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A shared vision for the future of Lake Nipissing

Lake Nipissing Summit News Release ******************** All leaders of municipalities and First Nations that surround and touch Lake Nipissing came together this summer to engage in shared learning and discussions.
Lake Nipissing Summit
News Release

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All leaders of municipalities and First Nations that surround and touch Lake Nipissing came together this summer to engage in shared learning and discussions. The intent was to develop a shared vision for the future of Lake Nipissing.

Nipissing First Nation and the City of North Bay co-hosted two leadership summits to learn about the benefits and share the many growing concerns about the changes that are having negative effects on Lake Nipissing.

“This was the first time all the Leaders have come together to learn and discuss the future health of Lake Nipissing”, says Chief Marianna Couchie.

The first day began with an opportunity to hear from experts about the environmental, health, economic and social impacts that are relevant to everyone who live around the lake. Experts and resource people provided historical background, and analysis of the various economic, environmental and social impacts of Lake Nipissing.

For day two of the summit Leaders were tasked to develop a common vision statement for Lake Nipissing. After a positive, vibrant and wide-ranging discussion, the vision statement was complete.
“Lake Nipissing, Our Great Lake, is a cherished source of nature's abundance and beauty.  Together, we promise to protect this gift and to ensure future generations inherit a healthy, sustainable environment.”

Concluding the two days of discussions the Leaders agreed to move this vision forward by bringing together all stakeholders, associations, ministries, governments, researchers, interest groups, and surrounding municipalities for a larger gathering to discuss and plan on how we can work together to ensure a healthy lake for the future. We are hopeful that this session will lay the foundation for additional collaborative work plans for the future vision for Lake Nipissing.

“It’s more than just one issue, it’s a cluster of collective issues, and we must deal with them all. Your problems are my problems. This large scale Lake Nipissing Summit will start the process of addressing the health of the Lake collectively” said Callander Mayor Hector Lavigne.
Dwayne Nashkawa, Executive Director, Nipissing First Nation, will lead the organization of the Lake Nipissing Summit. To maintain the momentum of the first meeting, the group will hold a large scale regional gathering within the next six months.

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