FRSCS Honourary Chair Rick Hansen and HSBC Bank
Canada, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Michael Webb joined students on the banks of the Fraser River in Richmond, BC for the occasion. Photo: Robert Leon VANCOUVER, BC – The Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (FRSCS) is delighted to announce that HSBC Bank Canada has renewed support and expanded its commitment to the FRSCS’ HSBC Fraser River Sturgeon Education Program with a $150,000 donation.
Canada, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Michael Webb joined students on the banks of the Fraser River in Richmond, BC for the occasion. Photo: Robert Leon VANCOUVER, BC – The Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society (FRSCS) is delighted to announce that HSBC Bank Canada has renewed support and expanded its commitment to the FRSCS’ HSBC Fraser River Sturgeon Education Program with a $150,000 donation.
The program, delivered to elementary and secondary students and First
Nations’ communities, uses the iconic white sturgeon to teach and illustrate
the rationale for environmental and ecological conservation in Canada as well
as leadership and resource management. The additional support from HSBC Bank
Canada will allow FRSCS to continue to grow the program in BC, and expand into
several classrooms in the Greater Toronto Area.
“Youth play a huge role in conservation and the sustainability of our earth,”
said Rick Hansen, Honourary Chair of the Society. “Providing them with knowledge
and skills ensures that students have the opportunity to learn about this
amazing species and help find solutions for its survival. It is with the
support of organizations like HSBC Bank Canada that make the HSBC Fraser River
Sturgeon Education Program possible.”
The $150,000 donation will be made over a two-year period starting in 2011,
bringing HSBC’s total donation to the FRSCS to more than $350,000 since
2007.
Lindsay Gordon, President and Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank Canada said,
“HSBC has a deep commitment to the environment so we are pleased to continue to
support the HSBC Fraser River Sturgeon Education Program for children. We hope
that elementary and secondary school students and others will gain a deeper
appreciation of the importance of the environment through their understanding
of the white sturgeon and the Fraser River.”
In its five-year history, the HSBC Fraser River Sturgeon Education Program
has been taught by over 200 teachers from 180 different schools to over 7,000
students in Grades 4 through 7. The program will expand to 385 classrooms and
approximately 11,550 students in the 2011-2012 school year, and 490 classrooms
and approximately 14,700 students in 2012-2013. Twenty copies of the
award-winning book, “Tale of a Great White Fish,” are provided to each
classroom that teaches the program.
The program lessons are linked to science, social studies, art and language
arts curriculum content and they are designed to raise the level of
understanding regarding this threatened species in Canada. The program is
intended to promote future interest in conservation and protection of wild
Fraser River white sturgeon and its aquatic ecosystem. It also encourages
participants in the program to become involved in environmental stewardship
activities within their own communities.
The white sturgeon is the largest and longest-lived species of freshwater
fish in North America. A survivor from the age of the dinosaurs, white sturgeon
can attain lengths in excess of six meters, weights of over 600 kilograms, and
can live for over 150 years. The ancient fish is at the top of the Fraser River
food web, and one of the few year-round resident species of fish in the lower
Fraser River. The population of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River
(downstream of Hell’s Gate) is a fraction of its historic levels. Full recovery
of this threatened species is expected to take a minimum of 30 years.
Founded in 1997, the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation
Society is dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Fraser
River white sturgeon. The FRSCS identifies and addresses issues that affect
the sturgeon in the Fraser River watershed using critical data collected
through its award-winning, volunteer-driven monitoring and assessment program.
In addition, the FRSCS conducts public relations and communication initiatives
and offers a curriculum based education program Presented by HSBC Bank Canada,
to promote community understanding of white sturgeon. www.frasersturgeon.com
About HSBC Bank Canada
HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading
international bank in Canada. With around 7,500 offices in over 80 countries
and territories and assets of US$2,691 billion at 30 June 2011, the HSBC Group
is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.
Media inquiries:
Sarah Sugiyama
Executive Director Vice President
Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
Tel: (778) 322-7345
Ernest Yee
Corporate Affairs
HSBC Bank Canada
Tel: (604) 641-2973
Nations’ communities, uses the iconic white sturgeon to teach and illustrate
the rationale for environmental and ecological conservation in Canada as well
as leadership and resource management. The additional support from HSBC Bank
Canada will allow FRSCS to continue to grow the program in BC, and expand into
several classrooms in the Greater Toronto Area.
“Youth play a huge role in conservation and the sustainability of our earth,”
said Rick Hansen, Honourary Chair of the Society. “Providing them with knowledge
and skills ensures that students have the opportunity to learn about this
amazing species and help find solutions for its survival. It is with the
support of organizations like HSBC Bank Canada that make the HSBC Fraser River
Sturgeon Education Program possible.”
The $150,000 donation will be made over a two-year period starting in 2011,
bringing HSBC’s total donation to the FRSCS to more than $350,000 since
2007.
Lindsay Gordon, President and Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank Canada said,
“HSBC has a deep commitment to the environment so we are pleased to continue to
support the HSBC Fraser River Sturgeon Education Program for children. We hope
that elementary and secondary school students and others will gain a deeper
appreciation of the importance of the environment through their understanding
of the white sturgeon and the Fraser River.”
In its five-year history, the HSBC Fraser River Sturgeon Education Program
has been taught by over 200 teachers from 180 different schools to over 7,000
students in Grades 4 through 7. The program will expand to 385 classrooms and
approximately 11,550 students in the 2011-2012 school year, and 490 classrooms
and approximately 14,700 students in 2012-2013. Twenty copies of the
award-winning book, “Tale of a Great White Fish,” are provided to each
classroom that teaches the program.
The program lessons are linked to science, social studies, art and language
arts curriculum content and they are designed to raise the level of
understanding regarding this threatened species in Canada. The program is
intended to promote future interest in conservation and protection of wild
Fraser River white sturgeon and its aquatic ecosystem. It also encourages
participants in the program to become involved in environmental stewardship
activities within their own communities.
The white sturgeon is the largest and longest-lived species of freshwater
fish in North America. A survivor from the age of the dinosaurs, white sturgeon
can attain lengths in excess of six meters, weights of over 600 kilograms, and
can live for over 150 years. The ancient fish is at the top of the Fraser River
food web, and one of the few year-round resident species of fish in the lower
Fraser River. The population of white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River
(downstream of Hell’s Gate) is a fraction of its historic levels. Full recovery
of this threatened species is expected to take a minimum of 30 years.
Founded in 1997, the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation
Society is dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Fraser
River white sturgeon. The FRSCS identifies and addresses issues that affect
the sturgeon in the Fraser River watershed using critical data collected
through its award-winning, volunteer-driven monitoring and assessment program.
In addition, the FRSCS conducts public relations and communication initiatives
and offers a curriculum based education program Presented by HSBC Bank Canada,
to promote community understanding of white sturgeon. www.frasersturgeon.com
About HSBC Bank Canada
HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading
international bank in Canada. With around 7,500 offices in over 80 countries
and territories and assets of US$2,691 billion at 30 June 2011, the HSBC Group
is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.
Media inquiries:
Sarah Sugiyama
Executive Director Vice President
Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society
Tel: (778) 322-7345
Ernest Yee
Corporate Affairs
HSBC Bank Canada
Tel: (604) 641-2973
