Victoria is a coastal community defined by its proximity to the oceans, lakes, and forests with the Salish sea to the south and the Haro Strait to the east.

Swim Drink Fish Victoria and Power To Be are honoured to operate on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded homelands and waters of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, represented by the Songhees, Esquimalt, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and Malahat Nations.

Since time immemorial, First Nations have been stewards of this land and water.

We pay respect to the elders and ancestors past, present and emerging whose histories, knowledge and cultural traditions have shaped the land and water of the Greater Victoria area and enrich practices around its stewardship.

In the spirit of reconciliation, we affirm our commitment to practice ongoing good relations with the land and water and with sovereign Indigenous nations that caretake them. Our work endeavors to support Indigenous rights and free access to swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters.

Swim Drink Fish has recently partnered with Power To Be to launch a new monitoring hub in Victoria at their Prospect Lake site! Power To Be is a non-profit organization that creates access to nature for youth, families, and adults living with cognitive, physical, financial, and social barriers. By designing, adapting, and delivering a variety of programs, Power To Be empowers people to engage and connect with nature.

Aligning with these values, Swim Drink Fish believes that accessible water is clean water.

The Victoria Monitoring Hub will conduct weekly water quality testing with samples collected from locations in Victoria and transported to the Power To Be basecamp for analysis. Additionally, by participating in programs created and led by Power To Be, Swim Drink Fish will help educate the community in the form of water literacy and water sampling workshops. People will have the opportunity to volunteer and contribute to the community science movement while taking action to protect and restore their local waterways.

Together, Swim Drink Fish and Power To Be work towards connecting people to land and water.

Check back soon to see the ways in which you can support the efforts of the Swim Drink Fish Victoria hub to help keep Victoria’s waterways clean.