Our Mission

Friends of the Rouge Watershed (FRW) is a charitable environmental organization. We coordinate environmental projects with visible and lasting ecosystem, watershed, and community benefits.  We implant environmental knowledge, values and skills within the minds, hearts and hands of youth and community volunteers.   Since 1991, FRW and our volunteers and partners have helped to:

• Create Rouge Park, Watershed and Greenbelt Plans which protect and improve watershed, ecosystem and community health;
• Educate and empower more than 62,000 youth and community volunteers to plant and maintain more than 720,000 native trees, shrubs and flowers; and
• Restore 3.5 million m² of native forest, wetland, and meadow habitat to support natural beauty and biodiversity, clean water and air, and climatic stability.

In 2016, FRW received the J.R. Dymond Award from Ontario Nature for our:  “tireless and inspirational role in the creation of Rouge National Park" and "exceptional work on the ground with stewardship and restoration projects.”

About FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE WATERSHED

FRW forms productive conservation partnerships with schools, community and faith organizations, businesses, municipalities, agencies, community leaders, and other environmental groups. We collaborate with our partners to:

·    Improve watershed, ecosystem, and community health;

·    Promote ecosystem approaches to environmental planning and protection;

·    Encourage environmental awareness, education, ethics and stewardship;

·    Monitor and communicate indicators of watershed and ecosystem health.