Posted: March 3, 2023
Ottawa Riverkeeper and RBC celebrate reaching milestone $1M investment in raising awareness and protecting the Ottawa River
On March 2nd 2023 we celebrated a massive milestone in the partnership between Ottawa Riverkeeper and RBC. RBC has been a major funder of Ottawa Riverkeeper’s work for over a decade, helping to elevate and expand programs to monitor and protect watershed health.
Ottawa, March 2, 2023. Ottawa Riverkeeper and RBC are celebrating reaching an astounding milestone; over $1M in cumulative donations from RBC to support freshwater protection! RBC’s support of Ottawa Riverkeeper goes back over a decade to 2011, beginning with a leadership grant of $75,000 as part of its Blue Water Project, and stretching to a new two-year funding announcement of $250,000 to support the Watershed Health Assessment and Monitoring initiative, focused on research and community-based monitoring programs. Announced yesterday evening by Marjolaine Hudon, the Regional President of RBC’s Ontario North & East Region, the latest investment reinforces the importance of Ottawa Riverkeeper’s work in the watershed to monitor and protect swimmable, drinkable and fishable waters.
Investment builds opportunities to connect people to the river
Otttawa Riverkeeper’s work connects people to the river in numerous ways. Over a decade of collaboration between RBC and Ottawa Riverkeeper, thousands of individuals have helped at shoreline cleanups, participated in water taste test challenges or have been trained as community scientists to collect data on the health of the Ottawa River and its tributaries. Having on-going significant funding contributions has been a critical part of Ottawa Riverkeeper’s ability to raise awareness about the Ottawa River and why this river and its tributaries are incredible natural resources worth protecting.
“With the funding provided by RBC over the past decade, Ottawa Riverkeeper has become a recognized advocate for the protection of water,” explained Laura Reinsborough, Riverkeeper and CEO “Working together, we have been able to achieve great strides toward maintaining a healthy watershed.”
A long-standing partnership
For many years, RBC has been a champion for freshwater and worked with many community partners across Canada.
“RBC is committed to investing in the health and well-being of communities where we live and work. That’s why for over 10 years we have invested in the important work of Ottawa Riverkeeper,” said Justin Schurman, Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services at RBC. “We share with the community a love for the beautiful Ottawa River. A desire to protect it, to learn from it and to preserve it for many generations to come.”
As a major donor to Ottawa Riverkeeper, RBC has helped catalyze great change and growth and contributed to their capacity to take on larger projects and engage with more people. RBC helped launch their major involvement in Swim Guide, and continues to support community-based monitoring through the Watershed Health Assessment and Monitoring initiative. Other support has helped projects such as the Great River Project, Sick of Sewage and Ship Shape shorelines which have engaged communities to learn about key issues and take action to protect the Ottawa River.
Another key aspect of Ottawa Riverkeeper’s relationship with RBC is through its Career Launch program, which provides youth with the opportunity to work at non-profit organisations and Ottawa Riverkeeper has benefited immensely from the contribution of these talented interns. A recent addition has included an RBC Ignite grant to support furthering Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within the organization.
Recent investments have been through RBC Tech for Nature which supports initiatives tackling the pressing environmental challenges of our times by leveraging technology, developing innovative solutions and building multi-sector partnerships such as Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Watershed Health Assessment and Assessment initiative. For many years, RBC has been a champion for freshwater and worked with many communities across Canada.
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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. 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.
For more information:
Matthew Brocklehurst, Communications Manager
media@ottawariverkeeper.ca