Water…agua…eau…biyaha…آب… mâa… paani

In late spring of 2014, Futurewatch EDEP launched the Multicultural Water Initiative program in Toronto. One of the components of the MultiWaterIn was to pilot a Multicultural Water Festival within the Humber River Watershed with the purpose of bringing together diverse communities under a common goal: celebrating our natural and cultural river heritage.

The Humber River is one of the 4 largest watersheds within the City of Toronto. It is affected by non-source pollution sources (i.e. discharge of contaminants by light industrial and commercial sources in the South part of the watershed and larger industrial and manufacturing industries in the North reaches of the watershed).

There are a number of initiatives conducted in the past 8-10 years to improve the ecological state of the river including improving fishing spawning (salmon and other native fish species) by taking down sections of previously build small water reservoirs for flood control purposes, and conducting a number of community-driven activities related to the stabilization of the river shore through the replanting of native plant species.

In June 8, 2014, we organized the first Multicultural Water Festival at the Etienne Brule Park. Close to 500 individuals from all walks of life attended the festival. We co-organized a number of activities including an historical walk, catch and release fishing, a show of local species and a native sacred water ceremony.

We counted with the support of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, the City of Toronto’s Innercity Outtripping Centre, the Police Marine Unit and a native band. Information was available in several languages including Arabic, Spanish and English and information kits were distributed. The event also counted with the participation of ex-mayor David Miller, CEO of WWF, City Councillor Sarah Doucette, M. P. Peggy Nash and a great number of local community champions.

We have been busy with the MultiWaterIn initiative with engaging community groups, immigrant families and individuals living within the boundaries of the watershed in water conservation and preservation activities including water sampling, identification of critical fish spawning areas and environmental education activities in their local communities.

FutureWatch EDEP’s Multicultural Water Initiative program is generously supported by WWF’s Loblaw Water Fund.