Swim Drink Fish Stories
Read the latest stories, updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, and more.
Biinaagami: a call to revitalize our waters
Biinaagami — a term bestowed upon this initiative by Anishinaabek grandmothers Barbara Nolan and Donna Debassige of Mnidoo Mnising (“Island of the Great Spirit” or Manitoulin Island) — translates to “clean, pure waters” in Anishinaabemowin. It stands as a testament to our undertaking, not just in name but in spirit.
B.C.'s new funding mechanism is a big step in protecting our big trees
The big return of pink salmon we’re seeing this fall took far too long. A catalyst was removing open-pen fish farming in the Discovery Islands. To keep our salmon coming back means we need to keep our big trees standing.
When it comes to climate change mitigation and adaptation, cities need to lead
Working in communications in the environmental sector, you used to have to really pull on the climate change thread to explain to the public that things were bad, getting worse and about to be catastrophic. But now, we need only a gentle tug at that thread to see that climate change is the devil holding together our new hellscape.
Victoria Hub: End of Summer Update
As the cooler autumn season gains momentum, we’re excited to offer an update on the Victoria Hub’s inaugural three months at the Power To Be base camp by Prospect Lake. It has been a memorable start for the Hub, marked by the establishment of our lab and office space, the commencement of weekly sampling off the dock, joining a network of passionate water stewards, and engaging community members at events and workshops.
Press Release: Swim Drink Fish and Canaqua Sports
Swim Drink Fish Canada and Canaqua Sports are thrilled to announce their strategic partnership to promote swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for everyone. The partnership will leverage the expertise and passion of both organizations to engage more open-water swimmers, users, and communities with water quality monitoring and advocacy.
The Hidden Menace: Fatbergs
There’s a unique and unsuspecting menace that’s taking cities across the world by storm and they go by the name… fatbergs.
Swim Season Impacts 2023
Every water sample provides new insights, every conversation about water brings further education, and every water steward can inspire others to take action. Remember, every action, no matter how large or small, can make an impact. We’ve made a lot of progress this season and are excited to share some highlights.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day
What is a settler? Official definition states it as, “a person who moves with a group of others to live in a new country or area.”
Now, dictionaries and definitions in the English language are creations of colonialism, or at least the colonial system so many of us still use and function under. This means understanding our representation as settlers needs to be acknowledged more, not just the stated definition, but much more than that.
A Guide to What You Can and Can't Put Down the Toilet
Imagine life without a toilet.
Pretty bad, right? These unsung heroes save the day with every flush. But these heroes are often overlooked and it's crucial to be mindful of what we dispose of in them. Flushing the wrong items can clog pipes in our homes and sewer systems, and contribute to water pollution when combined sewer systems overflow. Let's delve into what is flushable and what isn't.
The Heart of Summer: A Closer Look at Our Dedicated Hub Staff
It goes without saying that summer is our busy season. Our Recreational Water Monitoring Hubs have been on the move and whether you’re in Edmonton, Kingston, Toronto, Vancouver, or even Victoria, you’ve likely seen our staff out and about monitoring sites or helping share the wealth of knowledge that is water literacy.