2015 Predictions from the Ottawa Riverkeeper Staff
The New Year is off to a fantastic start at Ottawa Riverkeeper and to give you an idea of some of the great things you can expect for the river this year our staff has made some predictions for 2015.
Riverkeeper and Executive Director
I predict that some intrepid American Eels will make their way up the St. Lawrence River and into the Ottawa River, pass through the locks at the Carillon Dam, swim up Hydro Ottawa’s experimental eel ladder at the Chaudiere Dam and silently glide past the swimmers at Riverkeeper’s 2015 Interprovincial Swim. Many people will come together to find solutions and take action to recover this endangered keystone species of the Ottawa River.
Lars Wessman
Associate Executive Director
I predict that in 2015 Ottawa Riverkeeper will be launching things other than our patrol boat! We will be unveiling a new website and new strategic plan that, along with the Aquahacking summit, will provide the grand vision of how we will be working with you to maintain our goal towards a swimmable, drinkable and fishable Ottawa River!
Adèle Michon
Director of Operations for Quebec
I predict that people from all sectors, from all over the watershed, will unite and raise their voice for a healthy and vibrant river. The Ottawa River will be seen as a place for innovation, where technologies are put to the service of water. Through the Aquahacking 2015 – Ottawa River Summit 2015 event and beyond, people will come together to find solutions for the Ottawa River.
Stephanie Bolt
Legal Strategist
I predict that, thanks to the two University of Ottawa civil law students who have been helping us this year, we at Ottawa Riverkeeper will have a clear idea of how much untreated sewage is going into the Ottawa River from the City of Gatineau, whether the City of Gatineau is able to comply with the recently enacted regulations for waste water treatment, and, if not, what their plans are to come into compliance with these regulations.
Brigitte Boudreau-Cassidy
Bilingual Volunteer Coordinator
I believe 2015 will involve working with many, many amazing new and ongoing volunteers! I foresee an increase in supporters and volunteers from within the Franco-Ontarian and Franco-Québécois communities. We have so many exciting opportunities to get involved coming up this year from Brewery Markets to shoreline cleanups!
Ruth McKlusky
Manager, Partnerships and Donor Relations
I forecast sunshine and calm waters for Riverkeeper’s 2nd annual interprovincial swim on Saturday, August 15th. This year 100 hardy people will swim from Quebec to Ontario, escorted across our beautiful river by 100 cheering paddlers. Given that our river is under constant threat and given that so many of us want a river where we can safely swim, drink and fish I predict that 20 awesome people will become monthly donors this year.
Meaghan Murphy
Staff Scientist & Riverwatch Program Coodinator
I predict that the 10-year-anniversary of our Riverwatch program will reach new heights expanding our river stewardship into five new communities, bringing our total number of awesome Riverwatchers to 70! We will advance our citizen science program to monitor more areas of the watershed and I predict our Brewery Creek Riverwatchers will find excessive E.coli in their reach of the river…again.
Follow us this year to find out whose predictions turn out to be right. Here’s to bringing more people together to protect and promote the ecological health and diversity of the Ottawa River and its tributaries in 2015!
Meredith Brown
Stephanie Bolt
Brigitte Boudreau-Cassidy
Ruth McKlusky
Meaghan Murphy