Don Pearson, London
One cannot think of Ontario without the backdrop image of water – from the Great Lakes, which define its southern border, to the magnificent rivers that drain its vast geography, to the thousands of lakes throughout the Canadian Shield. The name Ontario itself is taken from the Iroquoian language, meaning “beautiful lake”. Before Confederation, Upper Canada as Ontario was known was an obvious reference to its relative position in the St. Lawrence River Watershed. European settlement in the province was not only facilitated by, but in fact only made possible by the availability of its watery highways, as was exploration of the great North-west of what is now Canada.
Like many Ontarians, I believe that our abundant water resources are paramount among our most valuable assets; and that we have a duty to ensure that our actions do not diminish in any way their ability to support present and future generations who are fortunate to call Ontario home.
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