Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
Encyclopedia
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
, and a registered Canadian charity. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is led by President Mark Mattson, an environmental lawyer, and Vice President Krystyn Tully.
. The dump, was established by Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited
(and now managed by Cameco Corp.). In 2005 LOW campaigned the City of Kingston, Ontario
to disclose timely data about repeated sewage discharges into Lake Ontario. In 2006 LOW produced "Heart of A Lake" concert tour to several cities in Ontario, Canada blending activism with art. Starting in 2006 LOW started a campaign opposing the burning of tires by Lafarge operations in Bath, Ontario. 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. 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 beaches were closed to swimming 42 per cent of the time.
In 2009, the organization launched Swim Drink Fish Music, an online music club which features rare and exclusive tracks by Canadian musicians.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
-based environmental justice advocacy group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
founded in 2001, with Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, the Great Lakes Basin
Great Lakes Basin
The Great Lakes Basin consists of the Great Lakes and the surrounding lands of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada, whose direct surface runoff and watersheds form a large...
, and allied waterways at heart. It is a licensed member of the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based Waterkeeper Alliance
Waterkeeper Alliance
Waterkeeper Alliance is an environmental organization founded in 1999, responding to a growing movement of organizations with the name Riverkeeper, Baykeeper, Soundkeeper, and other related "keeper" names, of which there are over 150 around the globe...
, and a registered Canadian charity. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is led by President Mark Mattson, an environmental lawyer, and Vice President Krystyn Tully.
Actions and initiatives
In Summer of 2001 LOW triggered a $250 Million Federal Government remediation plan at Port Granby near Port Hope, OntarioPort Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
. The dump, was established by Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited
Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited
The Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited company was originally organized in 1927 as Eldorado Gold Mines Limited to develop a gold mine in Manitoba. Its president Gilbert LaBine later found radioactive deposits at Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories in 1930, which led to the development of the...
(and now managed by Cameco Corp.). In 2005 LOW campaigned the City of Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
to disclose timely data about repeated sewage discharges into Lake Ontario. In 2006 LOW produced "Heart of A Lake" concert tour to several cities in Ontario, Canada blending activism with art. Starting in 2006 LOW started a campaign opposing the burning of tires by Lafarge operations in Bath, Ontario. In 2007 LOW compelled the City of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to disclose specific reasons why beaches are closed, and used the legal system to force the City to take responsibility. 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 beaches were closed to swimming 42 per cent of the time.
In 2009, the organization launched Swim Drink Fish Music, an online music club which features rare and exclusive tracks by Canadian musicians.
Notable supporters
- The Tragically HipThe Tragically HipThe Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
and particularly their frontman Gord Downie - Sarah HarmerSarah HarmerSarah Harmer is a Canadian singer-songwriter and activist.-Biography:Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Harmer gained her first exposure to the musician's lifestyle as a teenager, when her older sister Mary started taking her to concerts by the well-known Tragically Hip. At the age of 17, she...
, folk musician - David SuzukiDavid SuzukiDavid Suzuki, CC, OBC is a Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist. Suzuki earned a Ph.D in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961, and was a professor in the genetics department of the University of British Columbia from 1963 until his retirement in 2001...
, Canadian environmentalist and broadcaster. - Bruce CockburnBruce CockburnBruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, musician - Chris Brown, musician
- Law Foundation of Ontario