Because of support for generous granting programs and individual givers, Watersheds Canada is able to offer people like Jane an opportunity to naturalize her shoreline at a reduced cost. Jane was a Natural Edge participant in September 2014, and first contacted Watersheds Canada with concerns about erosion along her shoreline. As we walked the shoreline together, Jane told us about her reservations for losing her shoreline view, and about her plant preferences for her 20.5 m of shoreline. ... Read More
“If People Can See Value, They Will Get Involved”: An Interview with Judy Hall
By: Monica Seidel, Digital Communications and Marketing Intern, Watersheds Canada Judy Hall, a President of the Dalhousie Lake Association, sat down to talk about the importance of engagement and a sense of community when it comes to the long-term health of lake associations and the waters they care for. Answers have been edited for clarity and length. Q: How did you become interested in Dalhousie Lake and the lake association? A: I have been around the lake all my life and now ... Read More
Sleeping Through the School Year – A Turtle’s Strategy for Survival in Canada
Growing up, many of us would have welcomed the idea of sleeping in and missing school. Perhaps there was an early morning class or teacher you were not fond of, or you had to trek through the cold to get to school. If someone had offered you the option to simply sleep through half of the year, bypassing the cold and school year, would you have done it? How would you have been able to survive sleeping that long? While they are not worried about skipping school, Canada’s turtle species have to ... Read More
Dragonflies as a Bio-indicator of Water Health
by Monica Seidel, Digital Communications and Marketing Intern Canada is home to thousands of water bodies that are home to every sort of creature – fish, turtles, invertebrates, frogs, herons, beavers, and dragonflies, to name a few. Over 90% of all lake life is somehow connected to the shoreline as it provides habitat, food, and a place to raise young. Dragonflies are a common sight at many wetlands, rivers, and lakes, however, there is much more to them than their big eyes and beautiful ... Read More
Canada Prepares to Ban Single-Use Plastics
by Abbey Unsworth, Summer Student - Natural Edge and Love Your Lake Canada has recently announced a ban on single-use plastics as part of a strategy to combat plastic pollution. The ban is set to take effect by 2021 and will most likely include items such as plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and take-out containers, but the specifics have not yet been determined. The strategy also focuses on companies that manufacture or sell plastic products, putting a responsibility on them for the management ... Read More
Walleye or Pickerel – The Great Debate
My father and I have had a friendly debate going for a number of years regarding the name of a particular sport fish. And as my career in fish habitat restoration has established, I am finding this is common debate amongst many Ontario outdoors people. As a long time fisherman, my father has always referred to the common fish species Sander vitreus as a pickerel, and when I was younger, who was I to argue with him. Growing up my father instilled in me, my love for the outdoors, from many ... Read More
I Spy With My Little Eye
Written By: Melissa Dakers, 2018 Walleye Spawning - “I Spy with My Little Eye!” After a long winter, the signs of spring are finally upon us, although a little delayed. Spring is a time for renewal, and as the ice leaves the lakes, water temperatures warm, frogs begin to sing, the walleye begin their annual spawn. It is a small one to two week window but if you are in the right place at the right time, it is an incredible sight. Walleye spawn in both river rapids and lake shoals, and ... Read More
The Importance of Collaboration for Charities & Non-Profits
Written by: Barbara King, 2018 Collaboration Best Practices from Watersheds Canada’s Experience In working in the environmental sector, especially where there are so many different groups, agencies, and organizations working on various issues, collaboration is critical to finding solutions to big picture problems that are currently taking place in our country. Working in collaboration has many benefits but also poses some challenges. The National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary ... Read More
Shoreline Summer
Written by: Brady Beaupre, 2017 Cruising out on the open water having the warm summer breeze blow by as the boat putts along the shore. What a wonderful way to spend some my summer at work. During the summer of 2017 I received the opportunity to work for Watersheds Canada as a student participating in the Love Your Lake program. I am currently a student in the Environmental Technician program at Algonquin College in Pembroke, Ontario. I was delighted to hear about this job as a partnership ... Read More
A Summer Spent Surveying
Written by: Alexa Mantifel We lounged in our chairs moving slowly along a shoreline, noticing blue herons, baby map turtles, lots of fish and insects, enjoying the sun, the breeze and our summer job. There are never any complaints when you spend all summer doing something you love with people who love it too! That was my summer job with Watersheds Canada. I came back from my first year at Queen’s University and spent quite some time looking for a summer job in my small town ... Read More