Charity group Swim Drink Fish releases 5 recommendations to help the City of Toronto to take ownership of water pollution problems associated with sewage spillsTORONTO -- Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, a Swim Drink Fish Initiative, is releasing findings from its Toronto Harbour Monitoring Program. After testing water quality for four months, the charity found that a disturbing amount of sewage ends up in Toronto’s Inner Harbour from combined sewer outfalls. During the summer of 2018, staff…

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Position Type: Full-time ContractLocation: Downtown TorontoStart Date: ImmediatelyABOUT THE PROJECTLaunched in 2018, Great Lakes Guide is a web platform that connects people to the Great Lakes (greatlakes.guide). The Guide helps more people go to the water more often by making it easier for people to find parks, beaches, trails, and other public spaces. The Guide teaches people where their water comes from and what birds and fish live near them. It promotes Indigenous languages, history, and perspectives. It…

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Position Type: Full-time position through to March 2022Location: Downtown TorontoStart Date: November 2018The Great Lakes Communities Recreational Waters Monitoring Initiative is a four-year demonstration project to engage underserved communities in water quality monitoring, data-sharing, and stewardship. The purposes of the Initiative are (i) to invent a scalable, sustainable model for ongoing water quality monitoring that addresses both western science and traditional knowledge needs; (ii) to hone best practices for communicating water quality results to the community quickly and…

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A beach can be many things: a place you teach loved-ones to swim, where you watch sunrises and sunsets, your favourite spot to paddleboard, or a place you gather with friends. Beaches are your gateway to your local waters. And Port Hope’s West Beach is a gateway to Lake Ontario.  The Municipality of Port Hope is currently completing a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, which could change how West Beach connects you to Lake Ontario in…

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As you consider the last few activities on your summer checklist, consider a trip to a provincial park along Lake Ontario’s shores. They offer places to swim, hike, paddle, camp and relax. One trip with multiple possibilities. Summer happens by the water and provincial parks connect you with Lake Ontario.Use Great Lakes Guide to make the most of this Labour Day weekend.Here are five parks to visit near Lake Ontario: 1. Presqu’ile Provincial ParkLooking for a…

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After yesterday's rainfall we encourage Toronto residents and visitors to report any sightings of sewage and pollution in the Inner Harbour, Don River, Humber River and Black Creek areas to 311 Toronto via phone, email and social media. It is advised to avoid swimming for 48-hours after rainfall.Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's Toronto Harbour Water Monitoring results from Tuesday, August 21st will be available today after 12pm. There will not be sampling conducted today. Thursday, August 23rd…

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Summer can leave you wondering where to swim. In Great Lakes cities you don't have to wander far. You have the privilege of escaping the pool and jumping into the open water. With hundreds of kilometres of Lake Ontario shoreline, the opportunity for open-water swimming is all around you. And jumping in is one of the best ways to get to know your local waters. Here are three things to remember for open-water swimming:1. Check the water…

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Sewage spilled into the Toronto Harbour following heavy rains earlier this week. Photo taken August 8, 2018 by Flavia Lopez. The average rainfall for the entire month of August landed on Toronto in a single 24-hour period on August 7, 2018. Heavy rainfall is known to cause sewage spills on the Toronto waterfront, so the Swim Drink Fish Monitoring Team went to Harbourfront on the morning of August 8, 2018. They found evidence of a…

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Last night’s heavy rainfall caused a sewage spill in Toronto’s Inner Harbour. Toronto waterfront users should avoid contact with the water for at least 48 hours to reduce exposure to bacteria and waterborne illnesses. Our Toronto Harbour Monitoring Team sampled Toronto's Inner Harbour this morning and will post results to Swim Guide tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, August 9th). Please stay tuned to this blog for further updates from Lake Ontario Waterkeeper. If you visit Toronto's Inner Harbour today, please…

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On May 29, 2018, Pippa Feinstein presented Waterkeeper’s submission on the current and future of National Energy data to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources. Click here for the transcript of Waterkeeper’s presentation including discussion from the standing committee members. Please see Waterkeeper’s full submission below. Waterkeeper's submission to the NR Standing Committee on the current state and future of National Energy data from LOWaterkeeper

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