WC131 JulyAugust 2023 - Magazine - Page 5
EDITOR’S NOTE
PROJECTS l POLICY l INNOVATION
JULY/AUGUST 2023 • VOLUME 23 NUMBER 4
EDITOR
Jen Smith
CONTENT DIRECTOR
Corinne Lynds
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
John Tenpenny, Connie Vitello
ART DIRECTOR AND SENIOR DESIGNER
Gordon Alexander
CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS
Brian Bell, Wes Bova, Scott Cousins,
Adina Georgescu, Keyvan Maleki, Emily Sharma,
Jen Smith, John Tenpenny
WATER CANADA ADVISORY BOARD
Stephen Braun, Melissa Dick, Gregary Ford,
Jon Grant, Robert Haller, Linda Li,
Michael Lywood, Eric Meliton, Ranin Nseir,
Terry Rees, Emily Stahl
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Jackie Pagaduan jackie@actualmedia.ca
DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
Charlotte Stone
DIRECTOR OF EVENTS
Sarah Wensley
PRESIDENT
Todd Latham
PUBLISHER
Nick Krukowski
ADVISOR
James Sbrolla
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A delicate balance
I AM THE UNOFFICIAL tank cleaner of my daughter’s aquarium.
Once a week, I roll up my sleeves, get up to my elbows in fish water, scrub the glass of algae, vacuum up poop, and carefully remove
dead leaves from the aquatic plants. I clean and squeeze out filters,
shake little test tubes to make sure everything is balanced, and add
in new water and chemicals. If there was an award in my house for most dedication to
an aquarium that is not theirs, I’d be the recipient. Hands down.
I had, perhaps naively, assumed that caring for fish is one of the easiest things on
earth. Just stick them in some water and try not to forget to feed them and voila:
instant pet.
But it’s not.
Sure, I’ve watched the YouTube videos. I’ve read the blog posts and Reddits. I’ve
chatted with bored pet store employees. The truth is that keeping an aquarium ecosystem happy and healthy is no simple task. It’s a complicated dance: one that sometimes
makes me feel like I’ve shown up at a ball in a pair of pajama pants and slippers.
The temperature needs to be just right. The pH needs to be balanced. Nitrate and
ammonia need to be monitored. Safeguarding the health of 10 gallons of aquarium
water is a commitment that requires constant attention and care.
It is, at its root, a perfect microcosm of our own planet: a self-contained environment where the smallest change can create ripples that impact every inhabitant.
When I was at the Water Canada Summit in June, I was reminded of how our
actions–both positive and negative–can have lasting effects on our water. As I stood
on the Biinaagami giant floor map of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence watershed, I was
reminded of how incredibly lucky I am to live right in the middle of it all. I have had
the extraordinary privilege of dipping my toes into each mesmerizing water body, each
experience etching onto my soul. The sandbars of Lake Erie; the long beaches of Lake
Ontario; the campsites overlooking Lake Michigan; the vastness of Lake Superior; the
serenity of Lake Huron; and the thrill of whale-watching in the St. Lawrence.
Living in the world’s largest freshwater watershed can feel like there is a seemingly
infinite supply of water just there for the taking. Yet, like my daughter’s aquarium,
our waters are not inexhaustible or invincible. Our actions (or inaction) can upset the
delicate balance, just as easily as overfeeding the fish or adding too many chemicals
can wreak havoc on a tiny aquarium ecosystem. Pollution, over-extraction, and climate
change are posing growing threats to our rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Preserving the
quality and quantity of our water is not a matter of environmental conservation: it’s a
matter of survival.
Just as I’m learning to tend to the health and harmony of my daughter’s aquarium,
my hope is that I’ll take what I’ve learned and use it to be a better steward of Canada’s
water resources. To more fully understand and value the intricate connections, to respect the delicate balance, and to take responsible action to ensure its health. Not just
for my lifetime, but for my daughter’s lifetime, and for her daughter’s lifetime.
Jen Smith is the editor of Water Canada. jen@actualmedia.ca
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WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
WATER C AN ADA • JULY/AUGUS T 2023
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