The Watermark Project is a community effort to collect and archive true stories about the ways Canadians interact with water. Started by our friends at Lake Ontario Waterkeeper and the National Water Centre in 2015, the Watermark Project aims to collect one story from every Canadian household, bringing together millions of water stories from across the nation.

What is a Watermark?

A Watermark is a true story about you and a body of water. Whatever your story may be, your Watermark connects you to a shared water heritage.

A Watermark describes a memory of time spent near water or the way a body of water has shaped your life. Whether spoken, written, filmed, or illustrated, every Watermark has the same four characteristics:

• A person

• A waterbody

• A specific time (date, era)

A description or narrative explaining that the waterbody affected that person during that moment or time of life

Studies show that Canadians value water and nature more than any other country; yet, we rank lowest in the developed world for environmental protection. With the severe erosion of regulations safeguarding fish and water over the past decade, now more than ever, Canadians need to rediscover their deep personal connections to the water bodies that have touched their lives.

When you share your Watermark, you are:

• Registering your waterbody in a national database of important waters

• Documenting the value of that waterbody to you and your community

• Helping researchers identify waters where people swim, drink, or fish, so that those users can be protected in the future

• Providing evidence that ensures environmental laws can be used to safeguard your waters

Please take a moment to reflect on your most powerful experiences with water and share them with us.