Ocean, Freshwater, and Us – A note from cartographer, Chris Brackley
The title of this giant floor map is perfectly descriptive of its content. It is a map that highlights the foundational connections between ourselves and the water that surrounds and sustains us. The massive freshwater flow arrows highlight the reality that while few Canadians live close to the ocean, we are all connected to it by our local and ever-flowing lakes, rivers, and wetlands. And this connection is more than conceptual. What we put into local freshwater systems invariably flows to the ocean affecting delicate marine ecosystems sometimes thousands of kilometres from our homes.
Of course, human impact on the ocean is often more direct and this map also highlights our efforts to protect the ocean through a growing network of protected areas. There are no “one-size-fits-all” solutions to protecting ocean environments, and the different protected areas on this map reflect that reality; some removing certain fishing pressures, some limiting ship traffic and anchoring, some limiting or eliminating resource development, and some limiting or eliminating resource development, and some doing all of the above.
The human impact on water is, of course, determined by us. And the “us” shown on this map is perhaps the most fulsome ever shown on a Giant Floor Map. Not only does it include all villages, towns, and cities (heavily weighted towards the southern parts of the country), but it also shows the ubiquitous presence of Indigenous peoples throughout the entirety of what we now call Canada.