Watersheds Canada

Sometimes the best conservation opportunities begin with a simple invitation.

Let's be honest—offers to visit programs, tour projects, or participate in field work don't always receive the uptake they deserve. That made it all the more meaningful when Watersheds Canada and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA) gladly accepted U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research's generous invitation to experience their Testing the Waters program firsthand on beautiful Spruce Lake in Haliburton.

As U-Links' Jack Scott explained, "One of the stated goals of this program is for our participating volunteers to achieve sampling independence." Watching that goal come to life on the water was inspiring.

It was also impossible to miss what makes programs like this successful: spectacular volunteers. As witnessed by FOCA CEO Lesley Lavender and Watersheds Canada CEO Robert Pye, dedicated community members are the driving force behind freshwater stewardship, building the skills and confidence needed to protect Ontario's lakes for generations to come.

The day was a wonderful reminder that conservation is built on relationships. Whether it's sharing knowledge, lending a hand, or simply saying "yes" to an invitation, organizations like U-Links, FOCA, and Watersheds Canada—and the incredible volunteers who support them—have so much in common and truly depend on one another.

Thank you to everyone who made the day so welcoming. We look forward to continuing to learn from and work alongside partners who are strengthening stewardship across our watersheds, one lake at a time.

U-Links Centre for Community Based Research FOCA - Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations Drag & Spruce Lakes Property Owners Association