Portage Lake (Photo by Claude Duchaîne)
Trottier Family Foundation
We recently sat down with Eric St-Pierre, executive director at Trottier Family Foundation, to explore why the foundation chose to partner with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) on various conservation projects throughout Quebec.
This year, the Trottier Family Foundation is celebrating its 17th anniversary. What is the foundation’s mission?
Eric St. Pierre for the Trottier Family Foundation (TF): The Trottier Family Foundation was established by Lorne Trottier and Louise Rousselle-Trottier in 2000. The foundation’s mission is to assist charities that work in the areas of science, education, health, environment and community or international aid.
The foundation is also very involved in environmental issues. What motivated the family to choose this area of philanthropy?
TF: The Trottier Foundation firmly believes in scientific evidence that climate change is having profound impacts on the planet’s ecosystem. These changes will continue to have lasting effects on the Earth’s ecosystems, with significant implications for humans.
Why choose to become associated with NCC?
TF: The Trottier Foundation is committed to finding solutions to mitigate climate change and to protect our environment. The organization believes that conservation plays an important role. Working with NCC is a sign of confidence in their extensive experience in conservation, their credibility and their exceptional reputation.
What projects are being considered or planned in partnership with NCC?
TF: The foundation partnered with NCC on a freshwater conservation blueprint project in eastern Canada. The idea was to support scientific research that could help better protect and manage aquatic resources in the Canadian Northern Appalachian-Acadian Ecoregion. The aim is to identify stress factor areas in lakes, rivers and aquatic species populations. Eventually, the research aims to find a way to better protect those at-risk aquatic areas.
The Trottier Foundation believes that scientific data can be useful to conservation efforts. Data collection can help NCC to create tools to better protect freshwater areas.
Also, it was felt that environmental philanthropy in Quebec and Atlantic Canada […] required more support.
What legacy would the foundation like to leave?
TF: In the area of the environment, the Trottier Foundation would like to assist in mitigating climate change. We wish to ensure a cleaner and healthier future, while ensuring that scientific and environmental education remains strong and that all Canadians can benefit from conservation efforts.
