Media Release

FOR RELEASE September 12, 2007

Children's Water Festival receives local support

HALIBURTON- Our precious water resources will once again be the focus of a three day festival for area children, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Haliburton  C ounty  C ouncil ,  area service organizations and businesses .

The Haliburton-Muskoka Children's Water Festival will take place September 19, 20 and 21 at the Kinark Outdoor Centre near Minden. It has been held annually since 2005, and is one of over a dozen festivals held across southern Ontario. Approximately 1,200 children from grades 3 through 6 take part in the outdoor event ,  visiting 30 activity centres that demonstrate the value of water and water conservation. Participating schools belong to the Trillium Lakelands District School Board that serves Haliburton, Muskoka and the City of Kawartha Lakes. Each municipality has approximately equal participation, with 400 children attending from each area in 2006 .

“It is only through the support of our sponsors that this festival is possible,” says Rick Whitteker, chair of the festival steering committee. “In a largely rural area like ours, we are reliant upon the generosity of government, service clubs and local businesses who recognize the value in making this educational experience available to our youth. We are grateful that they have seen fit to do so again this year.”

The Children's Water Festival has been fortunate enough to receive support from children themselves. On Saturday September 8 th , with the support of local businesses Robert Fraser Roofing and Todd's Independent Grocer, a group of friends, Christina Lauricella, Lauren Graham, Dillon Tilly, Matt McDermitt, Jaimi Thomas, Cassie Clare, Stephen Fraser and Gordon Fraser got together to wash cars and managed to raise $400 for this year's event!

The festival is free to school participants, and with a budget of about $15,000, is completely funded through grants and donations.  T he following sponsors have generously provided  in-kind or financial support  to the 2007 Haliburton-Muskoka Children's Water Festival:

· Bancroft Area Stewardship Council

· Cassie Clare & Friends

· Children's Water Educational Council – Ministry of the Environment

· Coboconk Lions Club

· County of Haliburton

· CWEC (MOE)

· Environment Haliburton

· Fenelon Falls Legion

· Haliburton County Development Corporation

· Haliburton County Municipal Fire Departments

· Haliburton Highlands Outdoors Association

· Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council

· Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit

· Haliburton Legion

· Haliburton Lions Club

· Human Resource Development Canada

· Hydro One

· Kawartha Conservation

· Kawartha Dairy

· Kinark Outdoor Centre

· Kinsman Club Minden

· Legion Wilberforce

· M.N.R. Fire – Haliburton

· Ontario Trillium Foundation

· O.P.P. Marine Unit

· Orillia Power Corporation

· Robert Fraser Roofing

· Rotary Club Minden

· Todd's Independent Grocer

· Victoria Land & Water Stewardship Council

· Water Depot Lindsay

To learn more about the festival or to get involved in volunteering or funding, contact Julia Robertson, festival coordinator at hhoaevents@bellnet.ca or 705 457-9664.

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For more information please contact:

Rick Whitteker, chair HMCWF Steering Cttee, rwhitteker@halhinet.on.ca

Julia Robertson, HMCWF coordinator, (705) 457-9664 hhoaevents@bellnet.ca

Lezlie Goodwin, Kawartha Conservation communications specialist, (705) 328-2271 ext 233, lgoodwin@kawarthaconservation.com