Lake Links Celebrates its 20th Anniversary! Will You be There?

By Monica Seidel, Communications and Fundraising Coordinator, Watersheds Canada
Are you looking for a free place to meet people from across Canada? Want to know the latest information on different freshwater issues and learn how you can help? Be sure to check out Lake Links, happening Saturday, October 23rd from 10am-12:30pm EST!

Lake Links is an annual workshop usually held in Perth, Ontario. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2021, this one-day, collaboratively run workshop has now moved online and attracts citizens and scientists from across Canada to share ways we can all help sustain our lakes and rivers. This is a great opportunity for individuals, waterfront and nature groups, and students to gather together to discuss current issues, see what is being done, and learn how they can help. The workshop features expert speakers and presentations, the Gord Rodgers Memorial Award presentation, and the sharing of fantastic education resources.  

This year’s theme is “Take the Challenge: Connecting what we say and actually do in order to protect our lakes and rivers”. Increasingly, shoreline areas and freshwater bodies are facing pressures from human development, climate change, invasive species, and more. It is important for each of us to assess what we value and then see how our actions may or may not be aligned with those values. 

Not sure what you value most about your shoreline property, or how your property measures up? Before you attend Lake Links, be sure to download the “Lake Protection Workbook” . Created by the Lake Links Planning Committee, this free resource helps shoreline property owners self-assess their property using a scoring system. By ranking different factors of your property, such as lawns and gardens, docks and boathouses, sewage system, and light pollution, you can see what you currently value and prioritize. This workbook is also great at helping you figure out what next steps you can take to further protect your property, shoreline, and the wildlife that live there.

---

Individual actions make a difference on one’s property, and as a waterfront community our collective actions can restore and enhance local lake and river ecosystems. Be sure to register for Lake Links 2021 (it’s free!) by visiting the Lake Links 2021 event page. All presentations will be recorded and posted to Watersheds Canada’s YouTube channel, so even if you cannot attend live it is best if you still register so that you receive all recordings and resources from the workshop right to your inbox.

Lake Links 2021 is organized by a collaborative Planning Committee that has representatives from Cataraqui Conservation, Friends of the Tay Watershed, Lake Networking Group, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Watersheds Canada. This Committee is fundamental to the success of Lake Links each year. Each year, financial support for Lake Links is received from various partners across the environmental sector. This year’s event is generously funded by the S.M. Blair Family Foundation, Cataraqui Conservation, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations.