Before now, you may not have known that there is a local organization who has been dedicated to protecting our Ottawa River. If so, let me introduce you to The Ottawa Riverkeeper: a charitable organization that has been advocating, educating, and ensuring the Ottawa River watershed is swimmable, drinkable, and fishable since 2001.
The Ottawa Riverkeeper (OR) is an organization made up of 16 team members, including Convent Glen’s own, Laura Reinsborough, who is Riverkeeper and CEO. Together with community volunteers, a passionate Board of Directors, and various partners, they work to inspire cooperative action focused towards a healthy watershed for all generations and all species. It’s them who are monitoring nuclear waste, micro plastics and road salt that’s ending up in our watershed, promoting outreach to protect local endangered species, and working to spot and reduce invasive species in and along the river.
OR has been incredibly successful at moving the needle on issues that threaten the river and the life that depends on it. They ran a “Ban the Bead” campaign, demanding an end to microbeads being allowed in cosmetic products, and thanks in part to their efforts the Canadian government banned the use of microbeads in 2018.
To save and protect all eight endangered species of turtles found at Petrie Island OR has partnered with the Petrie Island Turtle Project to collect, incubate, hatch and release otherwise at-risk baby turtles. 95% of turtle eggs in the area are eaten by predators, so their work in turtle species protection remains critical.
We are so fortunate to have one of the city’s most beautiful natural sights right in our backyard. The Ottawa River provides an abundance of life, recreation, resources and beauty within our community, and yet without the Ottawa Riverkeeper – and engaged community members like you – its health and safety could be quickly impacted. Will you join the Ottawa Riverkeeper in protecting, sustaining and advocating for our river?
Get Involved with the Ottawa Riverkeeper:
Join the newsletter: Stay up to date with their initiatives and how you can engage with their work.
Report river pollution: Call the Pollution Hotline to report garbage you’ve spotted on the river and have it removed.
Sign the Road Salt Reduction Pledge: Commit to reducing your use of road salt to protect our watershed and rivers, click here to sign the pledge.
Volunteer: Become a Riverwatcher and watch over a section of the Ottawa River.
Donate: Your donation will contribute to science, monitoring, education and outreach programs that benefit our Ottawa River.
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