A funeral was held for the Don River 50 years ago — but now people are celebrating its progress

Hundreds gathered under sunny skies on Sunday to paddle the Don River and support efforts to keep it maintained.

Hundreds gathered to 'Paddle the Don' Sunday at an annual fundraiser

Julia Knope · Posted: May 05, 2019 7:11 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 5, 2019

Paddlers head out on their canoes at an annual event for the Don River, a watercourse which flows through the city and empties in Lake Ontario at Toronto Harbour. (Talia Ricci/CBC)

It seems as though the tides have turned for this Toronto landmark.

In an environmental demonstration organized by the group Pollution Probe back in 1969, dozens gathered in black attire to mourn the state of the Don River with a funeral.

"It was gross, it was dirty," York University professor Peter Love said, recalling the event.

Now, 50 years later, he says the river seems to have come back to life.

When he was in his second year of university 50 years ago, Peter Love attended a mock funeral held for the Don River. He says his station wagon was used as a hearse that day. (Keith Burgess/CBC)

"Huge progress has been made over the past 50 years," Love told CBC Toronto at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's 26th annual Paddle the Don fundraiser.

Unlike the somber 1969 event, hundreds gathered under sunny skies on Sunday to paddle the river and support efforts to keep it maintained.

Digital archives of a funeral held for the Don River in an environmental protest.

4 years ago

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In 1969, environmental organization Pollution Probe held a funeral to mourn the state of the Don River.

"People's awareness of the environment is much higher than it was 50 years ago," Love said.

"I'm very glad to have been part of that movement."

Paddle the Don is an annual fundraiser held to support and raise money for the maintenance of the Don River. (Talia Ricci/CBC)

'It's a really iconic river'

Despite improvements, the TRCA says the 32-kilometre long waterway still faces some upstream battles, such as storm runoff and invasive species.

"It's a really iconic river," said Kate Goodale, a TRCA project manager. "It has a really long history of industry and, unfortunately, neglect for a long time."

Kate Goodale, a project manager for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), says their annual report card for the Don River has been steadily improving. (Keith Burgess/CBC)

Although Sunday's event was held to celebrate the river's improved quality — which is detailed in the TRCA's annual report card — it was also a fundraiser, aimed at raising money for community engagement programs.

"We are responsible for the management of the watersheds in the Toronto region," said Kate Goodale, a TRCA project manager. "So we do need those funds to help us design those programs, to get people interested in nature and to get them out into the ravines."