Ottawa Riverkeeper and the National Capital Commission Announce Summit on Protection of the Ottawa River

March 12, 2010 · Filed Under Blog, Community

Ottawa Riverkeeper, in cooperation with the National Capital Commission (NCC), is pleased to announce an exciting one-day summit to bring leaders together to discuss the health and future of the Ottawa River and its tributaries. The summit is scheduled to take place on August 27, 2010, in Canada’s Capital Region.

The Ottawa River Summit will encourage First Nations leaders, elected officials and municipal staff from communities in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec to share information, experiences and successes, and to work cooperatively on river-related issues. The agenda for the one-day event includes an overview of the current state of the Ottawa River, a round table discussion about key watershed projects and initiatives, and a review of opportunities for collaboration on research and monitoring. Meredith Brown, Executive Director of Ottawa Riverkeeper, will chair the organizing committee which includes regional representatives from Ontario and Quebec.

“One of the biggest challenges has been to promote effective interaction between all levels of government and to harmonize activities and plans within the watershed,” said Meredith Brown. “The goals of the summit are to improve information sharing, inspire municipalities to take action, and establish a collective commitment to protect and restore the Ottawa River.”

This summit also aims to raise awareness about river-related issues and promote public participation in decision making. “We want to ensure that large and small communities are equally represented. We all share the same river and it’s time for greater collaboration on plans to ensure its health and future,” added Brown.

“The Ottawa River Summit will be an opportunity for the National Capital Region leaders to gather with their colleagues from across the watershed to exchange on the future of the Ottawa River corridor,” said Marie Lemay, Chief Executive Officer of the NCC. “The NCC is proud to initiate this event with Ottawa Riverkeeper, and hopes that it will further the efforts to preserve and protect this incredible natural resource in a sustainable way for future generations.”

Furthermore, the Ottawa River Summit will receive financial support from the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau. The initiative is also endorsed by the Tripartite National Capital Planning Committee and the National Capital Region Mayors Forum. The event builds upon a commitment announced in June 2009 by the NCC, in partnership with the City of Ottawa and the Ville de Gatineau, to improve the ways that various levels of government in the Capital Region work together to protect the Ottawa River. The Ontario Trillium Foundation is also a proud supporter of Ottawa Riverkeeper’s leadership role in this initiative.

About Ottawa Riverkeeper

Ottawa Riverkeeper is an independent voice for the Ottawa River, providing leadership and inspiration to protect, promote and improve its ecological health and future. Since 2001, Ottawa Riverkeeper has worked with individuals and multiple levels of government throughout the Ottawa River watershed. For more information about Ottawa Riverkeeper, visit www.ottawariverkeeper.ca.

Tags: National Capital Commission, NCC, Ottawa Riverkeeper