n May 10, 2000 ECOS was invited to participate in a river cleanup project conducted by the Commonwealth Students Association. The students from across Canada were in Ottawa to take part in a Commonwealth conference and took time out of their busy schedule to clean up a portion of the Rideau River shoreline near the Hurdman Bridge off Lees Avenue.
This site was identified in the ECOS Action Plan for the Rideau River completed as part of the ECOS 2000 Millennium project. I addressed the students and provided some safety advice to the participants who worked along the river.
At lunch among the tulips at Dow's Lake, the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects awarded ECOS their 2000 Certificate of Merit for service to the environment in recognition of its contribution to sensitive, sustainable design of the environment. I accepted the award on behalf of ECOS along with John Wright an association member and long standing ECOS supporter. The award really belongs to the tireless volunteers who have put in countless hours of time to the environment in Old Ottawa South.
At the end of May, ECOS played host at Brewer Park to a group of international students taking part in the AQUAtox 2000 network. The network was established in 1998 by IDRC to help students understand the importance of protecting their communities' water resources through practical scientific experiments. 93 schools worldwide, including 36 from Canada, have taken part in the project. The students from Canada (Northwest Territories), Cuba, Mexico, Nepal and the Ukraine were brought to Ottawa in order to share experiences and describe the impact of their research on their community.
As part of their visit, the students collected water samples from the Rideau River at Brewer Park and analyzed them at the Canadian Museum of Nature laboratories. The Museum is currently conducting the Rideau River Biodiversity Project in close cooperation with area residents and groups such as ECOS.
On May 6, 2000 ECOS conducted its annual tree planting at Brewer Park. This spring ECOS volunteers planted some 150 bushes around Brewer Pond and the newly created embayment on the Rideau River. The planting was a total success. Thanks to all who participated. In mid June ECOS will be planting an additional 15 trees in the same general area.
On June 12, the Rideau River Roundtable will be formally established in a ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Nature. The creation of this permanent group of stakeholders and community groups for the stretch of the Rideau from Rideau Falls to Smiths Falls, represents a major milestone in ECOS's efforts to promote stewardship along the River.
ECOS has spent many days over the past year working with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the Canadian Museum of Nature planning this Roundtable. In addition, ECOS supported the Roundtable by preparing a stewardship report as well as a comprehensive scoping study on the health of the Rideau.
Even though this Millennium Bureau of Canada project is now completed, one of ECOS's regular partners, Muskies Canada, will be on the Roundtable. In addition, as professional engineer and water quality expert and resident of Old Ottawa South will serve on the Roundtable. In January 2001, ECOS will consider applying for membership on the Roundtable.
We reported in the May 2000 that we would launch the Interpretive Program and stage a wetland festival in late June 2000. These events will now be held in late July 2000. Flyers will be posted to let you know when and where these events will be held.