Lake Ontario Waterkeeper

Features (346 articles)

The Lake Ontario crossing that almost wasn’t

September 20th, 2011

This is the third and final story in a series about swimming in Lake Ontario. We hope you enjoyed this year’s swimming season!In August, Melanie Price and her support team embarked on an epic journey: a swim across Lake Ontario. After months of training, Melanie’s goal was about to become a reality...or was it?Melanie’s 40-kilometre swim began at midnight in... (more)

Features Great Lakes-Basin Hamilton and Region Niagara Region Sewers & Urban Runoff Swim Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

An unlikely getaway destination: Oshawa, Ontario

September 16th, 2011

This story is the second in a series about swimming in Lake Ontario. We hope you enjoyed this year’s swimming season!Oshawa isn't typically associated as a place where you can go to "get away from it all." This summer, I took some time to visit Oshawa and to discover what people do for fun by the water. When you think of Oshawa, images of industry often float into... (more)

Durham Region Features Swim Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Lake Ontario memories: spring swimming

September 8th, 2011

This story is the first in a series about swimming in Lake Ontario. For more about the author, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, please take a look at her bio below. We hope you enjoyed this year’s swimming season!Spring at the cottage was mostly a mess. The window sills were piled high with dead ladybugs and mice lay moldering under dressers and beds. If your elbow knocked the wall... (more)

Features Kingston and Region Ontario Original Articles Swim Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Canada’s top four beaches

August 30th, 2011

Swim Guide highlights Canada’s top beaches just in time for the long weekend!There’s one week of summer left, which means you have one last chance to create the warm summertime memories that will carry you through the chilly fall and winter months.Swim Guide has Canada’s top beaches just in time for you to hit the sand one last time this summer.Here’s... (more)

About Waterkeeper Canada Development & Land Use Durham Region Features Great Lakes-Basin Greater Toronto Region Hamilton and Region Kingston and Region New York State Niagara Region Ontario Peterborough & Region Port Hope, Cobourg, and Region Press Releases Quinte Region Swim U.S.A. Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Darlington new nuclear plans need more work, concludes government panel: 67 recommendations released today

August 25th, 2011

Ontario (August 25, 2011) - A new nuclear power plant can be built in Ontario only if Ontario Power Generation and other government bodies can first satisfy sixty-seven scientific and planning recommendations. This is the conclusion of an official report released today by a government-appointed panel.Ontario Power Generation (OPG) asked the Canadian government for... (more)

Development & Land Use Drink Durham Region Energy & Fossil Fuels Environmental Law Features Fish Industrial Emissions Nuclear Industry Ontario Press Releases Research Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Blue-green algae is a very serious, very solvable problem

August 17th, 2011

Cyanobacteria in our Lakes and Rivers across Canada and the US (better know as blue-green algae) is a very serious problem. It also a fairly common problem this time of year. Warm, still, stagnant water with too much nutrient will result in blue-green algae. There is a solution: make blue-green algae less common. How do you do this? Enforce environmental laws.Blue-green... (more)

Canada Development & Land Use Drink Environmental Law Features Fish Great Lakes-Basin New York State Ontario Sewers & Urban Runoff Swim U.S.A. Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Hamilton Airport polluting local water

August 11th, 2011

Hamilton International Airport has been polluting the water supply of Welland River and Lake Niapenco for decades. Fish and turtles in these waterways have been found to have unsafe levels of perfluorooctaneslfonic acid (PFOS). Sediment samples show PFOS levels in this area are world record breakers. There are now concerns that PFOS will contaminate drinking water supplies and... (more)

Development & Land Use Drink Environmental Law Features Fish Hamilton and Region Industrial Emissions Swim Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

4 reasons to hit the beach this August

August 3rd, 2011

August is here and with it comes so many things to celebrate about Lake Ontario and North American beaches!The Swim Guide app is now available for Android devices AND covers beaches on the Great Lakes, BC, Alberta, and along the Ottawa River. Melanie Price is swimming across Lake Ontario! The Wolfe Island Music Fest is back. Bronte Harbour Days are... (more)

About Waterkeeper Drink Events and Meetings Features Fish Greater Toronto Region Hamilton and Region Kingston and Region Niagara Region Ontario Swim Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

No one has a right to pollute

July 19th, 2011

Imagine this: You're 16 years old again. You've never driven a car before and it's time to get your learner's permit. You head off to the government services building where a big sign proudly proclaims a "two hour service guarantee". The lineup is out the door, but you take a number and you start to wait. And you wait. You wait some more. After three hours, you have not taken... (more)

Canada Drink Environmental Law Features Fish Ontario Swim Waterkeeper Publications Waterkeeper's work Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Lake of Shame: Ontario’s pollution problem

July 12th, 2011

In the Huron language, Lake Ontario means Lake of Shining Waters. Stand on the crest of the slope on Jones Avenue, just below the Danforth, and, when the sun hits the water it’s like a mirror. But of all the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, which is furthest downstream, is almost certainly the most polluted.This week, we invite you to join the Toronto Star's Antonia Zerbisias... (more)

About Waterkeeper Aggregate & Mining Development & Land Use Drink Energy & Fossil Fuels Environmental Law Features Fish Great Lakes-Basin Greater Toronto Region Groundwater Industrial Emissions Nuclear Industry Ontario Sewers & Urban Runoff Shipping, boating & navigation Swim Waste Management Water takings Waterkeeper.ca Weekly