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Man who twice swam the length of B.C.ѻýs longest river named to Fraser River Hall of Fame

Nov. 9 gala event to honour Fin Donnelly
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Fin Donnelly talks about his ѻýSpirit of the Salmonѻý swim in old video posted to YouTube.

The man who twice swam the length of B.C.ѻýs longest river is this yearѻýs inductee into the Fraser River Hall of Fame.

An induction ceremony for Fin Donnelly is planned for the night of Tuesday, Nov. 9 at Fraser River Discovery Centre, located on Quayside Drive in New Westminster.

Details about the gala are .

A bio notes that from 1990 to 2000, Donnelly made 14 ѻýenvironmental marathon swims, covering more than 3,200 kilometres in B.C.ѻýs rivers, lakes and ocean,ѻý including twice swimming the 1,375-kilometre length of the Fraser River in 1995 and 2000 ѻýto draw attention to the declining health of these water bodies and to encourage communities to engage in environmental advocacy.ѻý

(Story continues below old video about Donnellyѻýs swim)

Donnelly is the founder of and co-founder of Fraser Watershed Initiative.

In politics for nearly two decades, Donnelly is currently the , and serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

ѻýSince 1995, he has spoken to more than 60,000 people in hundreds of B.C. schools and communities about sustainable living,ѻý a bio notes. ѻýIn 1991, Fin was honoured by the Squamish Nation with the name Iyim Yewyews, which means strong swimmer in the animal world or Orca.ѻý

All proceeds of the Fraser River Hall of Fame support the discovery centreѻýs educational and public programming. range in price from $20 (ѻýonline celebration onlyѻý) to $150 (ѻýonline celebration and charcuterie for twoѻý). An in-person ticket is $125.

As of Oct. 19, $4,000 of the $20,000 goal has been raised.

Since 1991, Fraser River Hall of Fame inductees have included Chick & Marilyn Stewart, Bill Sauder, Wendy Grant, , and , among others.



tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com

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Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news for Surrey Now-Leader and Black Press Media
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