Protecting precious water

Water is one of the most essential and precious resources -- for humans, animals, anything that grows. For all life, to put it succinctly!

In Canada, we have grown up with the belief that we are living in the land of plentiful natural resources, including fresh water. It may be a residual concept from the idea that we are in the frontier, the land where there is unlimited space and everything that one needs to live a good life. In truth, we are very lucky in Canada, but it is time for us to be much more careful in protecting our natural resources for now and for the future.

That is why Community Foundations of Canada has spearheaded an initiative to coordinate foundations across the Prairies to work collaboratively on the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Initiative.

In conjunction with private foundations – the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Thomas Sill Foundation – The Winnipeg Foundation and the Edmonton Community Foundation have joined forces to create the position I currently hold, coordinator of the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Initiative.

The goal is to encourage foundations across the Prairies to get involved in protecting our fresh water and restoring the health of the Lake Winnipeg Watershed, which has gained the reputation of being the sickest lake in Canada due to its massive toxic algae blooms .

The Foundations in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Initiative started about 20 months ago as a result of area community foundations realizing we need to start thinking like a watershed. We are all upstream from someone else and our actions have an impact on all of those downstream. The watershed’s problems are man-made (PDF) which means we, as citizens, can help solve them.

The initial stages of this initiative involve simply raising awareness amongst the more than 50 community foundations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba about the urgency of the need to protect water. My mission is to meet with foundations and provide a simple overview of water concerns, as well as some basic ideas about how everyone can get involved in solutions.

In 2010, we hope to involve even more foundations in water issues in their local communities. There are many ways foundations can help, from making grants to convening public meetings to raising awareness. Download our tip sheet to get started.

As well, Dr. Jim Byrne’s documentary, Choking Lake Winnipeg will be released in late spring and we encourage foundations to promote local screenings.

The most important message we want to convey at this point is that all of us hold the key to change. The more individuals we can convince to pay attention, the more likely there will be community and political action. If we choose to protect our precious water, there are numerous simple ways that every one of us can make a difference.

Just start by picking one thing -- together, we can do it!

Vicki Burns is coordinator of Foundations in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed Initiative, and an advocate for the environment and sustainable practices in Manitoba.

Wishing communities a happier New Year

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. – African poverb

There’s no doubt that charities around the world were happy to see the last of 2009 – waving an eager farewell to a year that put communities through a turbulent time full of anxiety and duress.

And although the signs are looking better for 2010, it’s clear that the recovery  is going to require endurance and optimism. We rode out the storm, but setting a new course is going to take time and patience.

But before we turn our attention to the journey ahead, it’s important to look back. Did we become more skillful sailors in the downturn’s rough seas? Did we learn more about our community and the people who call it home? Did we open our eyes to new possibilities and partners?

As I look back over the past year I can find many examples of individuals and organizations that rose to the challenge. I think of the donor in Guelph who walked up to the community foundation’s executive director with a cheque, saying “Use this where it’s most needed.” Or the businesspeople in Kelowna who helped raise more than $100,000 to support urgent priorities. There are countless examples of donors who stepped forward to help communities across the country weather the economic storm.

Most foundations continued to grant, albeit at reduced levels, and that made our movement even more conscious of the need to grant for impact. Niagara just announced $100,000 for poverty, Toronto partnered on a new after-school program , Victoria focused on homelessness, and Newfoundland and Labrador reached out to rural and coastal communities, to name but a few.

Then there are the stories about how communities came together to support each other: how The Winnipeg Foundation used its regular ad space to encourage people to support their favourite charity at a time when that support was needed the most. Community foundations in Hamilton and Vancouver surveyed local non-profits to determine key issues and priorities so existing funding could be used as strategically as possible. The Calgary Foundation hosted a Sustainability Summit bringing government, the corporate and charitable sectors together to find collaborative solutions to the issues facing charities.

Throughout the year I encountered many examples of determination and perseverance – tales of communities that refused to stop dreaming and doing, even in the face of shrinking dollars. I think of the Fundy Community Foundation’s efforts to reduce poverty in the rural communities of Charlotte County, New Brunswick and how they, and other community foundations, were key partners in the province’s first comprehensive poverty reduction strategy.

At Community Foundations of Canada, the membership association for Canada’s 170+ community foundations, we did what we could to bring our members together to encourage and augment local, regional and national impact. Together, we released 16 Vital Signs reports shining a spotlight on national and local issues and success stories. We continued our collaborative work in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed and started a new partnership with the Ontario Land Trust Association. We also worked with our members to explore new ways to better align the investment of our assets with our mission and values.

The waters were not smooth in 2009, but the journey was rewarding all the same. We know the sailing will not be easy in 2010 either, but I think we’ve become more skillful sailors and are ready for what’s ahead.

Monica Patten is President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada.