Swim Drink Fish
Stories
Read the latest stories, updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, and more.
Marilyn Bell DiLascio reacts to recent discovery of sewage debris in Lake Ontario
Traveling by boat on July 8, 2016, Waterkeeper Mark Mattson arrived in Toronto and spotted a 2km stretch of waste floating in the lake, just off of Ashbridges Bay. When we posted the images and videos online, many people were shocked – one of who was famed open water swimmer, Marilyn Bell. As Lake Ontario’s first “Swim Drink Fish Ambassador,” Marilyn was quick to lend her voice for the lake that has a big place in her heart. Here’s her message.
Waterkeeper’s preliminary comments on the Scarborough Waterfront Project
The Scarborough Waterfront Project (“SWP”) is a proposal to build an 11-km shoreline pathway along the stretch of Bluffs lining Lake Ontario. Because this is the first phase of the assessment process, Waterkeeper’s comments are focused on the overarching purpose and direction of the project.
Study illustrates Canada’s disconnect with water, need to support water literacy tools
RBC's recent Canadian Water Attitudes Survey sheds light on the urgent need for the work that we do here at Waterkeeper. The biggest take-away from the report is something we have known for a while: Canadians are clearly disconnected from their waters.
Microbeads labeled “toxic” as Canada prepares to ban the tiny plastic polluters
The Government of Canada has officially labelled microbeads “toxic” under federal law. This label is the first step in the official process to ban microbeads in Canada. The ban will apply to cleansers and cosmetic products that have been polluting waterways nationwide.
Saying goodbye to Pat Lawson
Mark remembers Pat Lawson, who passed away yesterday. Pat was a mentor to so many social justice advocates. She believed in the beauty and majesty of the Port Hope where she grew up: Lake Ontario, where she played on the beaches; the Ganaraska River, where she floated through town. Says Mark: "She lit a fire in me that day that still burns."
Canadians love their waterways, but is love enough to protect them?
While we may not know the basics about our water, studies show year after year that our most loved and treasured national resource is just that - water. But, our limited knowledge places limitations on our love for water. If we don’t know basic water facts, how can we expect to protect that which we do not understand?
Help us create a Swimmable Lake Ontario
Only a small fraction of Toronto’s waterfront is monitored for water quality. And without water quality information, recreational water users can't make informed decisions to protect their health. So this summer Lake Ontario Waterkeeper has a plan, but we’ll need your help. Yesterday we launched our first ever crowdfunding campaign. It's called, Swimmable Lake Ontario.
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