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Ronald Babin interviewed on Town Talk Podcast

Interview with our chair – Ronald Babin – about the construction of the new bridge over the Petitcodiac River and the complete removal of the causeway. So exciting to see the progress that has been made and we are looking forward to this summer for the grand opening of the new bridge! There are so many great things ahead for the Petitcodiac River and its surrounding communities! #PetitcodiacRiver #restoration

https://www.facebook.com/towntalkriverview/videos/491190678954458

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2020 AGM

We had our AGM on October 21, 2020.

Thank you to everyone who participated and congrats to all our returning and new Board of Directors members who were voted in.

The new year looks promising!

Officers:

  • Chair : Ronald Babin
  • Vice-Chair : Wendy Keats
  • Treasurer: Alfred Ehrenclou
  • Secretary: Pierre Landry

Directors:

Returning

  • Marco Morency
  • Edmund Redfield
  • Monique Arsenault

New

  • Alex Arseneau
  • Malaïka Bacon-Dussault
  • Natalie Goguen
  • Tosh Taylor
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Petitcodiac River Prize 2020

We recently awarded our 2020 Petitcodiac River Award to artist-photographer Serge Martin.For the past several years, Serge Martin has photographed the multifaceted Petitcodiac River on a daily basis and has taken countless pictures of exceptional quality and beauty. With diligence and great care and through various social media sites, he has shared his photos with the communities surrounding the Petitcodiac River, which has brought him an ever-increasing number of followers on the Internet.

This has greatly contributed to reawakening the sense of wonder and pride our fellow citizens feel for their rediscovered river, which can be seen by the growing influx of walkers, cyclists, wildlife enthusiasts, tidal bore watchers and occasional surfers – all highlighting the river’s increasing recreation and ecotourism potential.

There is no doubt that Serge Martin shares the same goals and values as Sentinelles Petitcodiac Riverkeeper in promoting, protecting, restoring, and safeguarding the Petitcodiac River. It is therefore with great pleasure and recognition that we present him with the Petitcodiac River Award 2020.

Congratulations, Serge!

View Serge’s amazing photos:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/martinjjs

Website: https://phototerroso.wixsite.com/moncton

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Public Dialogues on Future of Memramcook River Causeway

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper recently held public dialogues/community meetings to talk about the current state of the Memramcook River Causeway as well as a preliminary assessment of options to repair, modify or remove the infrastructure.

The organization has been calling attention to the deterioration of the Memramcook causeway and the causeway’s impact on the Memramcook River for many years and is committed to working with government, community members and other key stakeholders to prevent further damage. 

“The Memramcook River causeway and associated gates and supporting structures were built in 1973 and have been deteriorating from weather conditions and saltwater ever since,” Riverkeeper stated in its report, Preliminary Assessment of Options for the Long-Term Viability of the Memramcook River Causeway.  “Over the years, this has altered the natural ecosystem in the 400 km2 watershed and contributed to the elimination of several kilometres of upstream estuary, affecting the tidal range fish migrations and nutrient exchange in the river system.” 

The organization has worked with community partners to bring historic wins for the Petitcodiac River —  its natural flow is returning, as are fish and habitat. The Memramcook River now faces a similar opportunity to be brought back to life, which will also have a significant impact on the quality of life and economy of its urban and rural communities. 

Approximately 40 people attended the Feb 25th, 2020 event in Dorchester and 50 the March 5th, 2020 event in Memramcook which were intended to bring people from the community together and to hear their feedback regarding three possible options for the Memramcook River Causeway:

  • Option 1: Status Quo – The Memramcook Causeway is repaired to maintain its function and role on the river. It will require major renovations and continual maintenance through the opening and closing of the gates to allow for control of tide and fish passage. With the status quo option, the impacts to the river and surrounding community remain. The causeway has altered the flow of water, which has had significant negative effects on the surrounding ecosystem.
  • Option 2: Partial reconstruction – The Memramcook Causeway is kept and the gates on the Causeway are opened permanently. In this option, the causeway remains but the gates are no longer used to control the flow of water. The free passage of water reduces the large fluctuations in sediment creating a more stable environment for species. With the gates no longer closed, fish are no longer blocked and have free access along the river. The river narrows at the point of the causeway which will continue to affect the flow of water.
  • Option 3: Removal – The Memramcook Causeway is removed entirely and a bridge is built in its place to maintain access to communities on both sides of the river.  The river is allowed to return to its most natural state and with that, habitat recovery begins. This option is most likely to result in the largest benefits to the river and its surrounding ecosystem.

All community members were strongly in favour of advocating for the third option – replacing the causeway with a bridge. Community members also stressed the importance of repairing and reinforcing dykes, levees and aboiteaux along the river to prevent further flooding. Both communities say they are ready to work with Petitcodiac Riverkeeper. government and all stakeholders to push forward on this request and to establish plans to maximize the environmental, cultural and economic benefits the restoration of the Memramcook River can bring to the region.

INFORMATION

  • Interested citizens who would like to offer feedback or be kept in the loop for future community discussions and follow-up on this project should contact Krysta Cowling at info@petitcodiac.org.
  • They can also join a Facebook Group on this topic: Memramcook River Restoration.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT (February 2020)

MEDIA COVERAGE:

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Public Dialogue: the Future of the Memramcook River and Causeway

English Session
Veteran’s Community Hall
4955 Main Street Dorchester, NB
Feb 25, 2020
6:30—8:30p.m.

French Session – PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE DUE TO FEB 27TH WINTER STORM CANCELLATIONS
Le Club d’âge d’or (Berceau)
409, rte La Vallée, Memramcook NB
NEW DATE: MARCH 5TH 2020
6:30-8:30p.m.

We want to hear from you!
The Memramcook causeway is deteriorating and facing major repairs in the near future. The time has come to discuss options surrounding the future of the causeway and the Memramcook River. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper would like to share data collected on the current state of the causeway and present options for moving forward. Join us for a Public Dialogue on this topic—an opportunity to share feedback, ask questions, raise concerns, and brainstorm opportunities and ideas around the potential of the Memramcook River for its surrounding communities. Your voice will help Petitcodiac Riverkeeper act in the best interest of the community.

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Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Hosts Community Engagement Symposium to Discuss new Ecotourism, Recreation and Economic Development Opportunities

Still Work to Do for Petitcodiac River Post-Restoration

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Hosts Community Engagement Symposium to Discuss New Ecotourism, Recreation and Economic Development Opportunities

On Monday, October 28, 2019, Petitcodiac Riverkeeper hosted a historic symposium bringing together businesses, municipalities, towns and villages, wildlife protection and restoration organizations, universities, artists, economic development organizations, people who live and work along the Petitcodiac River, and others who see potential in the river to build the local economy in an ecologically responsible way.

The symposium’s goal was to help Petitcodiac Riverkeeper develop an environmentally responsible strategy to take advantage of new opportunities offered by the restoration of the Petitcodiac River, such as ecotourism, recreation, environmental and public health, economic development and community resilience.

For the past 20 years, Petitcodiac Riverkeeper and its community partners have worked together to bring attention to the plight of the Petitcodiac River. The results have been historic. The natural flow of the Petitcodiac River is returning, as are fish and habitat. The tidal bore is once again a major tourist attraction. Never in Canadian history has a tidal river been brought back to life and offered such a unique opportunity to make significant contributions to the quality of life and economies of urban and rural communities.

However, these tremendous accomplishments do not mean the Petitcodiac River is safe from the harmful effects of climate change, erosion, flooding, or from human-made issues. Growing ecotourism and recreational use of the river, while a welcome opportunity for economic development, also create potential issues, and must be done in a way that ensures the safety and well-being of both the river and the public.

“Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year,” says the organization’s Chair, Ronald Babin. “We are extremely grateful for the incredible gains we have made in restoring our beloved river. Now that the bridge replacing the causeway is under construction, the river will soon see its natural flow restored. It is time to look forward to a very bright future. The October 28th Petitcodiac River Symposium is our gift to the community: an invitation to our many stakeholders, partners, and friends to come together to develop a shared vision for this future.”

MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THE EVENT: 

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PETITCODIAC RIVERKEEPER AGM: OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO GET INVOLVED IN FUTURE RESTORATION EFFORTS FOR THE PETICODIAC RIVER

News Release
For Immediate Distribution

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper AGM: Opportunity for Citizens to Get Involved in Future Restoration Efforts for the Peticodiac River

MONCTON, NB – Monday, April 4, 2016 – Petitcodiac Riverkeeper will be holding a community Meet and Greet as well as an Annual General Meeting in the Port Royal Salon of the Château Moncton (100 Main Street, Moncton, NB) on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, starting at 6:30pm. The event is a great opportunity for current members of the organization as well as members of the general public to meet the new Riverkeeper and Executive Director of the organization, Daniel Bard, and learn more about priorities for the river’s restoration efforts. Members of the media are welcome to attend.

“Much remains to be done for the Petitcodiac River to return to its natural state,” says Bard as the official spokesperson for Petitcodiac Riverkeeper. “The water quality does not meet the safety threshold necessary to practise recreational activities and fish spawning grounds are far from being completely restored. The causeway must be replaced with a partial bridge. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper represents the community’s interest in continued action and lobbying to ensure the full restoration of the Petitcodiac River. We invite everyone in the community who is concerned and wants to have their voice heard in ensuring the future of our river to join us for our Meet and Greet and AGM in order to give us feedback, share their ideas and find out how they can become more involved.”

Since taking over the reigns as the new Riverkeeper and Executive Director, Daniel Bard and the members of the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Board of Directors’ main goal has been to rejuvenate public interest in the organization and recruit new partners and investors to capitalize on the current federal and provincial governments’ interest in removing the causeway and replacing it with a partial bridge. The group is also planning a major collaborative effort in the monitoring of the Petitcodiac River as a response to the much-publicized case of leaching contaminants produced by the old riverside landfill in Moncton.  Monitoring will be done in two sites, at the riverside landfill site and near the mouth of the Petitcodiac River Watershed, to evaluate if contaminants are being transported into the Bay of Fundy. The project will not only create new jobs within the leading partner organizations, but also develop a database which will be made available to all decision makers and the public, with data pertaining to the water, soil, plant and shellfish samples collected.

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization. Its main objective is to restore the ecological health of the Petitcodiac and Memramcook River watersheds, including the Shepody Bay Estuary, located in southeastern New Brunswick.  Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is part investigator, scientist, educator, and advocate.  Petitcodiac Riverkeeper acts as a public voice for our waterways, protecting our right to clean water and a healthy watershed.

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Media Contacts:
Daniel Bard
Riverkeeper and Executive Director – Petitcodiac Riverkeeper
Email: daniel.bard@petitcodiac.org or info@petitcodiac.org
Phone: 506-388-5337

Paul N. Belliveau
President – Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Email: paul.n.belliveau@hotmail.com Phone: 506-855-2637Cell: 506-866-2637

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Invitation- Petitcodiac Riverkeeper meet & greet and annual general meeting

Interested in the health and restoration of the Petitcodiac River? Come meet our Riverkeeper, give us feedback and find out how to get involved.

Much remains to be done for the Petitcodiac River to return to its natural state. The water quality does not meet the safety threshold necessary to practice recreational activities and fish spawning grounds are far from being completely restored. The causeway must be replaced with a partial bridge. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper represents the community’s interest in continued action and lobbying to ensure the complete restoration of the Petitcodiac River.

Members of the general public as well as current Petitcodiac Riverkeeper members are invited to learn more about priorities for the river’s restoration efforts and meet the new Riverkeeper and Executive Director of the organization, Daniel Bard.

Please join us for our Meet & Greet and Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, in the Port Royal Salon of the Château Moncton (100 Main Street, Moncton, NB).

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper Meet & Greet and Annual General Meeting
April 6, 2016, at the Château Moncton (100 Main Street, Moncton NB)
Port Royal Salon
Meet & Greet + Registration at 6:30 PM
Annual General Meeting at 7 PM
Everyone is welcome. Free event.

Download and print invitation

Download and print AGM Agenda

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is a registered non-profit organization based in Moncton, New Brunswick. Our mission is to lead the restoration, protection and promotion of the ecological integrity of the Petitcodiac and Memramcook watersheds and the Shepody Bay estuary, situated in southeastern New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy. Our mission is accomplished through public education, monitoring water quality, ensuring that environmental laws are respected and initiating rehabilitation projects.

Some of our accomplishments over the past 10 years include:

  • Petitcodiac River Restoration – We have raised public awareness and convinced government to act on the opening of the Petitcodiac River causeway’s gates and restoration of fish passage in the river.
  • Citizen and Youth Education: We have raised awareness about clean water and watershed issues among citizens and youth.
  • Addressing Pollution Sources – We have held polluters accountable, filed complaints and followed through on possible infractions to environmental legislation.
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WORLD RIVERS DAY: PETITCODIAC RIVERKEEPER TAKES STOCK OF PROGRESS WITH PETITCODIAC RIVER

MONCTON, NB – Thursday, September 24, 2015 – Petitcodiac Riverkeeper invites all Greater Moncton residents to take a moment to enjoy the scenery and fresh air on the Riverfront Trail by the Petitcodiac River on this upcoming World Rivers Day (Sunday, September 27) and admire just how far the Petitcodiac River has come since the opening of the causeway gates.

World Rivers Day, launched by the United Nations, is annually celebrated on the last Sunday of every September. Last year, several million people across more than 60 countries celebrated the many values of the world’s waterways. More information is available on http://worldriversday.com.

“On this World Rivers Day, we’re reflecting on the progress that has been made with our beloved Petitcodiac River,” says Petitcodiac Riverkeeper President Paul N. Belliveau. “We also want to take this opportunity to reaffirm that Riverkeepers are committed and will continue to work towards the complete restoration of the Petitcodiac River. I’m very proud of the work our organization has achieved over the last decade. I invite residents to go outside on Sunday and take a moment to reflect and connect with the river on their own, to truly appreciate its beauty.”

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper says Greater Moncton residents have lots to take stock and appreciate on this World Rivers Days. This year, 2015, marked the five-year anniversary since the opening of the causeway gates. Residents can notice that the river is wider than before and that the tidal bore is bigger and stronger. Results from fish monitoring this past spring indicated an increase in populations of several species of native fish. It seems the ecosystem has gotten much healthier.

“I’m proud not only of all the work that led to the opening of the causeway gates in 2010, but also of our tireless efforts ever since to monitor the river’s health and help its ecosystem recover,” adds Belliveau. “There have been many recent successes, like the Humphreys Brook restoration project and our continued involvement with the Petitcodiac Fish Recovery Coalition’s work to monitor and restore native fish populations. Since its beginning, our organization has been the Petitcodiac River’s watchdog, patrolling and monitoring the watershed and undertaking actions to promote compliance with environmental laws.”

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper hopes citizen will take a moment this Sunday to enjoy the Riverfront Trail with their friends and families and renew their commitment towards ensuring that the Petitcodiac River be protected and allowed to reclaim its former glory. “With elections coming up, citizens can demand candidates take a stand on our goal to see the causeway replaced by a bridge so that the river can flow completely free and natural once again,” suggests Belliveau. “They can volunteer to help us patrol the river and report polluters. They can let their voices be heard at the city council level to demand that plans for upcoming riverfront developments be maximized to ensure more healthy and environmentally friendly green spaces. We’re always looking for more volunteers, so I invite people who are inspired by World Rivers Day to contact us by email at info@petitcodiac.org.”

Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization. Its main objective is to restore the ecological health of the Petitcodiac and Memramcook River watersheds, including the Shepody Bay estuary, located in southeastern New Brunswick. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper is part investigator, scientist, educator, and advocate. Petitcodiac Riverkeeper acts as a public voice for our waterways, protecting our right to clean water and a healthy watershed.

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Media Contact:
Paul N. Belliveau
President – Petitcodiac RiverkeeperEmail: paul.n.belliveau@hotmail.com
Phone: 506-855-2637Cell: 506-866-2637

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