Muskoka Brewery and Evergreen: Two Canadian organizations teaming up to create a swimmable drinkable fishable future
Volunteer, Oksana sampling water from Toronto's Pier 4. (Photo by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper)
We are always excited when we encounter emerging water leaders – people or organizations who choose to take action to protect their watershed. Often people participate in public processes, they learn the laws and regulations that protect our waters, and they simply get out and enjoy the waters in their community.
This summer we have seen an impressive surge of new leaders! People are contributing their Watermarks, reporting pollution, exploring their watersheds, and learning more about how they can get engaged with water protection in their communities.
Some people are also our funders: individuals and organizations that share our vision for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future by supporting the work we do. Their support allows us to increase our impact and grow our Swim Drink Fish community.
Most recently, two organizations have stepped forward. Muskoka Brewery and Evergreen have awarded Lake Ontario Waterkeeper with their Fresh Water Grant.
Like Waterkeeper, Muskoka Brewery and Evergreen recognize that we need to change how Ontarians interact with water. After discovering our Swimmable Lake Ontario Campaign, they reached out and contributed $8,000 to our work.
The Muskoka Brewery and Evergreen Fresh Water Grant will let us do two very important things this summer.
The funds will allow us to extend our testing of the water quality in the Toronto Harbour. With 200 recreational water groups using the harbour and no water quality information available, this information is vital to the health of people enjoying the harbour.
Two water samples taken from Toronto's inner harbour this summer. (Photo by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper)
Being able to test beyond the summer means we will have a better picture of what is happening in the harbour during the fall’s wet weather. This is when sewage is more likely to be present. And because of the increased winds, Lake Ontario’s surf is usually at its best meaning: Lake Ontario’s surfers may actually have water quality information this year.
The Fresh Water Grant will also help us grow the number of people in our Swim Drink Fish community. Muskoka Brewery and Evergreen staff will be trained to recognize, identify, document, and report water pollution. These two organizations understand and support our belief that we cannot protect Ontario’s water alone. We need a community of people that are inspired and engaged in water protection.
To achieve a swimmable drinkable fishable future, we need supporters, funders, and water leaders doing their part to steward the waters in their community.
Thank you, Muskoka Brewery and Evergreen for your water leadership.