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.
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