Mossom Creek Founders

Ruth Foster is a nationally recognized environmental education specialist. Ruth spent three decades teaching Coquitlam high school students about nature. Ruth played a key role in establishing innovative courses in fisheries and wildlife and many of her students have gone on to complete graduate degrees in biology.  Now retired from the school, Ruth continues to teach through Simon Fraser University’s Department of Education and to mentor students at the hatchery. She is the recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology and Mathematics, the BC Minister’s Environmental Award (Centennial School Salmon Project), the Fisheries and Oceans Salmonid Enhancement Task Group Award of Excellence, the VanCity Environmental Award for Individual Educator, and the Tri-City Spirit of Community Environmental Award. She was named to the Tri-Cities Top Ten of the Decade for leadership in environmental stewardship and pioneering habitat restoration.

In 2006 she won the prestigious Canadian Environmental Award Gold Medal for Environmental Learning and was the subject of an award-winning mini-documentary in the My Hero series. She also received the 2009 City of Port Moody Environmental Award, the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology and Mathematics, and the Kees Vermeer Award for waterbird conservation and educational work with youth. Most recently, Ruth received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Ruth is an associate instructor for the Reed Point Marine Education Centre, a director with the Pacific WildLife Foundation  and a director of the Marine Educational Services Association. She is  a founding member of the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society, the founding vice-president of the Port Moody Ecological Society and a member of the Burke Mountain Naturalists’ Society. 

Awards and recognition:

Paul Harris Community Award, Rotary Club 2017
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 2013
My Hero Award-winning documentary by Miranda Andersen 2009
City of Port Moody Environmental Award 2009
Canadian Environment Award, Gold Recipient, for Environmental Learning 2006
Kees Vermeer International Award 2001
Vancity Environmental Educator Award 1998
Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in Math, Science and Technology 1994
DFO Award of Excellence in Salmonid Enhancement 1992
Port Moody Environmental Achievement Award for longstanding and exemplary environmental leadership 1992
The Salmonid Enhancement Task Force Group Award of Excellence 1992

Rod MacVicar has been challenging the minds of young students to explore the oceans for more than 30 years. Milton McClaren, Emeritus Professor of Education, Simon Fraser University summed it up at a recent award presentation when he said that Rod is “one of the top five science teachers in B.C.” Many former students agree and credit their success to Rod’s enthusiasm to learn more about marine life in the Pacific. But his enthusiasm goes far beyond teaching science. Rod and his teaching partner Ruth Foster established the Mossom Creek Salmon Hatchery in Port Moody over three decades ago. He also took hundreds of students to the ocean in his own boats, an activity he continues today. He has been active in the North American Marine Educators Association, developed an on-line marine education newspaper, and he has been active in local environmental issues in Port Moody and Coquitlam.

In 2001 along with Dave Harris owner of Reed Point Marina, Rod opened the Reed Point Marine Education Centre. The Centre provides hands-on learning of marine life using touch pools, observation tanks, viewing chambers & microscopes. The Centre provides programs for elementary school to university level students and also serves as the office for the Pacific WildLife Foundation. Rod is a director of this foundation. www.pwlf.org Among his numerous awards, Rod has received the Murray A. Newman Award for Excellence in Education in Aquatic Science; the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Science, Technology & Mathematics; Kees Vermeer Award; the Salmonid Enhancement Task Group’s Award of Excellence and the City of Port Moody Environmental Award.

Rod is also a Master Mariner. Rod’s most recent award is the presitigious 2010 Blanche Hornbeck Award of Excellence given by Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.

Awards and recognition:

Paul Harris Community Award, Rotary Club 2017
City of Port Moody Environmental Award 2012
Blanche Hornbeck/Roger Tory Peterson International Award for Environmental Education 2010
City of Port Moody Environment Award 2003 (Reed Point Marine Education Centre)