By Julia Pepler
When I was 18 years old I got the opportunity to go on a 52-day canoe trip with my summer camp. Alongside 7 other campers and 2 leaders, we travelled to our starting point on Tibbitt Lake in the Northwest Territories.
A Rare Opportunity for a Healthier Salish Sea
By guest writer Zack Shoom
Metro Vancouver is facing one of the greatest opportunities in recent history to prevent toxins and microplastics from entering the Fraser River and Salish Sea: an upgrade to our region's largest wastewater treatment plant.
Can saltwater freeze?
By Julia Pepler
Growing up in Ontario, I’ve always thought freshwater lakes freeze and oceans don’t. But in this recent cold snap in Vancouver, I’ve noticed a thin layer of ice in False Creek...a salty inlet. So what’s the deal?
The Crystalline Waters of Skeleton Lake
Watermark by Katie Moore
For as long as I can remember I have had a deep connection to water. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that sparked my love for the water because it has been deeply ingrained in my life since I was young. But thinking back to my childhood, I suppose my love for the water all began from visiting our family friends’ cottage every summer on Skeleton Lake in the Muskoka region of Ontario.
3 Resolutions You Can Make to Protect Our Waters
By Julia Pepler
A new year and new decade bring reflection, new beginnings, and for many, resolutions. Beyond making resolutions for our health and our communities, we’ve come up with three simple changes you can make to help protect our waters.
What 2019 Taught Us About Our Waters
This was a big year for Fraser Riverkeeper. We expanded our water monitoring program, co-hosted a Fraser River cleanup, cheered on Lauren Hornor as she was honoured with the 2019 YWCA Women of Distinction Award, and held our biggest fundraising gala to-date.
The Confluence of These Two Rivers Transforms into an Eagle Haven
By Julia Pepler
Last Friday, the Fraser Riverkeeper team left our cozy office, pulled on some warm layers, and headed to the confluence of the Fraser and Harrison rivers. We were off on an adventure to reconnect with these powerful waters.
Why We Monitor Vancouver’s Waters During the Coldest Months of the Year
By Julia Pepler
Months after hot summer days at the beach have come to an end, Vancouver Water Monitoring Coordinator, Katie Moore, and our team of volunteers continue to head out on Thursday mornings to monitor the recreational water quality in Vancouver’s False Creek. But why do we sample year-round, through the coldest months of the year?
How Restoration Projects Provide Hope for the Fraser River
By Katie Moore
If you are anything like me you may sometimes feel overwhelmed and somewhat pessimistic about the current trajectory of the world and our environment. Personally, when I read the recent reports by The UN stating that we have 11 years left to prevent irreversible climate change1, and the findings on the accelerating rate of global biodiversity loss2 I feel an increasing sense of “climate anxiety.”
I Spent 24 Hours Restricting My Water Use
By Julia Pepler
I grew up on the shores of Lake Ontario. In my years in there, and now in Vancouver, I have never had to think twice about how to access clean, fresh water. Especially here in Vancouver, where it rains on average 169 days in the year, I sometimes catch myself mindlessly using far more water than necessary. I’ve been guilty of thinking that exact thought, “It poured all day today, I’m not doing any harm by showering an extra 5 minutes...right?”
