International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board Welcomes New Canadian Co-Chair

Date

International Falls (MN) / Fort Frances (Ontario)

The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB) is pleased to welcome its new Canadian Co-chair, Jennifer Vincent who will be serving the Board alongside her counterpart, interim U.S. co-chair Col. Carl Jansen. Vincent will be taking over the position from Mike Goffin who has served on the board for over a decade. 

Vincent is the Executive Director of Ontario for the Freshwater Management Directorate of the Canada Water Agency (CWA), a branch at Environment and Climate Change Canada. In her role with the CWA, Vincent has experience working on the Lake of the Woods Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative, integrating the science, governance and stewardship activities in the basin to restore and protect water quality and ecosystem health in the lake.

Portrait of a professional smiling at the camera
IRLWWB Canadian Co-chair Jennifer Vincent

Vincent brings 25 years of experience in water quality and management to her new role with the Board and has a background in Environmental Sciences (Masters at the University of Guelph, ON) and in Biology (Bachelors at the Wilfrid Laurier University, ON).

Vincent says she is “deeply honoured to be appointed as the new Canadian Co-Chair of the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board and to contribute to a long history of binational collaboration and coordination in the stewardship of this watershed.”

U.S. Co-chair to the IRLWWB, Col. Eric Swenson added the following: “On behalf of the entire International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board, I’d like to congratulate and extend a warm welcome to Ms. Vincent in her newly appointed role. I look forward to serving with her, alongside our dedicated team, as we continue to uphold the principles of cooperation and stewardship set forth by the International Joint Commission in ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed.”

The International Joint Commission created the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board in January 2013, from an amalgamation of the International Rainy Lake Board of Control and the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board, with added water quality responsibilities for the broader Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed. The Board assists with binational coordination of water quality efforts for the entire transboundary watershed and ensures compliance with the International Joint Commission’s Order on the regulation of water levels on Rainy Lake and the Namakan Reservoir.

Associated Links

Contacts

Maria Jawaid (IRLWWB Secretary, Canada)

Rebecca Seal-Soileau (IRLWWB Secretary, United States)

International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board 

rlwwb@ijc.org