2003 International Year of Fresh Water

With the world's longest coastlines, its myriad of fresh water lakes, ponds, marshes and rivers, its glaciers and thick sheets of ice, Canada is indeed the land of the water, and, for the benefit of all Canadians and mankind, it has acted to protect vast stretches of water and ice from the Arctic to the Great Lakes, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

As Parks Canada is the steward of Canada's expansive system of national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas, it is only fitting that it take a leadership role in increasing awareness and understanding amongst Canadians of the importance of water management, use and protection, and of water's role in shaping the history and culture of Canada.

In 2003, Parks Canada celebrated UNESCO's International Year of Freshwater through a variety of initiatives. The following pages feature a number of these water related initiatives that took place throughout Canada.