Our Impact

Impact Stories

Community Scientist Monitoring Hubs

“People are happy to know that we’re monitoring water quality and that they can find that information about their local waters. The people who volunteered with us regularly took further steps to protect their water. Seeing the steps that people take on their own just from being at the water every week and exploring their curiosities shows the impact of water monitoring.”

-Alysse Mathalon

Great Lakes Challenge

“The Gord Edgar Downie swimming pier at Breakwater Park is a testament to the power of community engagement, visionary funders like The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, and municipal leadership. I believe what’s happening in Kingston will inspire more cities on the Great Lakes to embrace their connection to water and that we’ll have healthier, happier communities as a result.”

-Mark Mattson, Waterkeeper and Swim Drink Fish President

Swim Guide

“I wanted to find information that could help me identify water areas that were the cleanest to safely swim in near Toronto. To my pleasant surprise, I located Waterkeeper’s Swim Guide App… it now provides me with enough immediate and reliable information to choose a clean water area for us to go swimming, sailing, and rowing. As a result, my love for Lake Ontario has strengthened now that I know that tests are performed regularly and that I have access to the results as well as other information.”

-Claire Lawson

Waterkeepers

“I support Lake Ontario Waterkeepers work because for me it was really the mission statement, the swimmable, drinkable, fishable, because I think that it reminds us all about how we are connected to the water and to the planet. If we impede our own ability to do those three things then we are really doing harm to ourselves.”

-Kay Plante