RBC Foundation’s support to Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) and the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds (CSW) is worthy of a celebration

June 14, 2013 is RBC Blue Water Day. To mark the special occasion everyone is invited to join MVC, CSW, and RBC employees celebrate the Community Action Grants, and learn more about the practical hands-on initiatives aimed at creating awareness and motivating action in the watershed.

“We’re proud to support local and grassroots initiatives that help to profile, protect and preserve the importance of water in the Rideau Lakes and Valley region,” said Cindy Hobbs, branch manager, Almonte, RBC. “Our donation is a testament to our confidence in both the Mississippi Valley Conservation and the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds’ commitment to the world’s most precious natural resource of all, water.”

The MVC grant will fund a community based lake planning project for Mississippi Lake; an important water body in the watershed and one under development stress.

“This study is an opportunity for MVC, the Mississippi Lakes Association and other stakeholders to identify values, issues and impacts on Mississippi Lake and to develop goals and actions to protect its health,” said MVC watershed planner Alyson Symon.

“By identifying and prioritizing stressed areas we can encourage private landowner and community stewardship activities and monitoring where it is most needed,” Symon adds.

The CSW funded project is a video series about the Mississippi River, its importance to our water supply, and how we all can help sustain its health. It is being produced in partnership with MVC, the CSW, Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County and Pinegrove Productions with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“CSW is excited to be a leader in this project combining our efforts to create a product that speaks to our efforts and resonates with our stakeholders and those beyond the watershed,” says Barbara King, CSW Executive Director.

To put it all in perspective, a simple stewardship activity, tree planting, will be part of the recognition event. Five silver maples will be planted to help “beef up” a shoreline vegetated buffer started by MVC with the help of Carleton Place High School students. MVC staff will be on hand with trees, tools and advice about native shoreline vegetation in our watershed.

All are welcome to attend the event from 10 to 11 a.m. beside the Mississippi River at 400 Lake Avenue West in Carleton Place (beside the boat launch).

About RBC Blue Water Project  The RBC Blue Water Project is a 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 $36 million to more than 500 charitable organizations worldwide that protect watersheds and promote access to clean drinking water, with an additional $6 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 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 49 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.

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.

Learn more about the RBC Blue Water Project, like us on Facebook (facebook.com/rbcbluewaterproject) and follow us on Twitter (@RBCGreen).