Living in New Brunswick, there is no way around it — we owe so many of our good, most cherished moments to our water.
Think of rock-skipping competitions with yours friends by the brook growing up. Or navigating narrow trails to cast a few lines at your town’s prized fishing hole. Remember pond hockey in the evenings, hot days cooling off with family at the cottage, and the dull ache of ice-cold water around your ankles while wading through the World’s Highest Tides.
It’s easy to take these moments for granted. That’s why this year, to celebrate World Water Day 2015, the Conservation Council is putting New Brunswick waters in the spotlight.
In the lead up to World Water Day on March 22, we want to know about a special slice of your life that shared a connection to one of our beautiful rivers, streams, lakes or bays.
We’re asking you to share a story from your life that, for you, represents how meaningful and valuable our waters are, and how fortunate we are for having them.
“Ever since I was little my family and I would canoe the Tobique River. The river holds great stories for my family and my friends.” Miranda Davenport, Perth Andover
It could be a long story, it could be short, all that matters is you gush some love on New Brunswick waters! Email your story, along with photos, to jon.macneill@conservationcouncil.ca.
After World Water Day, we’ll pull together the wonderful anecdotes we’ve received so we can all reflect on how central water has been to our lives in this province.
“My 3rd great grandfather, Thomas Boies, founded Boiestown and built the town and Lumber Mill there. The Miramichi River is very important to the people of this area. I want to keep this river pristine and free from contamination!” Joan Green, Fredericton
We all want to keep our waters clean, but you might be shocked to learn that New Brunswick hasn’t yet put in place the tools we need to do that. Thirteen years ago the provincial government introduced legislation to protect the quality of waterways, but it was never used!
The provincial Ombudsman issued a scathing report on the mismanagement of the Water Classification system last August, but he also told us that the provincial government could make things right by acting swiftly to enforce the protection of our waters.
Help us encourage the provincial government to make good on this issue by sharing your water story with Minister of Environment the Honourable Brian Kenny along with a pre-written letter asking for a water classification system by the end of the year. We’ve made it easy to share your story and send a letter. Click here!
Let’s make World Water Day 2015 the year New Brunswick waters finally get the credit – and protection – they are due!
