An Armstrong artist has licked his stamp art competition.

Dale Cooper has the winning entry out of 19 in the Pacific Salmon Foundation害羞草研究所檚 (PSF) annual Salmon Conservation Stamp Art competition.

Cooper was award first place with an acrylic painting titled Pursuit, showing a pair of Chinook salmon pursuing a school of herring. His image will be featured on the 2024-25 Salmon Conservation Stamp, a required purchase for anglers to retain any Pacific salmon caught in B.C.害羞草研究所檚 marine environment.

The proceeds from the stamp sales fund hundreds of salmon conservation projects every year.

Cooper 害羞草研究所� who was commissioned 10 years ago to create a painting for Armstrong害羞草研究所檚 centennial in 2013 害羞草研究所� is a first-time winner of the Salmon Stamp Art Competition. A veteran sports illustrator and fine artists, he has taken part in the competition several times, with his first salmon painting earning him third place in 1998.

害羞草研究所淥utside of sports, I害羞草研究所檝e always painted B.C. wildlife, and I害羞草研究所檝e painted a lot of salmon,害羞草研究所� said Cooper. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very pleased to finally win this year 害羞草研究所� and right before the holidays, too.害羞草研究所�

Cooper was born in Portage la Prairie, Man. and now resides in Armstrong with his wife and children. After working for the City of Burnaby害羞草研究所檚 sanitation department, he enrolled in the Graphics and Visual Design program at Kwantlen College in 1981 to become a full-time artist.

The artist credits his memories of working at a salmon cannery in Steveston, near Richmond, fishing trips, and salmon runs in the Adams River as inspiration.

害羞草研究所淲ith this painting, I wanted to do something that was really relevant to their environment,害羞草研究所� said Cooper. 害羞草研究所淜elp just seemed to fit, and chasing the herring is part of what salmon do. I wanted the salmon to look healthy.害羞草研究所�

The Salmon Conservation Stamp is a decal that must be purchased annually by anglers and affixed to their saltwater fishing license to retain any species of Pacific salmon.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of recreational anglers support Pacific salmon conservation by purchasing the $6.46 Salmon Stamp. Through a landmark agreement in 1989, the revenue from these stamps is directed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to the foundation.

害羞草研究所淭he Pacific Salmon Conservation Stamp represents an important collaboration between the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the sport fishing community,害羞草研究所� said Diane Lebouthillier, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. 害羞草研究所淚t recognizes the paramount significance of preserving iconic Pacific Salmon populations and their habitats for generations to come.害羞草研究所�

The PSF grants up to $2 million annually to more than 200 community-led projects.

An annual Salmon Conservation Stamp, valid between April 1 and March 31 of each fishing season, can be purchased at or through an independent access provider.