Discovery Café – Breaking the myth: Are our rivers safe for swimming? – Dr. Banu Örmeci
Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Blackburn Community Hall, 190 Glen Park Drive
Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
Every year, questions are raised about the water quality in the Rideau River and whether it is safe for swimming and other recreational activities. This summer, Dr. Banu Örmeci`s research lab tested water quality at five key neighbourhoods along the Rideau River. This was a grassroots, community-driven effort to understand the river’s health and answer a simple question: Is the Rideau River safe for swimming and recreation? The team covered the cost of all testing as a public service.
In this presentation, Dr. Örmeci will discuss the results of the testing and why it is important to protect our local rivers and keep them swimmable. The project has had nationwide media coverage, including in Maclean’s, on CBC radio and TV, on CTV and in the Ottawa Citizen.
For Dr. Örmeci`s biography, please visit the BCA website at blackburnhamlet.ca/251127.
Looking forward to seeing you there!