Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
| Formation | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Type | Environmental justice advocacy |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Official language | English |
President | Mark Mattson |
Key people | Krystyn Tully |
Budget | C$263,712 (2005) |
| Website | http://waterkeeper.ca |
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is a Toronto-based environmental justice advocacy group founded in 2001, with Lake Ontario, the Great Lakes Basin, and allied waterways at heart. It is a licensed member of the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance,[1] and a registered Canadian charity.[2] Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is led by President Mark Mattson, an environmental lawyer, and Vice President Krystyn Tully.[3][4][5]
Actions and initiatives
In Summer of 2001 LOW triggered a $250 Million Federal Government remediation plan at Port Granby near Port Hope, Ontario. The dump, was established by Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited (and now managed by Cameco Corp.).[6] In 2005 LOW campaigned the City of Kingston, Ontario to disclose timely data about repeated sewage discharges into Lake Ontario.[7] In 2006 LOW produced "Heart of A Lake" concert tour to several cities in Ontario, Canada blending activism with art.[8] Starting in 2006 LOW started a campaign opposing the burning of tires by Lafarge operations in Bath, Ontario.[9] In 2007 LOW compelled the City of Toronto to disclose specific reasons why beaches are closed, and used the legal system to force the City to take responsibility.[3] Citing a "little-known provincial environmental guideline called F-5 that says municipalities must ensure that beaches are clean enough for swimming 95 per cent of the time." This builds on a 2006 LOW report "Investigating Municipal Beaches: Lessons from Bluffer's Park" which cited some beaches were closed to swimming 42 per cent of the time.[10]
In 2009, the organization launched Swim Drink Fish Music, an online music club which features rare and exclusive tracks by Canadian musicians.[11]
Notable supporters
- The Tragically Hip and particularly their frontman Gord Downie[12][13]
- Edward Burtynsky, photographer [14][15]
- Sarah Harmer, folk musician[13][16]
- David Suzuki, Canadian environmentalist and broadcaster.[13]
- Bruce Cockburn, musician[13]
- Chris Brown, musician[16]
- Law Foundation of Ontario[17][18]
See also
References
- ↑ "Waterkeeper: Lake Ontario Waterkeeper: Contact Us". Waterkeeper Alliance. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
- ↑ "Canadian Registered Charities - Detail page". Canada Revenue Agency. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
- 1 2 Keenan, Edward; Prittie, Jennifier (May 22, 2003). "Political pollution". Eye Weekly. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ↑ "From Chicago to Toronto, cities spilling waste into Great Lakes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. June 26, 2004.
- ↑ "Ships sweep toxic trash into our lake – and feds just let it happen". Now Toronto. May 19, 2005.
- ↑ McCutcheon, Duff (October 1, 2007). "Mark Mattson, Lake Ontario Keeper". Canadian Yachting. Kerrwil Publications Limited, Oct 2002: 26, 27. ISSN 0384-0999. 347122521. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ↑ Kingston Whig-Standard (ON) - Final - 23 December 2005
- ↑ "Gord Downie and Waterkeeper bring "Heart of A Lake" to Whitby, Port Hope, Kingston". Ottawa: Canada NewsWire. August 28, 2006. p. 1.
- ↑ "Lafarge review rolls on". Ontario: Kingston Whig-Standard. September 12, 2007.
- ↑ Medley, Mark. "Calling the City's Bluff: One advocate says Toronto needs to stop making excuses and start cleaning up our beaches". Eye Weekly.
- ↑ "Great Lake Swimmers Record 'Ballad of a Fisherman's Wife' for Swim Drink Fish Music Club". Hour, August 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Stars align in Banff". Calgary Sun. January 18, 2007.
- 1 2 3 4 Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (September 25, 2007). "3 live shows raise awareness, cash for Lake Ontario Watershed: Chris Brown, Barenaked Ladies, Sarah Harmer perform this week". Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ↑ Edward Burtynsky. Edward Burtynsky uncut interview for Lake Ontario Waterkeeper.
- ↑ "Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Edward Burtynsky Host the Second Annual Waterkeeper Gala on May 23". Retrieved 2013-04-25.
- 1 2 Dillon, Moya. "Sarah Harmer, Gord Downie And Others Team Up In Support Of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper". ChartAttack. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ↑ "The Law Foundation of Ontario expands support to public interest organizations". Ottawa: Canada NewsWire. June 6, 2007. p. 1.
- ↑ The Law Foundation of Ontario Selects Six Public Interest Organizations for Innovative Articling Fellowships. Press Release. June 16, 2005.