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Michelle Woodhouse

Program Manager, Water

Michelle’s passion for the natural world and to become a water protector was sparked from a young age by the worldviews and values that were passed down to her through her Métis heritage. During university, Michelle pursued a BA in Environmental Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Toronto and went on to obtain her MASc in Environmental Applied Science and Management at Ryerson. Over the course of her Master’s, she worked on water governance and policy issues affecting the Great Lakes and Ontario. She has worked as a researcher and analyst for organizations such as the Great Lakes Policy Research Network, the International Joint Commission, and the Canadian Environmental Law Association before coming to Environmental Defence. Michelle sees water as a living relation and is passionate about water justice and climate justice. She is excited to be working at Environmental Defence to advocate for water protections.

Read Michelle's Posts

Jan 26, 2023

Wintertime farming practices can help or worsen water pollution and algae blooms

If you’re a reader of our blogs or a lover of Lake Erie, you may…

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Dec 07, 2022

An unwelcome guest: Lake Erie’s annual toxic algae bloom stayed longer than usual this year

Every summer in Lake Erie, an unwelcome guest  – the infamous toxic algae bloom –…

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Nov 01, 2022

Busting Enbridge’s Line 5 Myths – Part 3: Indigenous sovereignty, Tribal rights, and consent – Bad River Band v. Enbridge

Funding police to suppress water and land defence efforts, breaching natural aquifers that supply wetlands…

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Sep 02, 2022

Busting Enbridge’s Line 5 Myths – Part 2: Enbridge’s Proposed “Solutions”

Line 5 is a major threat to the Great Lakes basin. The entire pipeline is…

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Aug 19, 2022

Celebrating the 6TH Annual #WeAreLakeErie Day: Let’s Show Our Government How Much We Love This Global Treasure!

Lake Erie is a global treasure. The lake is home to thousands of species, complex…

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Aug 15, 2022

Another Year, Another Nasty and Toxic Lake Erie Algae Bloom

Lake Erie is nothing short of spectacular. With all that it provides, it definitely lives…

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Aug 09, 2022

Busting Enbridge’s Line 5 Myths – Part 1: What Are the True Environmental Impacts and Risks?

Enbridge and its allies have been spinning a tale that Line 5 is a safe…

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Jul 11, 2022

Part 2: The Great Lakes Have a Serious Plastics Problem. This Plastic Free July, Let’s Ensure Industry Is Held Accountable.

Co-written by Karen Wirsig, Plastics Program Manager As we explained in Part 1 of this…

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Mar 04, 2022

Viable Alternatives to the Line 5 Pipeline Exist and It’s High Time to Plan For Its Closure

Over the course of the last year, we have joined water protectors from across U.S….

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Dec 30, 2021

Roads Salts Don’t Just Hurt Your Pet’s Paws: They’re Wreaking Havoc on Freshwater Sources

If you experience snowfall during the winter season, you’re probably well aware of what we…

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