In the News

Environment and Climate Change Canada has announced a fine for the release of a deleterious substance into the Lièvre River, a tributary of the Ottawa River. The incident occurred in 2019, the same year as major fish kills in the Lièvre, when thousands of dead fish washed up along the shores of the Ottawa River. ECCC says it did not find a link between the discharge and the fish deaths. Will we ever know the full story?

We highlight concerning changes to conservation in Ontario being rolled out in 2025.

With the 2025 Quebec municipal elections approaching, we want to highlight the important role of municipalities in safeguarding our waterways and what to keep in mind when your municipality goes to the polls.

In the summer of 2025, Sarah Dobbin swam an incredible 50 km along the Ottawa River, creating a new marathon route while simultaneously fundraising for Ottawa Riverkeeper and raising awareness about open water swimming. Read about her experience in her own words in this guest blog!

We are frustrated and disappointed by Ottawa Public Health’s decision to stick with weekly testing at City-run beaches into the 2026 swim season, and by the Board of Health’s refusal to intervene. This is bad news for public health and the long-term understanding of water quality trends.