How You Can Help Canada’s Native Bees This World Bee Day

by Holly Douglas, Environmental Technician Placement Student Whether they're darting through wildflowers along a lakeshore, gathering pollen in a backyard, or nesting quietly beneath bare patches of soil, native bees are hard at work across Canada every spring. And while they may be small, their role in keeping our ecosystems healthy is anything but.  This World Bee Day (May 20th) is an opportunity to celebrate these incredible pollinators and reflect on how the choices we make on our own ... Read More

by Ty Fischer, Freshwater Health Coordinator Whether you are a cottage owner, canoe tripper, or a freshwater researcher, it is easy to foster deep personal ties to the freshwater systems in our lives. However, we do not often enough think about the legacy of the water these systems hold. These ancient processes connect freshwater areas like lakes, rivers, wetlands, creeks, and ponds to us.  The interconnectedness of our freshwater is a large part of what makes it so valuable in the first ... Read More

by Alexa Button, Climate Change Resiliency Intern In 2019, the status of the Spotted Gar in Canada was uplisted to endangered, signalling the need for change to protect this unique living fossil in our waters (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2024). The spotted gar is a freshwater fish with an armoured body, and a long toothy snout, inhabiting quiet pools, backwaters and bays with an abundance of aquatic vegetation or woody debris (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2024; Staton et al., 2012). This ... Read More

by Jane Pangilinan, Digital Engagement Technician Lakes are an amazing feature of nature. They provide water, habitat, and enjoyment to humans and animals alike. It is critical to take care of the lake and nature surrounding us. If we are considerate of our lakes, we can better enjoy what they have to offer.  What do we value in our lake communities? Is it the scenic waters, the ability to swim in a clean lake, or something else? Love Your Lake, a program co-delivered by Watersheds Canada ... Read More

by Alexa Button, Climate Change Resiliency Intern The Channel Darter is a rare small member of the perch family. In 2019, the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario populations were placed on the endangered species at risk list (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2024). In Ontario, this species can be found in the following waterbodies: St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Detroit River, Trent, Salmon, and Moira River watersheds as well as the Ottawa River (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2024). This ... Read More

by Alexa Button, Climate Change Resiliency Intern The term “minnow” is often used broadly to refer to any small fish, however minnows range from small to large freshwater fish belonging to the order Cypriniformes and the families Cyprinidae and Leuciscidae (Coad, 2015; Conservation Commission of Missouri, 2025). However most minnows in Canada, including the at risk Pugnose Shiner, Bridle Shiner and Cultip Minnow, belong to the “true” minnow family, Leuciscidae, within the order of ... Read More

Finding the perfect gift can be hard. Most people know at least one person who feels impossible to buy for. We hunt through gift guides and wander aimlessly through stores trying to find the present that shows the one we care about how much we appreciate them. Celebrate those you care about in a meaningful way with a tribute gift from Watersheds Canada! A tribute gift is not like most items you can find on the shelves; it’s not wrapped in plastic and won’t be re-gifted later. Along with the ... Read More

by Jonathan Miller, Freshwater Conservation Intern Each spring, long before summer wildflowers begin to bloom, two important native pollinators emerge across Canada: the tricoloured bumble bee (Bombus ternarius) and the Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis). These species are more than beautiful signs that warmer weather has arrived; they are essential ecological partners to our forests, gardens, and early-spring plants as they help drive the success of our ecosystems. By ... Read More

by Andres Clavier, Freshwater Stewardship Education Intern Planting Around Your Septic System Septic systems are integral to many homes, particularly those not connected to municipal sewage systems. While they are vital in managing household waste, landscaping over septic systems can be a tricky challenge. It is important to choose the right kinds of native plants for planting over your septic system, and equally as important, to know which plant species to avoid and plant further away. ... Read More

by Amy DeBoer, Riparian Habitat Restoration Intern Canadian winters can be cold and dark, but that just means we get to be more creative in how we enjoy the outdoors! Here is a list of 10 activities to inspire you and your family to enjoy all the winter season has to offer. ​1. Decorate the Windows A Canadian winter tends to be less colourful than our other seasons, so why not add some ourselves! Using washable paint or markers, you can create temporary window designs. This craft can ... Read More