Happy Birthday, Kevin Lowe: A Legend On and Off the Ice
Some people change the world around them; others change the lives of the people they work with. Kevin Lowe has done both.
And always for the better.
Today, I want to celebrate the birthday of a leader, and a true champion of the Canadian water movement. I’ve been trying to put words to Kevin’s impact on Swim Drink Fish for a while now, though I’ve hesitated because I don't want to come across as too much of a fan. But the timing today feels right. It is Kevin’s birthday and he is preparing to transition from our Board of Directors this June to return to his role as a Swim Drink Fish Ambassador—a position he already handles with grace, along with his amazing wife, Karen Percy Lowe.
Kevin’s presence on our Board will be deeply missed, but his move creates space for new leadership after many years in the hot seat. That said, his influence is woven into the fabric of Swim Drink Fish, like the waters we’ve spent all these years protecting together across Canada.
The Banff Connection
Kevin’s relationship with Swim Drink Fish began in 2005. The NHL was on strike, which gave Kevin the rare gift of time away from the Oilers to accompany Karen to a ski event in Banff in support of the Canadian Waterkeeper movement.
I’ll admit, even though there were many stars at the event including Karen, I was especially excited about sitting beside Kevin. I spent the whole time talking hockey, mostly about my hometown Kitchener Rangers. Kevin was kind enough to listen; his friend Paul Coffey had played for the Rangers, and I made sure to tell Kevin that Paul was the best player I’d ever seen. Most importantly however, Kevin wanted to know about being an environmental lawyer and why I was so committed to the water. It wasn’t long after that weekend that Kevin and Karen emerged as two of the fiercest champions of swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water in Canada.
Leadership Beyond the Rink
Kevin brought the same championship focus to environmental protection that he brought to his team. Alongside Karen, he has was a cornerstone of our movement for nearly two decades—most notably helping us create the North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper with Britt Standen, in their hometown of Edmonton. What makes Kevin a true Hall-of-Famer at Swim Drink Fish isn’t the six Stanley Cups. It’s the quiet, generous, and deeply human way he shows up for people and the environment.
Unconditional Welcome
Kevin and Karen have a rare gift for building community. From Edmonton to the Shuswap, they’ve opened their homes to the Swim Drink Fish team and friends like Dave Bidini, Fin Donnelly, Lauren Brown Hornor, and Krystyn Tully. Whether introducing us to legendary teammates or hosting intimate performances with Gord Downie and the Country Miracles or Brett Kissel, they created a sense of belonging that strengthened our entire network.
I’ll never forget Kevin taking time during a scouting trip to Kitchener to come to my family home, sit at the kitchen table with my mom, drink instant coffee and talk about family. I learned a lot about what it means to be a real star that day.
On the day of Mark Messier’s jersey retirement in Edmonton, Kevin quietly arranged a major donation for our work in exchange for Gord Downie (a Board Member of Swim Drink Fish at the time) and The Tragically Hip to fly in to watch the game and play at a local bar later that night. It feels funny now, looking back, but he pulled this off while having to stay away from the event as he had traded away the most popular Oiler on the roster earlier that very day!
The NHL and their Watersheds
Kevin always understood that environmental protection is a team sport. He knew that no single person, politician, or leader could do it alone; it takes community, functioning like a team, to be successful.
He championed the idea that NHL teams should be part of the water community. After all, the players and fans love the water and the ice. Most hockey players have strong links to their hometowns and watersheds—they spend their summers water skiing, fishing, or paddling.
Kevin advocated for teams to support the specific watersheds they call home. The idea even made it into the New York Times: a night where the Lake Ontario Leafs faced the St. Lawrence Habs, or the North Saskatchewan Oilers took on the Hudson River Rangers. While the concept was perhaps before its time for the league, it was pure Kevin—visionary, electric, and rooted in a deep love for the water and the community.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Kevin’s leadership has shaped Swim Drink Fish and our entire team in profound ways. He and Karen, and their families and friends have represented the North Saskatchewan River with pride and dedication. All the while, Kevin inspired us through his humility and unwavering commitment. We are a better, stronger organization because he chose to be on our team.
Happy Birthday, Kevin.
Thank you for everything you’ve given as a Board member. We’ll see you at the Art for Water gala this May in Toronto and, after that, I'm sure I'll see you by or on the water somewhere.
Gratefully,
Mark Mattson
