Welch Community Foundation Supports Big River Give with a Five-Year Pledge

The Welch Community Foundation (WCF) is pleased to announce a $75,000 pledge to Ottawa Riverkeeper’s major fundraising campaign, The Big River Give.  This pledge, to be donated over five years, will support Ottawa Riverkeeper in its mission to protect, promote and improve the health of the Ottawa River and its tributaries.

“Welch is delighted to support Ottawa Riverkeeper and to be connected to the mandate to safeguard the Ottawa River,” said Welch LLP Managing Partner Jim McConnery. “This is the first material commitment by Welch to support an environmental cause and reflects our goal of having a positive influence on the communities in which we operate. We have also been motivated to give by the Ottawa Riverkeeper team’s passion for their vital activities.”

This annual contribution will support essential science and education programs including River School, which provides engaging workshops on ecosystem health to youth, and Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Learning Lab at the NCC River House, a fun and interactive education space that’s open to the public from spring to fall.

“We are incredibly grateful to Welch LLP for supporting the Big River Give,” said Laura Reinsborough, Riverkeeper and CEO. “Their generous gift will help protect and restore the Ottawa River, ensuring a healthy future for people and for wildlife. Through their donation to Ottawa Riverkeeper, the team at Welch is helping to make the Ottawa River swimmable, drinkable, and fishable for all.”

About Ottawa Riverkeeper

Ottawa Riverkeeper, a charitable organization, is a champion and collective voice for the Ottawa River watershed, providing leadership and inspiration to protect, promote and improve its ecological health and future. Expert and independent, Ottawa Riverkeeper advocates for responsible and participatory decision-making, public education, access to information, and compliance with protective regulations. Guided by a science-based approach, we provide clear information with the aim to engage the public and empower citizens and decision-makers to ensure clean, healthy, and accessible water for all people and species.

For more information about Ottawa Riverkeeper, please visit Ottawariverkeeper.ca.

Laura Reinsborough

Riverkeeper and CEO

Laura has worked in gardens, galleries, and along river banks to deliver positive environmental and social change. She holds a Magisteriate in Environmental Studies from York University specialized in environmental education and community arts.

At the age of 25, Laura founded Toronto’s Not Far From The Tree, an award-winning charitable initiative to pick fruit growing in backyards and transform it into a shared public good. Later, at the helm of Food For All New Brunswick, she built a robust network to activate and amplify food security. She is a TEDx speaker, a recipient of the Vital People Award, the Women of the Earth Award, and the Gaia Environmental Award, and she was named an Agent of Change by the Centre for Social Innovation.

Laura lives near the Ottawa River in Orléans. Originally from Sackville, New Brunswick, Laura grew up very connected to water: canoeing on the lake in her backyard, swimming on the beaches of the Northumberland Strait, and mudsliding on the Bay of Fundy mudflats. She speaks four languages and loves to cross-country ski. Since 2021, Laura has held the esteemed title of Riverkeeper & CEO with Ottawa Riverkeeper.

Chloe Hillier, CFRE

Director of Philanthropy

Chloe is passionate about connecting with other river-lovers and helping bring people together to protect the beautiful and mighty Ottawa River and its watershed.

As an avid fundraiser, Chloe loves hearing from donors and volunteers about their personal connections to water and the stories and memories that have shaped their drive to become involved in conservation and water stewardship.

Chloe is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a global network of over 7,500 leaders in philanthropic fundraising who demonstrate their commitment to confidence, ethics, and professionalism in fundraising.

She holds a B.A. from Concordia University in History and has worked in fundraising for over fifteen years. Chloe grew up fishing (and catching the occasional frog!) near the Rideau River and loves camping, swimming and walking the beautiful trails around the watershed.

About Welch Community Foundation

Welch Community Foundation (WCF) is a registered charitable foundation established by Welch LLP, a Chartered Public Accounting firm headquartered in Ottawa. WCF strives to provide support and resources to charities that are dedicated to improving our local communities. WCF was founded out of Welch LLP’s commitment to support charities in our local communities by leveraging our profile, resources, and deep roots in the communities that we serve.