When one views a map of Manitoba its main geographic feature is obvious – Lake Winnipeg. Together with lakes Manitoba and Winnipegosis, it is one of this province’s Great Lakes.

Lake Winnipeg is the world’s 10th largest lake by surface area. Its economic significance includes millions of dollars generated from commercial fishing, tourism and power generation. Commercial fishers, many of whom are Aboriginal, produce $20 million in product during a very short harvesting season. Spectacular beaches and a variety of tourism services generate $100 million in direct revenue annually. As the 3rd largest reservoir in the world (as a result of the dam building of the 1970s) Lake Winnipeg generates hundreds of millions of dollars in hydroelectric revenue.

These economic dividends, while impressive, do not capture the aesthetic values of Lake Winnipeg. From the lake’s birth at the end of the last Ice Age, to its uniqueness in Aboriginal mythology, to a pivotal role in the exploring of western North America and its special place in the memories of countless families that have used it as a playground, Lake Winnipeg’s aesthetic value is priceless.

The state of Lake Winnipeg is reminiscent of the eastern Great Lakes. Decades ago they faced similar problems, and resources were mobilized in response. Foundations led the way and acted as a catalyst to promote social, industrial and political change.

In 2004, a group of community and private foundations in Manitoba began discussing how they could assist in the rehabilitation of Lake Winnipeg. Over 2 ½ years they learned the science of the lake and contemplated what leadership role they could play.

Leadership was key. Lake Winnipeg’s drainage basin includes four provinces, four states and two countries. Its problems originate in all of these jurisdictions, but they are most manifest in Manitoba. It was agreed that it behoved Manitoba foundations to take the first steps and invest the first money. We are confident that foundations in other jurisdictions will join in this endeavour. In fact, in Calgary in 2006 a significant number of foundations in the three other provinces agreed in principle to support activities in their communities that would be of local benefit and which would contribute, automatically, to the remediation of Lake Winnipeg downstream.

The Manitoba foundations that form this partnership include:
    Westshore Community Foundation
    Selkirk and District Community Foundation
    Brandon Area Community Foundation
    Dauphin and District Community Foundation
    Community Foundation of Portage and District

    Morden Area Foundation
    Lake Winnipeg Foundation
    Thomas Sill Foundation
    The Winnipeg Foundation

Perhaps the most impressive feature of Lake Winnipeg is the massive area of North America that drains into the lake as the water proceeds to Hudson Bay. This area includes four provinces and four states that cover one million square kilometres, and is home to 5.5 million people.
And therein lies the dilemma of Lake Winnipeg. It is refreshed and refilled by countless streams, creeks, and rivers bringing runoff from a vast area. But that vast area also provides the deleterious impacts of 5.5 million people and their industries. From the Rocky Mountains to the eastern Continental Divide, anything spilled on the ground will find it’s way, downhill, to Lake Winnipeg.

The Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium was created in 1998 to encourage and facilitate research that will lead to a better understanding of Lake Winnipeg’s dynamics and how the lake is affected by human activities throughout its huge drainage area. Current research is focussed on eutrophication, exotic species, climate change and pollutants.

In addition, the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, headquartered in Northwestern Ontario, has been with us from the start.

As a result of the generosity shown by the smaller foundations, the Thomas Sill Foundation and The Winnipeg Foundation provided matching contributions such that $165,000 will be provided towards the administrative budget of the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium over several years.

To be sure, $165,000 is not a great sum of money, but government and corporate funders apparently prefer to fund the more photogenic aspects of the Consortium’s work. This includes the operation of the Namao and the scientific research itself, none of which will get done if the telephone bill or the office rent is not paid.

Manitoba’s foundations do not often fund administrative costs, they rarely work beyond their political boundaries and they have never formed such a dynamic partnership. Their passion for Lake Winnipeg has superseded traditional practices. Of this we are proud.

We are also proud that Vicki Burns, formerly of the Winnipeg Humane Society, has been engaged by the Community Foundations of Canada to work with foundations throughout the Lake Winnipeg watershed.  The budget for Ms. Burns' work has been provided by the Thomas Sill Foundation, the Winnipeg Foundation, the Edmonton Foundation, the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation and the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation.  What started as an initiative of Manitoba foundations has now spread to Alberta, Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario.  Contact with American foundations will follow.

Please visit www.lakewinnipegresearch.org for more information.