Media Advisory - New Speakers Series to Address Lake Ontario Issues and
Highlight Local Projects to Improve Them

- Peter Annin, author of The Great Lakes Water Wars, is the inaugural guest speaker at First Ever Lake Ontario Evenings Speakers Series -

TORONTO , Dec. 1 /CNW/ - Lake Ontario is among the most stressed in the Great Lakes system. As a major urban area located on its shores, what happens - or doesn't happen - in the Greater Toronto Area can have serious consequences on the future health of the lake and its residents. With a view to the many concerns facing the lake, and the many organizations involved in addressing them, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) is launching Lake Ontario Evenings. This new speaker's series will engage individuals and communities to learn more about the issues being faced by our Great Lakes, and will also provide examples of, and opportunities for action.

The inaugural Lake Ontario Evening will kick-off with guest speaker Peter Annin, a veteran conflict and environmental journalist and longtime contributor to Newsweek. Annin is the author of the book The Great Lakes Water Wars, which describes the history of conflict surrounding the removal of water from the Great Lakes basin. Annin will discuss the implications of his findings on the journey to protecting the Great Lakes waters. He will also answer questions from the audience.

The Province of Ontario, along with Quebec and the eight U.S. states bordering the Great Lakes, signed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement in 2005. In support of the agreement, Ontario is implementing legislative measures to protect this precious resource.

"We have all heard about the stressors facing Lake Ontario, and about the negative effects we can have on the lake - both as individuals and as a region," said Brian Denney , CAO, Toronto and Region Conservation. "This new public speaker's series will bring together experts, community organizations, and the public to learn about the lake in an open discussion format. What are the causes of the lake's problems? Who is addressing those problems locally, and how? What are people's concerns and how can they be involved? That's the dialogue we're aiming for in the Lake Ontario Evening series - to get everyone in the same place and to move forward together. It's very exciting."

Attendees will have the opportunity to get an update about information on local projects related to source water protection, the Remedial Action Plan and the Toronto waterfront. Attendees will also have the opportunity to provide their input on the recommendations coming forward in the updated Don River Fisheries Management Plan.

    
    WHAT:   Inaugural Lake Ontario Evenings speaker series event
    WHEN:   Thursday, December 3, 2009  6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
    COST:   Free
    WHERE:  Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. West.
    WHO:    Peter Annin; Rodney Bouchard, Project Manager, Lake Ontario
    Collaborative; Michael D'Andrea, Director Water Infrastructure
    Management, City of Toronto; Nancy Gaffney, TRCA Specialist, Toronto
    Waterfront; Stephanie Hawkins, Project Manager, Remedial Action Plan; and
    Christine Tu, TRCA Aquatic Management Supervisor, Don Rivers Fisheries
    Management Plan
    

Toronto and Region Conservation

With over 50 years of experience, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) helps people understand, enjoy and look after the natural environment. Our vision is for The Living City(R), where human settlement can flourish forever as part of nature's beauty and diversity. For more information, call 416-661-6600 or visit us at www.trca.on.ca, www.torontorap.ca or www.ctcswp.ca.

For further information: For media registration contact: Rowena Calpito, Supervisor, Media Management, Toronto and Region Conservation, T: [phone] ext 5632, C: [phone], E: [email protected]