River institute receives $58,600 grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation

The Ontario Trillium Foundation and MPP Jim McDonell announced a grant to St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences to support Communications and Community Action. Pictured from left is Dr. Jeff Ridal, River Institute Executive Director, Nessa Prendergast, Communications Officer, Joanne Haley, OTF, and MPP Jim McDonell.

PHOTO CREDIT - SLRIES

Cornwall - January 25, 2012 - The St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences was recently awarded a 2-year grant of $58,600 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to hire a Communications and Community Action Officer. Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, and OTF representative Joanne Haley were at the River Institute this week to announce the grant.

“The St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences is an impressive success story,” said MPP Jim McDonell.  “Its reputation for research and education, combined with its ability to share information with the community about river science and environmental issues is quite unique.” Over the years, the River Institute has experienced considerable growth, and staff numbers continue to increase, thanks to capacity-building grants such as this one from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

“This grant provides us with new opportunities for growth and improvement,” said Dr. Jeff Ridal, Executive Director of the St. Lawrence River Institute. “With a dedicated person committed to Communications and Community Action, we hope to be even more effective in engaging the community. I am very happy to announce that Ms. Nessa Prendergast has been hired to fulfill this role.”

Ms. Prendergast is from Cornwall, and brings experience in media and public relations to her new role at the River Institute. “I am thrilled to join the River Institute team,” stated Prendergast. “The enthusiasm here is contagious; everyone is obviously proud of their contribution to an organization that’s been working to make the Seaway Valley a better place to live for the past twenty years.  I’m looking forward to learning about the St. Lawrence River and connecting the River Institute even more closely to our community.”

The River Institute was established in 1994 as a unique community partnership involving government, education, business and industry, and the Mohawks of Akwesasne. Its mandate is environmental research and education with a focus on the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence River ecosystem. It has earned an international reputation for its fresh water ecosystem research projects.

A leading grant-maker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities.