On May 29, 2025, in Sainte-Martine, the OBV SCABRIC invited the public to its Annual General Meeting and a keynote presentation by Sébastien Sauvé, professor at Université de Montréal and co-author of a recent study on pesticides found in surface water from the Châteauguay River—and even in the drinking water at a local treatment plant (not disclosed out of respect for the partnership involved).
More than 60 attendees asked excellent questions to better understand the situation and left the event with clearer insights. Key takeaways included:
- Dozens of pesticides are present in trace amounts, in a cocktail-like mix, in both surface water and drinking water.
- All detected levels in drinking water comply with Canadian standards. However, they do not meet the European Union’s precautionary principle. Since Canada is not bound by EU regulations, no collective action can clearly be taken on this basis.
- On an individual level, the most effective way to remove contaminants from drinking water is by using a small reverse osmosis system—intended only for direct consumption (drinking a glass of water, making soup, etc.).
2024–2025 Annual Report
Following the presentation, the organization shared its 2024-2025 annual report. It was by far the busiest year in the organization’s history, with nine full-time employees and four seasonal or part-time staff, and $1,000,000 in projects completed. The 2025–2026 year is expected to be somewhat less intense.
All current board members were reappointed, though several positions remain open: in health, industry, First Nations, and a few co-opted seats.