RBC supports wetlands projects

Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative thanks RBC Blue Water Project for $10,000 grant

RBC awarded $3.2 million in funding to protect water in more than 150 communities across the globe; One of the projects receiving funding was wetlands program in Huron, Middlesex counties

Local staff of RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) helped to plant a rain garden near Exeter on RBC Blue Water Day on Thursday, June 4, 2015. They were some of the bank’s many employees who were taking part in RBC Blue Water Day activities. “We’re proud that our employees around the world are willing to do their part in their communities through Blue Water Day Makeovers,” said Dave McKay, President and CEO, RBC, in a news release.

RBC announced, on June 4, the recipients of the 2015 RBC Blue Water Project Leadership and Community Action Grants. RBC is to donate more than $3.2 million for water protection programs delivered by 159 organizations across nine countries, including Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Luxembourg, China, India, Mexico and Grand Bahama. The grants will fund programs that improve urban water quality, enhance stormwater management, and protect and restore urban waterways.

One of the local recipients was Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) for the Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative. Healthy Headwaters received $10,000 in funding. Healthy Headwaters is an opportunity for rural and non-rural landowners to preserve, restore, or enhance wetlands. Ausable Bayfield Conservation, Middlesex Stewardship Council (MSC), Huron Stewardship Council (HSC), and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) formed this partnership to provide people with technical advice, including site visits, elevation surveys and project coordination to assist with the completion of wetland restoration projects in flood plain or riparian areas. “We are very pleased with this support for wetlands in Ausable Bayfield watersheds,” said Rachael Scholten, Stewardship Technician with Ausable Bayfield Conservation. “Wetlands are very important for the health of our local water and soil as they provide water storage, act as a natural filter for runoff, recharge our supplies of groundwater, and reduce flooding and erosion by slowing down heavy surface flows.”

Since 2008, communities, partners, and Healthy Headwaters Wetlands Initiative have worked together to restore 51 wetlands and plant 219,936 trees, shrubs, and wetland plants in wet areas. This work equals about 627 acres or 254 hectares. “We could not accomplish this without the support of landowners who take part and the support of partners such as RBC,” said Scholten.

A news release issued by RBC on June 4 listed a number of winners of RBC Blue Water Project Leadership and Community Action Grants. The June 4 announcement is part of RBC’s annual Blue Water Day, when RBC employees around the globe to come together to protect their local water sources through clean-up, planting, and awareness-raising initiatives. In 2014, more than 20,000 employees completed 751 ‘makeovers’ worldwide and the company was on track to top that participation on Thursday. “At RBC, we know that water is essential to everything we do,” said McKay. “From our most basic daily needs to ensuring our global economy can function successfully. By supporting the efforts of our Leadership and Community Action Grant recipients, we are able to help raise awareness and fund water projects to help create a sustainable future, assisting our clients both in Canada and across the globe.”

For the RBC news release visit this link:

http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/news/2015/20150604-rbc-bluewater.html

For a list of RBC winners visit this link:

http://www.rbc.com/newsroom/_assets-custom/pdf/2015-RBC-BWP-Leadership-Community-Action-Grants.pdf

Wetland restoration and enhancement is a community effort which will benefit downstream areas of Ausable Bayfield watersheds. These areas support species-at-risk mussels and fishes and their habitats; are near Provincially Significant Wetlands or expand other natural areas. Each individual wetland project is a step towards improving the water quality of the entire Ausable Bayfield watershed.

The RBC Blue Water Project is a historic, wide-ranging, 10-year global commitment to help protect the world’s most precious natural resource: fresh water. Since 2007, RBC has pledged nearly $44 million (Canadian dollars) to more than 740 charitable organizations worldwide that protect watersheds and promote access to clean drinking water, with an additional $8.8 million pledged to universities for water programs.

The RBC Blue Water Project is focused on supporting initiatives that help protect water in towns, cities, and urbanized areas. For further information, visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.