This year will be a watermark year as the Grey Bruce Children’s Water Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Coordinator Rhonda Shannon brought that message to Bruce County Council on May 6th.
Shannon says this year, because of the Covid pandemic, the festival will be held virtually but is going ahead for Grades 3 and 4 students in Bruce and Grey counties.
She says the mission is to cultivate in every child and adult who participates in the festival, an understanding of and appreciation for the water they use and the environment in which they live.
The not-for-profit group wants to instill in children a new-found respect.for water and stewardship of the environment.
The event began after the 2000 Walkerton water tragedy where several people died and many more became sick because of lax water practices of the water provider resulting in E. coli contamination.
Shannon says “In the event, children will watch pre-filmed activities developed according to our key messages of water science and technology; water protection and water conservation.”
In addition students receive activity books that can be developed in the classroom or at home.
It takes $40,000 to put on the festival and all the money comes from donations.
The Children’s Water Festival is set to run from May 18th to May 20th online.
