Our Story

A swimmable, drinkable, fishable Ottawa River watershed. For everyone.

About Ottawa Riverkeeper

Ottawa Riverkeeper, a charitable organization, is a champion and collective voice for the Ottawa River watershed, providing leadership and inspiration to protect, promote and improve its ecological health and future.

We are a citizen-based action group that brings diverse people together to better understand and advocate for the ecological health of the Ottawa River and its tributaries. This includes the acknowledgement of the rights of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nations within the watershed and a commitment to working together to build good relationships and shared understandings on water protection.

Expert and independent, our organization advocates for responsible and participatory decision-making, public education, access to information, and compliance with protective regulations. Guided by a science-based approach, we provide clear information with the aim to engage the public and empower citizens and decision-makers to ensure clean, healthy, and accessible water for all people and species.

Ottawa Riverkeeper is a licensed member of Waterkeeper Alliance, an international grassroots advocacy organization. Waterkeeper Alliance is the largest organization devoted exclusively to clean water, protecting 2.7 million miles of waterways with more than 300 Waterkeepers in 47 countries.

Our Mission

Our mission is to inspire cooperative action focused toward a healthy watershed for all generations and all species. 

Our Philosophy

Ottawa Riverkeeper’s vision is based on the belief that people protect what they love. Guided by this core belief we will work strategically to advocate, educate, and ensure the Ottawa River watershed is swimmable, drinkable, and fishable.

Ottawa Riverkeeper will pursue its vision and fulfil its mission by inspiring action for a healthy watershed through educating, connecting and empowering individuals and communities.

Ottawa Riverkeeper acknowledges the importance of working together. All voices must be included in Ottawa Riverkeeper’s work to achieve more equitable solutions. Just as biodiversity strengthens natural systems, water protection work is made stronger by the contributions, experiences, perspectives, and values of different people and communities.

History

Under the Waterkeeper Alliance model, each member group is headed by a Waterkeeper. The Waterkeeper speaks for their body of water, advocating for its protection and health. Waterkeepers operate independently, focusing on local water issues and serving their communities.

In 2001, the founding group formed a board of directors and started Ottawa Riverkeeper, the third Waterkeeper program in Canada to be licensed by the international Waterkeeper Alliance. Two years later, Ottawa Riverkeeper became a registered charity and secured funding for a full time Riverkeeper.

Lara van Loon served as the first Riverkeeper from 2001 to 2004. Meredith Brown was the next Riverkeeper until stepping down at the end of 2018. In 2019 Elizabeth Logue took the reins, and was Riverkeeper until 2021. Laura Reinsborough is the current Riverkeeper.

A Waterkeeper? What does that really mean?

A WATERKEEPER is a full-time, non-governmental ombudsman whose special responsibility is to be the full-time public advocate for a water body. Fundamentally, it is the waterkeeper’s job to advocate compliance with environmental laws, respond to citizen complaints, identify problems that affect his or her body of water and recommend appropriate solutions. Waterkeepers are leaders in ensuring that communities maintain control over their local waterways when threatened by development, industrialization or toxic pollution.

Ottawa Riverkeeper is a licensed member of Waterkeeper Alliance, an international grassroots advocacy organization.

Currently there are 9 Waterkeepers in Canada protecting our rivers, lakes, and oceans. We address pollution problems to provide a healthier environment for aquatic life, ensure public access to public waters, and guarantee safe drinking water for all Canadians.

  • We are leaders in ensuring that communities maintain access and control over their local waterways, when threatened by development, industrialization, or toxic pollution.
  • We are Canada’s most skilled citizen enforcers of the federal Fisheries Act – the most powerful environmental law in the country.
  • We are activists, working directly with communities to ensure they have fair and open decision-making processes on environmental issues affecting them.