It's not sharks you need to be afraid of
For 70 years, people enjoyed recreational swimming with little care for what was in the water. But then two musical notes changed everything. Da Dun. Da Dun. In June 1975, Jaws hit theatres and terrified audiences. People were afraid of what was in the water in a way they never had been before. And to this day, nearly 50 years late, people are still afraid of what is in the water.
But what if a shark is the last thing we need to be afraid of? What if the real danger in the water is actually human activity? From habitat destruction to urban runoff, there are a myriad of threats facing our wild species and spaces that call our waterways home.
About Rivers to Oceans Week
From wetlands, ground water and springs to creeks, streams, lakes, rivers and oceans, our water is connected through watersheds.
Rivers to Oceans Week, celebrated from June 8 to 14, recognizes this connectivity and reminds us that taking care of our water is a shared responsibility. Oceans Day, June 8, was declared in 1992 at the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It raises awareness about the importance of the Earth’s oceans and inspires us to take better care of them. Canadian Rivers Day, celebrated since 2003 on the second Sunday in June, gives Canadians a chance to honour our rivers for the important place they occupy at the heart of our history and natural heritage. Since 2007, Oceans Day and Canadian Rivers Day have been celebrated together during Rivers to Oceans Week, which honours themes central to Canada’s watersheds.
Rivers to Oceans Week reminds us that safeguarding the health of all water — local springs, creeks, streams, lakes, rivers, wetlands and even groundwater — flowing through our watersheds also improves the quality of Canada’s oceans. It is an activity in which everyone can play a role regardless of where they live.
Join CWF in celebrating Rivers to Oceans Week and help us turn the tide on the threats to Canada’s waterways and the life they sustain.
