Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the River Institute was established in 1994 as a not-for-profit (charitable registration #13885 2363 RR0001), community-based, science education and research discovery center with a focus on the St. Lawrence River.

Our programs connect people with the environment, inspire scientific curiosity, advance Great Lakes and global freshwater ecosystem research, inform decision-making, and facilitate action and innovation that support ecosystem restoration and conservation. Our goal is to achieve sustainable, thriving, and resilient freshwater ecosystems, along with the improved health and wellbeing of local communities.

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Recent Recognition

In 2023, the River Institute was awarded the prestigious John R. (Jack) Vallentyne Award by the International Association for Great Lakes Research for “important and sustained efforts to inform and educate the public and policymakers on great lakes issues.”

In 2018, the excellence of the River Institute’s education programs was recognized with the NSERC National Award for Science Promotion.