As tens of thousands poured into town and around Ottawa’s Peace Tower on Canada Day to see Queen Elizabeth II, enjoy concert performances and take in the red-and-white revelry, ONE DROP accepted an invitation from the National Capital Commission of Canada, the festival organizers, to promote tap water as the preferred source of drinking water. Quenching the thirst of visitors by offering them municipal water on the Hill, at Major’s Hill Park and at Jacques-Cartier Park, the National Capital Commission had set up, at each location, a water station where people could fill their reusable bottles.
Finding these water stations was as fun as drinking from them! Each park featured three life-size sculptures of a person pointing in the direction of a station. The sculptures were handmade from countless recycled bottles by Quebec multidisciplinary artist, Olivier Lefebvre. ONE DROP posters in the parks, next to the sculptures and around the water stations — countertop-high stations with four faucet hoses — reminded everyone that tap water and reusable bottles help reduce bottled-water consumption. The stations’ water supply came courtesy of Ottawa’s water-supply system. During the event, ONE DROP seized the opportunity to increase its visibility while supporting the National Capital Commission in raising community awareness of the importance of concrete action to protect the environment and preserve our planet.
Canada Day offered ONE DROP the occasion to convey several messages: certain posters allowed us to spread the word about bottled water, while others promoted AQUA, our multisensory experience now at Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of Nature till next September 6. Finally, Olivier’s sculptures encouraged young artists to create art with a message inspiring each and every one of us to take care of our planet.
Published on August 9, 2010