GLIN==> RELEASE: The Race to Save the Great Lakes Launches Today

Great Lakes United | Union St-Laurent Grands Lacs <http://www.glu.org>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release
June 30, 2010
** Great Lakes United *** Shedd Aquarium **

The Race to Save the Great Lakes Launches Today
Great Lakes United and Shedd Aquarium will be visiting ports across the 
region promoting ways to help protect the Great Lakes

The Redpath Toronto Waterfront Festival kicks off today and runs through 
the holiday weekend, marking the beginning of the Great Lakes United 
TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE®. Shedd Aquarium and Great Lakes United will be at 
each festival talking to the public about critical issues facing the 
lakes like water use, and the threat of the Asian carp.

"We are excited to get people out to the waterfronts to see these 
magnificent ships and engage with them in a conversation about the Great 
Lakes," said Derek Stack, Executive Director of Great Lakes United, "40 
million people rely on the lakes for their drinking water, and we want 
to help educate people about what we can do together to protect these 
waters for generations to come."

The Great Lakes United TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE 2010® is a port-to-port race 
sailing across the world's largest source of fresh surface water.  As 
the vessels race from port to port, they will help Great Lakes United 
and Shedd Aquarium carry a message of water conservation and 
preservation to the millions of people who will travel to see the tall 
ships.

"The Great Lakes are amazing bodies of water that deserve to be 
celebrated and protected," said Melanie Napoleon, director of Great 
Lakes conservation at Shedd Aquarium.  "Each person who visits the 
festival will learn something new about the largest freshwater sailing 
vessels, the majestic Great Lakes and what they can do at home to make a 
difference."

The Redpath Toronto Waterfront Festival is the first stop in the Great 
Lakes United TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® 2010, and features an educational 
tent called the Green Village. The Green Village will bring together a 
host of environmental and conservation groups, green businesses, and 
others, to showcase in a fun and interactive the importance of water to 
our way of being, and how people can make choices that offer a lighter 
footprint on our natural world and resources. From interactive displays 
to workshops and presentations, the village focuses on sparking the 
imagination and showing people how they can help ensure a healthy Great 
Lakes ecosystem.

The Festival fleet of visiting ships will be open for dockside deck 
tours daily, starting July 1.  While general admission to the grounds is 
FREE, Boarding Passes must be purchased to gain access to ship decks. 
They can be purchased at the festival or at 
http://towaterfrontfest.com/tickets.asp.
More information on the Tall Ships festivals can be obtained at 
www.glu.org/tallships <http://www.glu.org/tallships>.

Contact:

Brent Gibson
Director of Communication, Great Lakes United
613-867-9861
bgibson at glu.org <mailto:bgibson at glu.org>

Elizabeth Latenser
Shedd Aquarium
312-692-3364
Elatenser at Sheddaquarium.org <mailto:Elatenser at Sheddaquarium.org>

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