My Watermark is Long Beach on the Pacific Ocean off Vancouver Island, BC.

It was a rainy day on Vancouver Island, 2004. I was only 4, and my sister was just 2. My Mom and Dad took us out to the beach wearing muddy buddies and let us romp around. The beach went on for ever—it was huge. It was windy, wet, with waves crashing and splashing. It was so clean and fresh and fun.

That memory has been in the back of my mind ever since then, and while the details blurred, I have never forgotten the immense joy I had while splashing through puddles, smelling the salt water, the incredible sense of wonder I felt while gazing up at walls of mussels on the rocks, and the vastness of the open ocean. (I used to think mussels were called muscles because they were the strongest shellfish).

That day instilled in me an an initial sense of wonder and appreciation of the ocean and the water we have in BC. As I got older I developed a greater appreciation for the clean water we have in BC, and that it is so important for us to protect our beaches, our water, and keep them clean.