Leading up to, and following the October 24th Ontario municipal election, Watersheds Canada will help bring rural waterfront communities together for an interactive webinar on what’s on every lakeshore property owners’ mind these days – how are we going to protect natural freshwater features in the wake of climate change and increased shoreline developments?

“By the time the docks are in, and the municipal election ballots are counted, Watersheds Canada intends to reach thousands of waterfront property owners and their newly elected officials with an action plan to forever protect local waterfronts,” said Robert Pye, Executive Director of Watersheds Canada, a national charity with a passion for hands-on shoreline restoration. 

“After two years of busy waterways and increased waterfront developments, there couldn’t be a more important time for ‘Planning For Our Shorelands’ – which is precisely the name of a new Watersheds Canada program that aims to take down communication breakwalls between lakeshore property owners and municipal leaders,” said Pye.

Watersheds Canada kicks off its fall series with Planning For Our Shorelands’ “Engaging Municipal Elected Officials to Protect our Freshwater”, on Thursday October 6, 2022, from 12:00pm-12:30pm EST. The webinar is free (donations encouraged) and open to the public and all municipal candidates. 

Darlene Coyle, Watersheds Canada’s Environmental Policy and Planning Program Lead, will be speaking on October 6, 2022 about the actions municipalities need to take now to ensure that our lakes and rivers are clean and healthy for generations to come. 

“Watersheds Canada’s survey of nearly 200 freshwater stakeholders, including local decision-makers, found that increasing development pressures on waterfront areas in Ontario is contributing to poor water quality (e.g., algae blooms), loss of wildlife habitat, deteriorating natural shoreline aesthetics, and erosion,” said Coyle. 

“To protect the health and enjoyment of our local freshwater and the economic viability of these sensitive ecosystems, we need bold elected officials who will make decisions that meet our present needs without compromising those of future generations”, she added. 

Municipal councilors are elected with the authority to develop and evaluate policies and programs of the municipality. Therefore, it is important to utilize this upcoming election to identify candidates that are prepared to take immediate action to protect our freshwater in the long-term, past their four-year term. 

“This is a chance for property owners to use their voice to make a positive impact on their community by voting this fall! Candidates, get ready to be assessed if freshwater protection is your local priority as we will offer the audience our top 5 questions to ask you before and after election day,” said Coyle. 

Register for this free event (donations certainly welcomed) here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/engaging-municipal-elected-officials-to-protect-our-freshwater-tickets-421312305447 

This workshop is brought to you by Watersheds Canada’s Planning For Our Shorelands program. 

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Media Contact: 

Monica Seidel
Communications and Fundraising Manager
Watersheds Canada
info@watersheds.ca