My Watermark is the North Saskatchewan River, Alberta.

I've lived in Edmonton since 1982 and I started using the river in 1987. Probably either in a canoe, a zodiac, and we have a little Coleman that on a very hot day we'll blow up and jump in at Terwillegar and get out at Capilano and float down the river. I love hot days on the river.

Big Island is that small island, it was a boating island in the 1800's where people would stop to have a break on the river. My friend took my out in a zodiac and it was quite overgrown, there was cows on it, but the old buildings that used to be there and the swimming pool – they were still in tact. That was my first time on Big Island and I loved it.

Water is essential to life. If our rivers are no good, the surrounding communities, the city, the access the clean water, the access to use a great resource we're surrounded by – we lose it.