Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
| Formation | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Type | Environmental justice advocacy |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|
Official language
|
English |
|
President
|
Mark Mattson |
|
Key people
|
Krystyn Tully |
|
Budget
|
C$263,712 (2005) |
| 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.[2] Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is led by President Mark Mattson, an environmental lawyer, and Vice President Krystyn Tully.[3][4][5]
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.).[6] In 2005 LOW campaigned the City of Kingston, Ontario to disclose timely data about repeated sewage discharges into Lake Ontario.[7] In 2006 LOW produced "Heart of A Lake" concert tour to several cities in Ontario, Canada blending activism with art.[8] Starting in 2006 LOW started a campaign opposing the burning of tires by Lafarge operations in Bath, Ontario.[9] 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.[3] 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.[10]
In 2009, the organization launched Swim Drink Fish Music, an online music club which features rare and exclusive tracks by Canadian musicians.[11]
Notable supporters
- The Tragically Hip and particularly their frontman Gord Downie[12][13]
- Edward Burtynsky, photographer [14][15]
- Sarah Harmer, folk musician[13][16]
- David Suzuki, Canadian environmentalist and broadcaster.[13]
- Bruce Cockburn, musician[13]
- Chris Brown, musician[16]
- Law Foundation of Ontario[17][18]
See also
References
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- ↑ Kingston Whig-Standard (ON) - Final - 23 December 2005
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- ↑ "Great Lake Swimmers Record 'Ballad of a Fisherman's Wife' for Swim Drink Fish Music Club". Hour, August 25, 2010.
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- ↑ The Law Foundation of Ontario Selects Six Public Interest Organizations for Innovative Articling Fellowships. Press Release. June 16, 2005.
