River Conservation WebTV
by Mike McKay
photos by Can send if necessary
Online documentary series uses white water kayaking to raise awareness about river preservation
Anyone who’s taken a stroll by the Ottawa River this spring can attest to the exceptionally low levels haunting our shorelines. Some raise an eyebrow, others make small talk by the office water cooler, but a group of kayakers decided to make sure that people everywhere can hear the stories and see the intrinsic value of preserving waterways in their natural state.
It all started last November with a movie night at a local bar. Fellow paddlers Mike McKay and Mike Kobzik thought it would be fun to round up a few friends to showcase the summer’s adventures. As excitement grew and local businesses offered prizes, proceeds became available to donate to the Ottawa River Keeper; Five2Nine Productions was born.
Five2Nine Productions is now partnering with organizations around the world and launching a series called Currents, which uses whitewater kayaking as a means to educate a broad audience about the risks threatening the world’s rivers. The project is being released online in over 12 installments, covering a different location, theme and river network in each segment. “We believe that greater recreational use of rivers promotes a stronger recognition of their importance and a greater dedication and engagement from the broader public to protect them,” says McKay. “The videos focus on how people are devoting their lives to protecting water resources … and include a lot of class V action.”
An initial episode profiling rivers in Ecuador prompted over 6000 hits. A second episode now looks at dam projects in Petawawa that would essentially eliminate the town section of the river. Featured is Hell or High Water, a yearly festival that last prompted over 200 paddlers from across Ontario, Quebec and the Northern United States to paddle and celebrate the Petawawa River. The economic impact and significant media coverage eventually inspired Town Council to demand that the white water community have a voice on the dam projects’ advisory council and demand increased public dialogue before any decisions are made.
McKay, Kobzik and their crew are exploring other rivers and similar issues in North Carolina, Australia, Quebec, New York, and New Zealand.
by Mike McKay
photos by Can send if necessary
Online documentary series uses white water kayaking to raise awareness about river preservation
Anyone who’s taken a stroll by the Ottawa River this spring can attest to the exceptionally low levels haunting our shorelines. Some raise an eyebrow, others make small talk by the office water cooler, but a group of kayakers decided to make sure that people everywhere can hear the stories and see the intrinsic value of preserving waterways in their natural state.
It all started last November with a movie night at a local bar. Fellow paddlers Mike McKay and Mike Kobzik thought it would be fun to round up a few friends to showcase the summer’s adventures. As excitement grew and local businesses offered prizes, proceeds became available to donate to the Ottawa River Keeper; Five2Nine Productions was born.
Five2Nine Productions is now partnering with organizations around the world and launching a series called Currents, which uses whitewater kayaking as a means to educate a broad audience about the risks threatening the world’s rivers. The project is being released online in over 12 installments, covering a different location, theme and river network in each segment. “We believe that greater recreational use of rivers promotes a stronger recognition of their importance and a greater dedication and engagement from the broader public to protect them,” says McKay. “The videos focus on how people are devoting their lives to protecting water resources … and include a lot of class V action.”
An initial episode profiling rivers in Ecuador prompted over 6000 hits. A second episode now looks at dam projects in Petawawa that would essentially eliminate the town section of the river. Featured is Hell or High Water, a yearly festival that last prompted over 200 paddlers from across Ontario, Quebec and the Northern United States to paddle and celebrate the Petawawa River. The economic impact and significant media coverage eventually inspired Town Council to demand that the white water community have a voice on the dam projects’ advisory council and demand increased public dialogue before any decisions are made.
McKay, Kobzik and their crew are exploring other rivers and similar issues in North Carolina, Australia, Quebec, New York, and New Zealand.
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