In our debut episode, anchor Matt Brown is joined by Dr. Melissa Lem and Fin Donnelly to discuss why access to clean “blue spaces” is vital for our health, communities, and climate future, and why community advocacy is essential to delivering it. Connecting with nature, including water bodies such as False Creek, fosters a virtuous cycle of stewardship and well-being: we protect what we love, and what we love protects us.

As we envision a False Creek that is safely swimmable, we consider the goal of it becoming Canada’s first National Urban Marine Park — a living lab blending Indigenous knowledge, Western science, community stewardship, and innovative design to make our city healthier and more resilient.

Dr. Melissa Lem is a family physician, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and Director of PaRx: Canada’s national nature prescription program powered by the BC Parks Foundation. She is recognized internationally as a leader at the intersection of natural spaces and human well-being.

Fin Donnelly is a dedicated advocate for waterways: as a former MLA, Member of Parliament & Coquitlam City Councillor; as an athlete: having twice swum the entire 1400 kilometre length of the Fraser River; as a founder of the Rivershed Society of BC; and now as the Fraser Riverkeeper for Swim Drink Fish Canada.

Learn more about the False Creek Friends Society and get involved at https://www.falsecreekfriends.org

Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know about news, events, petitions, volunteer opportunities, and other ways to support False Creek’s future → https://www.falsecreekfriends.org/newsletter

— — —

Produced and recorded by Mendel Skulski

Theme Music by Jonathan Kawchuk, mix by Paul Evans

Editing by Greg Sures, Riley Byrne, and Mendel Skulski

Cover Artwork by Aline Monjardim

Wordmark by Madison Reid

Additional Cinematography by Mary Paquet, Fernando Lessa, and Johannes Fast