a BC Rivers Day event
Help bring attention to the recreational, environmental, and economic importance of BC’s rivers. Here are just a few ideas for events you can coordinate and host—live or virtually:
Local riverside clean-ups
Local native plantings
Educational presentation
Relevant film screenings
Live entertainment
Group paddle, riverside hike, or gold panning
Community BBQ
Interactive booths and displays
Leave No Trace, Tread Lightly or Marine Trails Code of Conduct education events
To help your group or community host a fun and impactful BC Rivers Day, we have created an event host guide with tips and ideas. Download it here.
If you have any questions about BC Rivers Day or how to plan an event, contact us.
Photo: Karen Barkley from the 2023 Wildsight Invermere Paddle on the Columbia
BC Rivers Day Event Ideas
River Clean-Up
A rewarding way to celebrate BC Rivers Day is by removing garbage from a river.
Photo: Friends of Kootenay Lake
Plant Native Species
Riparian zones (the areas along the edge of waterways) play an important role in their overall health. By planting native species, you can help stabilize the bank, filter pollutants and support wildlife.
Photo: The Adams River Salmon Society
Host a film screening
Showcase a project your organization has been working on or a relevant river related film to gather the community together for a movie night.
Salmon education
Educate the community on the important role that salmon play in the health of rivers.
Photo: Original Designs Photography
Tabling Event
Share information on your local waterways with the community by engaging in outreach.
Photo: Friends of Kootenay Lake
Host a community event
Community events are a great way to bring multiple local organizations together to share their love for rivers.
Photo: District of Vanderhoof
Go for a paddle
There is no better way to celebrate BC Rivers Day then out on a river!
Photo: Russell Henry, UBC VOC
2026 BC Rivers Day Sponsors and Supporters
The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC is grateful to the generous sponsors and supporters that help make BC Rivers Day a success. We can’t do it without you! Get in touch to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
