

I believe it's important for them to be aware of and understand the larger issues but not to feel small and helpless at the same time. They are learning about climate change and how the world's leaders are responding as well as what they can do at home to contribute to a greener earth and protect the water they care so much about. Their part--although it may feel small--can make a difference. I believe that this is important to ensuring we do not give up on the causes we care about just because they sometimes seem insurmountable.

I may not be able to personally help those who are still living without clean water after a devastating hurricane but I am able to make a difference in the quality of the water closer to home, on Georgian Bay and other bodies of fresh water in Ontario. When I recently became aware of a ongoing issue regarding sewage overflow into local bodies of water, I was shocked that this kind of thing is occurring without our knowledge. According to Simcoe.com news, there were at least three massive sewage overflows this past summer into Georgian Bay due to severe rainstorms and outdated sewage and storm water systems - not built to withstand more stormy intense weather that we are increasingly experiencing. Although the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change collects information from municipalities on sewage bypasses, it does not make the information available to the public. I believe that we deserve to know when untreated sewage is released into the waterways that we swim, canoe, kayak and sail in.

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