GUELPH, ON, June 21, 2013 /CNW/ - The University of Guelph announced
today a $1 million commitment from the RBC Blue Water Project to
support teaching and research initiatives in water and ecosystem
monitoring, as well as treatment and conservation on First Nations
reserves.
"Water contamination is one of the most important health-related
environmental problems facing First Nations communities," said
president of the University of Guelph, Alastair Summerlee. "These
communities also face serious and increasingly complex threats to
ecosystem biodiversity. We have the research and teaching expertise and
commitment -- and now, thanks to RBC, additional resources to make a
difference."
The new education and research initiative includes student field
projects to help them learn more about water and biodiversity. The gift
was made through the BetterPlanet Project, the University's
$200-million fundraising campaign for teaching and research in food,
environment, health and communities.
"We're proud to support the University of Guelph in its efforts to
assist First Nations communities and help protect one of the world's
most precious natural resources - fresh water," said Dave McKay, group
head, personal and commercial banking, RBC. "Canada is considered a
water-rich country, but many areas, including our Aboriginal
communities, are under serious water stress, and shortages are becoming
alarmingly common in communities across the country. Working together
with the University of Guelph and other organizations, we can help
ensure we have safe, clean water, now and in the future."
Currently, the University of Guelph has more than 100 faculty members
and hundreds of students and researchers involved in water-related
projects. The RBC Blue Water Project commitment will strengthen
projects and support new initiatives, with self-sufficiency and
sustainability being major program goals. Efforts will include:
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Training and helping with water and wastewater treatment and monitoring;
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Helping First Nations determine priorities and strategic solutions to
protect biological and cultural diversity;
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Fostering responsibility and control of community water systems and
health;
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Developing tools to improve drinking water inspection and quality;
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Removing toxins and pathogens from water;
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Sponsoring workshops, projects and communication initiatives;
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Helping develop emergency response and water protection plans;
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Determining human impacts on aquatic ecosystems; and
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Working globally with aboriginal populations to create biodiversity
resources.
"First Nations communities urgently need training in water engineering
and stewardship," said Kevin Hall, vice president of research, the
University of Guelph. A civil engineer and water expert, he studies
environmental monitoring and pathogen detection systems, as well as
water and health in marginalized communities.
More than 100 First Nations communities across Canada are under "boil
water" advisories -- some more than a decade old. Many First Nations
communities have been deemed "high risk" due to deficiencies in
drinking and/or wastewater systems.
The incidence of water-borne diseases is several times higher in First
Nations communities than in the general population, partly because of
inadequate or non-existent water treatment systems. Causes include
water source quality, inadequate treatment and testing, poor
recordkeeping, and complex governance and jurisdictional issues.
"First Nations communities face numerous obstacles to tackling these
problems, including lack of resources and expertise and divergent
views," said Hall. "Our programs can make a measurable difference. With
faculty from across campus, we'll provide focused expertise,
improvements and training for First Nations communities and for
students that will help improve source water protection and species
biodiversity."
About the University of Guelph
The University of Guelph is ranked as one of Canada's top comprehensive
universities because of our commitment to student learning and
innovative research. We are dedicated to cultivating the essentials for
our quality of life - water, food, environment, animal and human
health, community, commerce, culture and learning. The University
community also shares a profound sense of social responsibility, an
obligation to address global issues and a concern for international
development.
About RBC Blue Water Project
The RBC Blue Water Project is an historic, wide-ranging, 10-year global
commitment to help protect the world's most precious natural resource:
fresh water. Since 2007, RBC has pledged over $38 million to more than
650 charitable organizations worldwide that protect water, with an
additional $7.8 million pledged to universities for water programs. In
2013-2014, the RBC Blue Water Project will focus on supporting
initiatives that help protect water in towns, cities, and urbanized
areas. For further information, visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.
About RBC's Commitment to Community and Sustainability
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate
under the master brand name RBC. We employ approximately 80,000 full-
and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal,
business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in
Canada, the U.S. and 44 other countries. RBC is recognized among the
world's financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on
the 2012-2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North
American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC is
one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one of Canada's 50 Most Socially
Responsible Corporations and among the Global 100 Most Sustainable
Corporations in the World. Learn more at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed
more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and
community investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in
sponsorships.
SOURCE: RBC
