Community Foundations of Canada launches blog aimed at protecting and
preserving our freshwater supply

OTTAWA, May 17 /CNW Telbec/ - It's a place for Canadians to share information, discuss issues and offer practical solutions to protecting and preserving the country's freshwater supply.

The newly launched H2O: Ideas & Action for Canada's Water (www.canadawater.wordpress.com) is a new blog created by Vicki Burns, who works for Community Foundations of Canada as the coordinator of its Foundations in the Lake Winnipeg Watershed initiative. The initiative brings foundations from across the Prairies together to raise awareness of the challenges facing the world's 10th largest freshwater lake and support solutions.

"Water issues know no boundaries," said Monica Patten, President and CEO of Community Foundations of Canada (CFC). "The Lake Winnipeg Watershed initiative has taught us a great deal about water conservation and protection, this new blog gives an ongoing voice to that work and an opportunity to draw more Canadians into the discussion."

In her work with the Initiative, Burns has spent the past two years traveling Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta learning about the vast - almost one million square kilometres - Lake Winnipeg watershed. She's heard the stories of toxic algae blooms, boil-water advisories, and an increasing frequency in both droughts and floods. But she's also discovered that many groups and individuals are taking action on problems related to water.

"I've witnessed so many examples of positive action over the course of my travels, I hope this blog will help me bridge the gap between what's currently being done and what we can all do in the future," said Burns. "The work of government, non-profits, industry and the general public all needs to be inter-connected - just like the various aspects of a watershed - if we want to get real results."

To that end, Burns in conjunction with local community foundations and watershed groups, is planning to host community events to raise awareness of water issues and to stimulate ideas and action about local solutions. Visitors to H2O: Ideas & Action for Canada's Water (www.canadawater.wordpress.com) can request a community event facilitated by Burns.

"The most important message we want to convey is that all of us hold the key to change," says Burns. "The more individuals we can convince to pay attention, the more likely there will be community and political action."

The Lake Winnipeg Watershed initiative is funded by The Winnipeg Foundation, Edmonton Community Foundation, the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, the Thomas Sill Foundation, and the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation through CFC.

About Community Foundations

Community Foundations of Canada is the membership organization for the more than 170 community foundations that exist in communities from coast to coast.

Community foundations are local charitable foundations that help Canadians invest in building strong and resilient places to live, work, and play. They are one of the largest supporters of Canadian charities, providing $140 million to local organizations in 2009. Find out more at www.cfc-fcc.ca.

For further information: Anne-Marie McElrone, Director of Communications and Marketing, [phone], [phone], [email protected]; Skana Gee, Communications Coordinator, [phone], [phone], [email protected]