Canadian FlagWater is life. Without it, we cannot exist, nor can any of the other forms of life with which we share the planet. That should be reason enough to value water as one of the most precious riches that the earth provides. But water gives more than life; water is our culture.

Water contributes to our over all well being – be it spiritually, physiologically, or recreationally. Everyone has some personal connection to water; whether we live in cities, in villages or in the country.

The connection between water and the arts may be difficult to define, but it can be expressed.Norval Morrisseau. Vlastula
Writers, artists and musicians have been inspired by water for centuries, using their works as media for communicating its more abstract value. Streams, rivers, and lakes occupy a central place in the natural world, an influence often reflected in various art forms. Many artists are fascinated by water in its many states. Where water meets land, the allure is intensified.

Waterfalls are considered sacred in some religions. Source: Rominita

Water is at the heart of many religions and is used in different rites and ceremonies. Water is seen by some as the source of life, it represents (re)birth. Water cleans and purifies the body, which confers a highly symbolic, even sacred, status to water. Water is therefore a key element in ceremonies and religious rites.

Source: Archives of OntarioCanada’s countless lakes, rivers and streams played a central role in the country’s history and development. For Aboriginal peoples and the early European settlers, the lakes and rivers were a means of transportation and a source for food. The rivers carried furs, trade goods, and explorers, heralding the influx of settlers into the wilderness. Waterways determined the patterns of settlement as well as the patterns of industrialization.

First Nation Traditional DressThe bank of a stream or river, the shores of a lake – touch a chord deep within us all. People have always preferred to live where water and land meet. There are practical explanations for our attraction to the water's edge. It provides: