The Foundation
Photo credit: Bruno Perrin - Unsplash
About
Mission, vision and values
History
About: A word from Roy Dupuis
The water that flows, turbulent or quiet, belongs to no one: it is available to all. It is a common good so precious that it calls for our respect and our commitment to its protection.
In the current environmental context, rivers are increasingly threatened, particularly by the multiplication of hydroelectric power plants, by projects destroying the banks and by numerous polluting discharges. I believe that as a community, we must act and take action in the direction of sustainable development.
In order to encourage citizen involvement, the Foundation's primary goal is to bring together, support and guide those who are concerned about the fate of rivers, i.e. citizen committees, local organizations, recreational and tourism organizations, school groups and First Nations committees.
As an unconditional lover of water and its wild beauty, I am committed to doing my best to raise awareness in order to protect the rivers of Quebec.
I am asking for your support to continue this collective effort and am inviting you to participate in the protection of the environment by endorsing the Foundation.
May this approach touch your collective conscience for the beauty of rivers!
Roy Dupuis, our spokesperson and co-founder, tells us why he loves the Rivers Foundation. He talks about the beginnings of our organization, which for nearly 20 years, has been taking concrete action to protect our most beautiful resource: Quebec's rivers and streams.
"There are so many reasons to act today. To get involved. If only to be alive. To live."
Roy Dupuis
Mission, vision, values and fields of action
For 20 years, the Rivers Foundation has been working to preserve, restore and enhance the natural character of rivers. It contributes to ensuring water quality and access to water bodies for the Quebec population, taking into account social, environmental and economic dimensions.
We participate in public debate, we make recommendations, we contribute to science, we innovate.
Nous soutenons les acteurs de l’eau avec une offre de services-conseils afin d’optimiser la gestion des eaux usées et des eaux pluviales. Nous mettons en lumière les problèmes à l’échelle du Québec avec une carte interactive des déversements des eaux usées et nous proposons des solutions et des outils afin de contribuer à les régler.
Our organization advocates against :
Les barrages
Le bétonnage des rivières détruit les chutes, modifient les écosystèmes et les paysages. La production d’hydroélectricité est faussement présentée comme une solution au problème des émissions de gaz à effet de serre alors que d’autres alternatives existent. Pour en savoir plus, voyez le documentaire Chercher le courant, la campagne Avec Énergie ainsi que la pièce de théâtre documentaire et balado J'aime Hydro.
Pollution that suffocates rivers and streams
Small streams and land drainage systems feed rivers. They act as open sewers, often affected by erosion and widespread pollution.
Protecting our rivers with riverbanks
The shoreline acts as a filter, retaining material and preventing soil erosion.
Intérêts économiques démesurés
Il importe que les citoyens et citoyennes puissent défendre localement les intérêts de l’environnement sans quoi les intérêts économiques pourront prévaloir lors des prises de décisions.
La Fondation Rivières sensibilise les citoyen.ne.s autour d'événements rassembleurs et mobilisateurs.
Vision
That there are protected areas where rivers flow freely so that people can fully enjoy them;
That an ecotourism industry, skilfully developed, allows the social character of the rivers to be valued accordingly. Thus, some will benefit from the rivers for their health, others for their personal growth;
That the ecological and environmental character be respected. This way, current and future generations will be able to discover and appreciate them.
Value
Thoroughness
Our positions are based on science and professionalism.
Eco-citizenship
Nous croyons que chaque Québécois.e est un.e éco-citoyen.ne, avec des droits (ex. droit de vivre dans un environnement sain), mais aussi des devoirs envers les rivières (ex. contribuer à protéger le patrimoine naturel collectif).
Independence
We stand for rivers and the Quebec public interest. We refuse any influence that could harm our mission.
Solidarity
We are committed to mutual aid, collaboration and exchange. Together, we can protect our rivers.
Determination
We believe that there are always solutions to the problems and challenges that impede the achievement of our mission.
Actions
We are active on three fronts:
Water quality
Nearly 53,000: that's the number of times wastewater was discharged into Quebec's rivers in 2020 because it could not be treated by municipal wastewater systems. The Rivers Foundation is at the forefront of this battle to help municipalities solve this problem.
Access to water
Imagine a world where we could all access rivers everywhere in Quebec... Too many riverbanks are private, inaccessible. With the support of members and the collaboration of citizens committees and our partners, the Rivers Foundation is working to develop public access to water.
Preservation of the natural character of rivers
Nos rivières sont belles, naturelles et sauvages. Pourtant, elles sont fortement marquées par les impacts cumulatifs de l’activité humaine : ponts, barrages, mines, coupes forestières, exploitations agricoles ou développements urbains. La Fondation travaille à préserver ces paysages précieux afin que tous puissent jouir de ce patrimoine culturel important!