The Royal Bank of Canada’s Blue Water Project donated $250,000 to Athabasca University’s Athabasca River Basin Research Institute (ARBRI) in June of last year.
The Blue Water Project is a $50 million donation program supporting not-for-profit organizations. To date, the program has donated more than $32 million to more than 450 organizations.
"We need to dispel the myth that there is limitless water in Canada and start paying attention to our water consumption," said Bruce MacKenzie, regional president for RBC. "We are proud to be part of an initiative that gives organizations around the world a chance to make a difference, whether it's through education of water issues, watershed protection and clean-up or access to clean drinking water."
The ARBRI was created in 2008 to help preserve water, and raise community awareness on the role of the Athabasca River basin.
"Maintaining a clean, healthy river basin in times of economic development requires a balance where the quality, quantity and the politics surrounding distribution and wise use are of primary concern," said Dietmar Kennepohl, the previous director for ARBRI. “A collaborative and integrated approach to water research, coupled with active community engagement, is vital to the future success of Alberta's North."
The donation has since been put to good use.
“Work is underway with building an interactive website that will be widely accessible for all sectors, including stakeholders, researchers, educators, government, and the community-at-large,” the progress report submitted to RBC reads. “Recognition of RBC Foundation in this initiative will be featured as a logo and link to the Foundation on all promotional material, the website, and acknowledgement at workshops and public lectures.”
The next steps in the program would include consolidating goals of the project.
“Most of the above deliverables will be substantially fulfilled to allow the next phase of the project to proceed,” it reads. “It should be noted, however, that due to the organic nature of community engagement, some of the above deliverables shall continue to be refined over the course of the project and will be noted in future reports.”
Last year, RBC also donated money to the Athabasca Good Samaritan Mission.
The money was to help replenish their supplies after Slave Lake fire evacuees called the Athabasca Regional Multiplex home for several weeks, and used most of the food bank’s inventory.
The mission received $5,000 to help with the extra need because of the fire.
“Their donation was essential,” said Lois Uchytil, who works at the mission.
The mission services an area 100 miles to the west and east of Athabasca, as well as down to Westlock, and up north to Wabasca.
“Many of the people who were evacuated from Slave Lake, have not been able to reestablish there,” she said. “The lack of housing has increased the cost of housing incredibly, so they have come back to the Athabasca area.”
Uchytil said the increase in numbers is because of those who stayed in the area after the fire, but “I would only contribute half of the increase to Slave Lake,” she explained. “There has been an increase all around the northern area.”
Food banks have become more common over the last few years with 900,000 Canadians relying on them monthly according to Food Banks Canada.
There are also 93,000 people who access food banks for the first time each month.
