History
History
In 2000, a group of concerned citizens met regularly to discuss models of protection for the Ottawa River. In 2001, they 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. Many of the original founders are still involved today and there are currently ten volunteer directors that help guide and grow the organization.
In 2000, George Brown, then a University of Ottawa law student, prepared a review of Ottawa River conservation regulations and measures. The questions asked and conclusions drawn in this report stimulated the process that led to forming Ottawa Riverkeeper.
You may download the original paper authored by George Brown here [pdf file:0.12mb]