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Great Canadian RIVERS 

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GreatCanadianRiversEconomy

GREAT CANADIAN RIVERS
Economy
Chilled Trout
First introduced to the Grand in the early 1900's, brown and rainbow trout now flourish wherever temperature and flow conditions are favourable. The cold waters discharged from the Shand Dam near the top of the river, and from the precipitous drop of the Elora Gorge are ideal trout habitats. Learn more about the Grand River Economy here!

Eco-Matters
Oysters on Board
Using a rake-like tool called a "tong," commercial oyster fishers harvest almost 300,000 kilograms of Malpeque oysters every year from the bottom of the Hillsborough River. The 18-week fishing season, managed by the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, generates about 1/3 of Prince Edward Island's $4 million industry. The beds of Malpeque Bay and Summerside Harbour and the West River make up the remainder of the catch. Learn more about the Hillsbrough River Economy here!

Limits to Growth
After more than 2 decades of rapid growth, Prince Edward Island’s cultivated mussel industry faces an uncertain future. Fluctuating world demand and increased competition (including large-scale deep-water operations), could decrease market share for Island growers, though current indications suggest that slow and steady growth can be sustained. Many of the Island’s suitable mussel-growing locations have already been leased, and some industry experts are warning of future shortages in mussel farm “acreage.”

The mussel industry faces problems of disease and natural predation that have affected other aquaculture operations: like hungry crows in cornfields, flocks of migrating sea ducks during mussel socking season often make life difficult for mussel growers. The potential pollution of mussel-growing waters, caused by run-off from pesticide-laden potato fields, is also a concern that must be closely monitored. Learn more about the Three Rivers Economy here!

Salmon
Gulf of Georgia National Historic Site
At the fishing community of Steveston, just 30 km. south of Vancouver on the coast of British Columbia, you can experience cannery life of the early twentieth century. Take a look at a turn of the century fishing skiff, or imagine a 12 hour fish-gutting shift at the Ësliming tableÓ in 1930. Restored Gulf of Georgia cannery buildings, built between 1894 and 1964, include the main cannery, icehouse, vitamin oil shed, drum storage shed, watchmanÁs house and lead foundry. Learn more about the Salmon Economy here!
Getting the Big Picture at the Oils Sands Discovery Centre
In the heart of the world's single biggest oil deposit, you can see a massive dragline bucket, an 850 tonne bucketwheel excavator, and a 150 tonne heavy hauler with tires 3 metres high. Visit the province of Alberta's Fort McMurray Oils Sands Interpretive Centre to learn more about the enormous scope and scale of the oil sands industry. Learn more about the Clearwater River Economy here!