While Lunenburg County teen Stella Bowles,14, has been recognized both nationally and internationally this summer for her work and lobby efforts to clean up the LaHave River, it’s the launch of the book, My River: Cleaning Up the LaHave, that she’s most excited about these days.
“I’m really excited for that,” said Bowles. “The author did an amazing job on the book. I can’t believe how well it is written. It’s a good read and is a celebration of how the river is getting cleaned, and hopefully by 2023, we will be able to swim in the river without health risks.”
My River: Cleaning Up the LaHave, written by award-winning author Anne Laurel Carter, is being launched at the Bridgewater Library in the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre on Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. “By telling Stella Bowles’ story in the voice of the young teen, Anne Laurel Carter, best known for her acclaimed fiction, has made My River: Cleaning up the LaHave River a worthwhile read of citizen science and activism,” reads an online review. “While My River does include some of the features of non-fiction text like photographs, information boxes and diagrams that can help provide clarification and greater depth to the story, it is the text of Stella Bowles’s story of helping to put a stop to polluting practices on the LaHave River that carries the tale. It’s the small steps in learning and discovery that make My River an exemplar of activism by young people with the message that, with perseverance and science, while looking in your own backyard, you can help change the world.” The book will be available at Chapters bookstores and online at Formac Publishing after the launch.
Bowles is also taking pleasure these days in seeing work progressing on the $16-million LaHave River straight pipe cleanup project. “When we drive into town and see septic tanks on people’s lawns, it’s exciting for me,” she said. “At least that means there’s one less straight pipe in the river. I’m probably the only kid that gets excited about septic tanks.”
Bowles has been working with the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation this year, going around the province and training other kids on how to test their waterways. She is currently working with three groups of kids and their mentors. “Hopefully, the results won’t be not bad, but if they are, we can get political and post results and maybe see more change in our communities.”
It’s been three years since Bowles started her campaign to clean up the LaHave River. “I’m happy with what I’ve achieved, but there’s always more to do,” she said. “I actually wrote a letter to our Environment Minister Margaret Miller and asked why there isn’t any enforcement to change a straight pipe into a septic tank when selling a house with an illegal pipe, so I’ve asked why there isn’t any enforcement on that and I’ve also asked her for a meeting. I’m not giving up.”
Bowles intends to start testing the water quality again on the LaHave River next summer to see what impact the installation of septic systems, and the removal of straight pipes has had on the river.
Bowles was recognized on July 6 with the presentation of the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) by the Governor General of Canada Julie Payette and again in August, when she was named a 2018 International Young Eco-Hero by the environmental organization, Action for Nature, receiving the first-place award in her age category (ages 13 to 16). She is a Grade 9 student at Bridgewater Junior High School.
