Data and Findings from the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup’s 2024 Season Point to it Being the Most Impactful Yet

New technologies provide rich insights on plastic pollution and strengthen efforts to protect the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup (GLPC), a joint initiative of Pollution Probe and the CGLR Foundation, the charitable arm of the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), is pleased to release data from its 2024 season. The findings showcase the initiative’s continued success in removing plastic and other debris from the Great […]
Mark Fisher, CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region, to become the first President of the Canada Water Agency

March 7, 2025 CGLR Foundation’s Senior Program Director, Lora Shrake, to serve as Executive Director on an interim basis Ottawa, ON and Cleveland, OH – The Council of the Great Lakes Region today announced that Mark Fisher will step down as President and CEO, effective March 14th, following the Government of Canada’s announcement appointing him […]
CGLR Announces Honorary Patrons

December 05, 2024 Ottawa, ON and Cleveland, OH – CGLR is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of two new Honorary Patrons, the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the longest-serving Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2014–2023) and Ambassador Bob Rae, Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. CGLR is also very pleased to announce the […]
Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup (GLPC) Shares New Data and Insights for Plastic Free July

Groundbreaking initiative provides update on data collection and community impact in the fight to clean up the waterways of the Great Lakes region. TORONTO – July 16, 2024 – An initiative that brings together partners from across North America to take action on the plastics pollution problem in the Great Lakes has released its most […]
Joint Statement from the Council of the Great Lakes Region and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

CGLR and the GLSL Cities Initiative Unite for Regional Economic Transformation The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative’s (GLSLCI) Mayors’ Commission on Economic Transformation are pleased to announce a partnership to guide the economic transformation of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region over the […]
Meijer Expands Great Lakes Stewardship Commitment with Donation to the Council of the Great Lakes Region Foundation

Donation will help improve water and wildlife quality in river corridors throughout Wisconsin. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Midwest retailer Meijer is continuing its commitment to Great Lakes stewardship with a $250,000 donation to the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) Foundation to launch a set of innovative litter capture and clean-up technologies – the BeBot and […]
Founding Corporate Partners of CGLR’s Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange Announced

Initiative will advance business sustainability and accelerate corporate water stewardship in the US-Canada Great Lakes region. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 28, 2024 In recognition of World Water Day 2024, the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) network is excited to announce the founding corporate partners of the Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange, […]
Council of the Great Lakes Region Announces First Sustainability Fellows to Accelerate Progress on Sustainability and Resilient Infrastructure in the Great Lakes Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2023 Ottawa, ON and Cleveland, OH The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) in Canada and the CGLR Foundation in the United States are pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Hoornweg, PhD, PEng and Michael Sanio, F.ASCE, ENV-SP as CGLR’s first Sustainability Fellows. Together, Dan Hoornweg, who is […]
Council of the Great Lakes Region (Canada) Announces New 2023 Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 10, 2023 OTTAWA, ON and CLEVELAND, OH / August 10, 2023 – The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), a not-for-profit corporation in Canada, is pleased to announce that the following individuals have been elected to its Board of Directors after the organization’s virtual Annual General Meeting on July 21: […]
Boat Shrink Wrap Recovery Pilot Program Launched in Chicago and Lake County Regions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 21ST, 2023 Effort will advance sustainability mindset with shrink wrap recycling and divert this valuable plastic film from landfills Chicago, IL – Today, the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), Charter Next Generation (CNG), Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), Chicago Harbors, […]