Mission Statement

The Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation promotes responsible stewardship through education, raises awareness of the nature of freshwater systems, provides leadership in urban watershed management, and operates The Fluvarium as a public centre for environmental education.

The Fluvarium delivers an environmental education program to over 10,000 school children annually.

History of Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation

The Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation was formed in 1985 by a group of concerned citizens who were interested in restoring and enhancing the City's freshwater resources.

In many areas throughout St. John's, rivers and surrounding habitats had been seriously damaged by urban development. The Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation, after extensive evaluation and planning, developed a master plan that would restore the areas to their original state.

When the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation was formed back in 1985, it included the following member organizations:

The St. John's Regatta Committee

The masterplan became that became the blueprint for development and restoration activities along Rennie's River and around Quidi Vidi Lake, and the construction of an environmental interpretation centre - The Fluvarium. The Foundation's goal was to implement the plan over a 10 year period and this multi-million dollar project required an aggressive fundraising approach.

Major funding for the 10 year plan was received from all levels of Government, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Industry Science and Technology Canada and many other agencies, as well as corporate and private donors. The City of St. John's guaranteed $250,000 a year for the 10 years, in matching funds, dependent on the Foundation raising that amount annually.

	Installed a fish-way at Quidi Vidi Lake, allowing for upstream passage of brown trout and just recently Atlantic Salmon.
	Developed a 7.5 km walking trail along Rennie's River and Quidi Vidi Lake.
	Restored a section of Kelly's Brook that had been culverted in the 1960's, due to commerical development.
	Carried out remediation work on sections of Leary's Brook and Nagle's Hill Brook, tributaries of Rennie's River.
	Carried out a 5-year project to re-introduce Salmon into Rennie's River, Virginia River and the Waterford River.
	Constructed The Fluvarium as a public centre for environmental education.

With the completion of the 10 year plan, in 1995, the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation now continues its mission by raising the necessary revenues through the operation of The Fluvarium, private and corporate donations, and fundraising initiatives, such as the Great Annual Rennie's River Rubber Duck Race, a bi-annual fall musical, and Rennies River Dance.

Petro-Canada is a proud supporter of The Fluvarium's Environmental School Programs.

All donations to the Quidi Vidi/Rennie's River Development Foundation are tax deductable.

For more information, contact us at 709-754-FISH (3474) or e-mail: info@fluvarium.ca.

Keep informed about Foundation activities by becoming A Friend of Rennie's River and receive our quarterly newsletter, Ripples.