The Junction Creek Festival, taking place on May 9th, will feature the unveiling of a new sculpture recognizing Jane Goodall and the significant recovery of Junction Creek.

Watershed Restoration Celebrated

Once known as ‘Junk Creek,’ the waterway has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to decades of community effort and ecological restoration. The city of Sudbury will celebrate this milestone with the unveiling of the second sculpture in a series honoring conservationist Jane Goodall.

Festival Details

The annual Junction Creek Festival and Trout Release is scheduled for May 9th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Twin Forks Park in New Sudbury. The event is free and family-friendly.

The Sculpture

Local artist Tyler Fauvelle created the bronze statue, which depicts the act of releasing a trout from a bucket. This imagery commemorates Jane Goodall’s own trout release into Junction Creek in 2002, symbolizing the beginning of the watershed’s recovery.

A Symbol of Environmental Stewardship

The sculpture serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship and the impact of community-driven initiatives. These initiatives aim to re-establish self-sustaining populations of brook trout through ecological restoration and ongoing care.

Festival Activities

Attendees can participate in hands-on learning experiences, including observing live reptiles presented by Science North, identifying aquatic insects, and playing interactive games focused on stream health. Community booths will offer information on local environmental initiatives, and food vendors will be present.

Opening Ceremony

The festival’s opening ceremony, beginning at noon, will be led by Better Beginnings Better Futures – Indigenous Led Program, featuring traditional drum and song. This will be followed by opening remarks and a traditional tobacco offering.

Community Involvement

Leading up to the festival, the Junction Creek team has organized creek cleanup events and is collaborating with local schools through the Trout Message Campaign to foster environmental awareness.

Decades of Dedication

The restoration of Junction Creek represents a remarkable transformation. Over 52,500 volunteers and participants have contributed to the watershed’s recovery, planting over 44,300 native trees and shrubs and removing over 94,000 kilograms of garbage.

A Testament to Collective Action

“This festival is a community gathering to celebrate this ongoing recovery,” said Miranda Virtanen, executive director of the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee. She emphasized the years of collaboration and dedicated care that have gone into restoring the watershed.