CWF Navigates Troubled Waters During Rivers to Oceans Week

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is urging Canadians to care, conserve and commit during Rivers to Oceans Week and launching a new French language documentary on threats facing wildlife in the historic St. Lawrence seaway.

“We cannot water down the message that new approaches to address national and international water challenges must be developed to protect species at risk,” said Wade Luzny, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

As part of its Rivers to Oceans Week program, June 8-14, CWF is releasing a 30-minute French language documentary called Navigating Troubled Waters. The investigative program will air several times on the Quebec television network Canal Savoir, and four French language webisodes have also been posted to CWF’s website (cwf-fcf.org) to download free of charge.

“We need to understand the impact human activities are having on this critical, international waterway and the many species that depend on it for survival,” says Luzny.  “Hopefully, this will serve as a resource for conservation efforts across Canada.”

The Canadian Wildlife Federation and the award-winning filmmakers of Gallant Productions Inc. teamed up to create the high-definition videos to complement CWF’s French and English public service announcements and webisodes on understanding ground, waste, storm and surface water, as well as conserving and protecting water. Key elements include the impact of climate change on water quantity, the effects of development on water quality and the protection of the health of wildlife populations.

Navigating Troubled Waters follows the St. Lawrence River from its source in the Great Lakes to where fresh water mixes with salt water at the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean. Host Dr. Yves Jean, a past president of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, explores how an aging infrastructure in this historic region is in desperate need of repair and talks with some of Quebec’s most respected scientists.

Dr. Jean is also a fellow with the Canadian Wildlife Federation Learning Institute and a professor at The University of Quebec in Montreal (TELUQ). His in-depth understanding of conservation issues and ability to present scientific knowledge in a user-friendly way will help television audiences better understand the challenges facing Canada’s largest fresh water resource. The French language webisodes, ranging in length from seven to 10 minutes, also provide excellent resources for teachers.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation has prioritized water quality and quantity, climate change and species at risk in its current campaigns to protect wildlife. CWF has been advocating for water awareness at international conservation conferences in Spain and Turkey over the past months and plans to continue spreading its strong message to international and local audiences. “Wildlife knows no borders, and innovative solutions must be developed in order to ensure a lasting legacy of wildlife and habitat,” Luzny says.

CWF is also hosting its annual meeting in Whitehorse during Rivers to Oceans Week and supporting the opening of a naturalized trail along the Yukon River.  In April, CWF announced its support for a Wetlandkeepers program for the Sea to Sky area of B.C., where the Olympics will be held in 2010. In July, CWF is presenting a one-week conservation course at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, around the Bay of Fundy, where the highest tides in the world are found.

“This is all part of our long-term strategy to make the conservation movement mainstream,” Luzny said. “Water’s worth it.”

For more information, please visit riverstooceansweek.ca.

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About the Canadian Wildlife Federation

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national non-profit charitable organization dedicated to ensuring an appreciation of our natural world and a lasting legacy of healthy wildlife and habitat. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, sponsoring research, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending policy changes and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. Visit cwf-fcf.org.

Contact

Stacey Scott
Communications Officer
(613) 599-9594
staceys@cwf-fcf.org

Please tune in to Canal Savoir to watch Navigating Troubled Waters on the following dates and times:

Monday, June 8 at 9 p.m.
Wednesday, June 10 at 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, June 13 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17 at 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, June 20 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, June 27 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 1 at 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 4 at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8 at 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 11 at 8 p.m.