Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
| Formation | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Type | Environmental justice advocacy |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Official language | English |
President | Mark Mattson |
Key people | Krystyn Tully |
| 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. It is led by President Mark Mattson, an environmental lawyer, and Vice President Krystyn Tully.[2][3][4]
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.).[5] In 2005 LOW campaigned the City of Kingston, Ontario to disclose timely data about repeated sewage discharges into Lake Ontario.[6] In 2006 LOW produced "Heart of A Lake" concert tour to several cities in Ontario, Canada blending activism with art.[7] Starting in 2006 LOW started a campaign opposing the burning of tires by Lafarge operations in Bath, Ontario.[8] 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.[2] 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.[9]
In 2009, the organization launched Swim Drink Fish Music, an online music club which features rare and exclusive tracks by Canadian musicians.
Notable supporters
- The Tragically Hip and particularly their frontman Gord Downie[10]
- Edward Burtynsky, photographer [11][12]
- Sarah Harmer, folk musician[10][13]
- David Suzuki, Canadian environmentalist and broadcaster.[10]
- Bruce Cockburn, musician[10]
- Chris Brown, musician[13]
- Law Foundation of Ontario[14][15]
See also
References
- ^ "Waterkeeper: Lake Ontario Waterkeeper: Contact Us". Waterkeeper Alliance. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
- ^ a b Keenan, Edward; Prittie, Jennifier (May 22, 2003). "Political pollution". Eye Weekly. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
- ^ "From Chicago to Toronto, cities spilling waste into Great Lakes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. June 26, 2004. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008.
- ^ "Ships sweep toxic trash into our lake – and feds just let it happen". Now Toronto. May 19, 2005. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007.
- ^ McCutcheon, Duff (October 1, 2007). "Mark Mattson, Lake Ontario Keeper". Canadian Yachting. Kerrwil Publications Limited, Oct 2002: 26, 27. ISSN 0384-0999. 347122521ProQuest 222821010.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b Dillon, Moya. "Sarah Harmer, Gord Downie And Others Team Up In Support Of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper". ChartAttack. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. 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.
