H2O: Ideas & Action for Canada's Water

The Lake Winnipeg Foundation (LWF) is preparing for their 6th Annual Walk for Water event next Sunday, Aug.12 which has now grown to include four communities, Matlock, Gimli, Grindstone and Victoria Beach. The 5 km. walk through each community raises money for the multitude of projects that the LWF helps to fund that are aimed at restoring the health of Lake Winnipeg and its great watershed. Last year about $45,000 was raised through the walk and the hope is to exceed that figure this year.

Enjoying sunset on the lakeshore

The Walk for Water is now the anchor event in a broader fundraising appeal called the Lake-A-Thon. The idea is that many people may want to contribute to fundraising efforts for the lake without participating in the walk. So there are endless possibilities for fundraising, from holding a garage sale to donating birthday money instead of getting presents. Here are some of the things people have done in the last couple of years: Swim competitions; Sail boat races;  Loonie for the Lake ; Sand-Castle Challenge; Mowing Lawns for the Lake; Shoreline clean-up  (e.g.,  pledges for  collecting X kg of garbage).
Another major fundraiser for the LWF is the Golf Fore Water, happening on Aug.28 at Larter’s Golf Course in St. Andrews. Thousands of Manitobans are golf fanatics. Hopefully many of them will fulfill their golf pleasures at the same time as helping to raise money for our beloved Lake Winnipeg.
2012 has brought many beautiful, hot summer days but also, many warnings about blue-green algae on Lake Winnipeg and other Manitoba lakes. There is greater awareness now about the threats associated with these algal blooms (health concerns for humans and animals as well as all life in the aquatic system). The Lake Winnipeg Foundation is working hard to increase attention and help for the lake. I hope there will be thousands of people who want to join in helping as well.