How a tiny-but-important Abbotsford creek got its own monthly magazine

There’s no place quite like Stoney Creek in Abbotsford—or probably the Fraser Valley.

And there’s no one quite like its self-appointed chronicler, Dave Rutherford.

Stoney Creek is a short stream that tumbles down the lower slopes of Sumas Mountain onto the prairie below. It weaves between cedars and maple leaves, its waters providing habitat for fish and other wildlife. Along its shaded flanks runs a rare trail where dogs are allowed to roam uninhibited by leashes. A series of bridges criss-cross the small stream.

Dave Rutherford moved nearby in the mid-1990s, but it wasn’t until five years ago that the retired elementary school teacher began coming to Stoney Creek Park everyday. He liked the massive trees, the quiet spaces and quaint bridges, and the people and the dogs.

He began to see, and care for, the park like it was his backyard. That meant picking up litter. It also meant writing about it. Rutherford had a pre-existing interest in publishing using computers, and what came next was a publication like no other—one that gave a tiny park its own monthly magazine and its own passionate reporter when it needed them most.

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.