The Conservation Council joined watershed associations, Indigenous elders, scientists, government representatives and local, provincial and national conservation groups to celebrate the beauty of and strategize for the further protection of the Wolastoq/St. John River earlier this month.
Our Executive Director, Lois Corbett, was a panelist at the 2022 Wəlastəkw | Saint-Jean | St. John River Summit organized by ACAP Saint John and WWF Canada, held at the Saint John Marina on Oct. 4.
The two-day summit included keynote panel discussions, breakout strategy sessions and field visits to various project sites around the region.
Corbett was one of four panelists discussing recent progress and future goals for protection and restoration of the Wolastoq.
She spoke on the importance of strengthening the connections between organizations and grassroots groups working up and down the mighty river—and the important role these groups play in fostering cooperation and collaboration between municipal, provincial, federal and even neighbouring U.S. governments.
Corbett said a key water priority for the Conservation Council (and certainly others in the crowd), is filling in the gaps in the provincial water protection strategy, noting that the province still has not enshrined integrated watershed management and planning into law.
The Conservation Council continues to work with the Department of Environment to ensure the full implementation, and improvement of, the water protection strategy. And we look forward to more opportunities to celebrate the Wolastoq with our allies and further collaborate to see its waters and shorelines protected.
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