Written by: Brent MacDougall, 2017

Ever worked too hard, and too long, for no pay? Thanks for volunteering!

I would like to take a moment to deviate from our usual style of posting to thank all of the wonderful volunteers who devote personal time to worthy causes.

Whether it be the lake resident who devotes endless amounts of time to ensure proper water quality sampling procedure and standardization, or the individual who selflessly spends hours preparing delicious treats for a community meeting, thank you.

I would like to extend a personal thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers who have helped make many of Watersheds Canada’s projects possible. To all who worked tirelessly in all weather conditions to naturalize the shorelines of the Bay of St. Lawrence Park, Stillpoint House of Prayer, and Furnace Falls, these places would not be what they are today without you. To all those who took the time to commit to making numerous fish habitat enhancement projects possible, your support and effort are truly appreciated. To each and every one of you, who are reading this, and taking an interest in the work that we do, thank you.

Additionally, I would like to extend my thankfulness to all volunteers both within and outside of the environmental sector. I am truly appreciative of those individuals who dedicate their time to educating future generations on environmental principles and issues both at home and within the community abroad.

At times, as a volunteer you may question the extent of the impact that your time and efforts have had. The days can feel unending, the work is often gruelling, and the results of your efforts, especially in environmental projects like habitat creation, take time to reach their full potential. The truth is that often times the results of your labours are often far-reaching and cross-generational even if they never appear evident to you personally.

“Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.” – Author Unknown.

Thank you for Volunteering!