Want to join in making a difference? We're raising money to benefit Metro East Anglers Inc., and any donation will help make an impact.

The Metro East Anglers Inc. (MEA) is a not-for-profit volunteer organization devoted to making a difference in the community and the environment. We conduct high quality wildlife and environmental projects that benefit all residents in our city and surrounding areas.

The MEA is a registered Canadian Charity (CRA registration: 801879719RR0001) that operates in a volunteer partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) with the objective of establishing healthy fish populations in habitat that has been compromised by highly urbanized environments.

Without this effort, salmon and trout populations in urban water bodies around the GTA would slowly disappear.

Financial support from the community is key to allowing us to achieve our goals of healthy fish populations for urban streams and lakes.

The MEA operates a provincial fish culture station located in Stouffville, Ontario in a partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. At this facility volunteers raise Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon that are directly stocked back into watersheds in and around Toronto. Many of these fish remain in these headwaters while portions migrate to Lake Ontario to complete their lifecycles. The importance of stocking these fish is crucial to the ecosystems of these water bodies in many ways and is vital for balance within the environment.

The MEA also operates several projects that contribute towards environmental vigor, including the operation and management of a fish ladder on the Rouge River in Markham that opens miles of headwater streams for spawning trout. In addition, the MEA partners with the OMNR and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority with projects that they initiate for the betterment of healthy cold water fish populations.

In addition to hatchery and one time projects the Metro East Anglers also operate Chinook Salmon pen imprinting projects at Bowmanville Creek/Port Darlington, Oshawa, Port Whitby and Bluffers Park Marina. These pen projects allow direct stocked Chinook Salmon to imprint on local waters, improving stocking survival while at the same time creating a late season local Salmon fishery for near shore and on shore anglers.

The ongoing and one time projects that the MEA conducts require funding and support from private and public sector contributions. We receive financial support from the OMNR in the form of payments through their Community Fish and Wildlife Involvement Program, from supporters such as The Toronto Sportsman’s Show, Bell Canada, Rapala, Gagnons Sports and others. We also receive private donations from individuals concerned about the environment, ecosystems and healthy fish populations in our highly urbanized part of the province.

All donations are 100% tax deductible through our registered charity status with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Each year the MEA operations can exceed $60,000 in ongoing, steady-state costs which include both one time capital purchases and regular expense items for the continued operation of the Ringwood Fish Culture station. There are no paid staff in the MEA, volunteers perform all work and all funds acquired are allocated completely to our projects and continuing work activities.

Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to us.