Burlington students got a hands-on lesson in conservation this spring by raising Atlantic salmon from eggs and releasing them into Bronte Creek as part of the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program.
The Halton District School Board initiative, also known as “Bring Back the Salmon,” lets students observe the salmon life cycle firsthand through a classroom hatchery. The project began in February 2026 when salmon eggs arrived at the board’s Environmental Leadership Learning Centre at Alexander’s Public School in Burlington.
On May 21, 2026, Grade 6 students from Alton Village Public School joined Nature’s NEAR students to release the young salmon, called fry, into Bronte Creek with help from Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters coordinators and school staff.
Atlantic salmon were once native to Lake Ontario but disappeared by the late 1890s because of environmental degradation, damming of rivers, and overexploitation. The restoration program aims to bring them back. This year, the school board expanded the program by working with Michizaagiig Inherent Rights Holders, connecting the conservation effort to reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Ben Teskey, who coordinates the restoration program, said the classroom hatchery gives students a direct role in helping the species recover. The project also ties into several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Life Below Water and Quality Education.
Nature’s NEAR is a Halton board initiative that deepens students’ connection to their local environment. For Burlington students, releasing the fry marked the end of months of watching eggs grow, while contributing to a long-term effort to restore a native species to Lake Ontario.
