| Holiday Name: | World Rivers Day |
| Type: | International |
| Observedby: | International |
| Date: | Fourth Sunday of September |
| Frequency: | Annual |
| Firsttime: | 2005 |
World Rivers Day is an annual global event celebrated on the fourth Sunday of every September, emphasizing the importance of rivers and fostering greater public awareness and stewardship for river conservation worldwide.[1] [2] [3]
In 2005, pursuant to the commencement of the United Nations' Water for Life Decade, river advocate Mark Angelo proposed the formation of World Rivers Day. This international endeavor was spurred by the success of BC Rivers Day in Canada, started by Angelo in 1980. The first event in 2005 witnessed celebrations in various nations and has expanded to engage millions.[4]
World Rivers Day is an annual celebration held on the fourth Sunday of September. It underlines the value of rivers and attempts to improve public awareness while supporting better care of rivers internationally.[5] [6]
Mark Angelo, based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, is a renowned river conservationist and founder of BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day. He is Chair Emeritus of the Rivers Institute at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), where he also led the Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation Program. For his over 40 years of work in river conservation, Angelo has received several prestigious honors, including the Order of British Columbia, the Order of Canada, the United Nations Stewardship Award, and the National River Conservation Award.[7]
An experienced paddler, Angelo has explored nearly 1,000 rivers worldwide. His Riverworld program captivated audiences across North America from 2003 to 2006, with its website attracting over 40 million visits. He has authored more than 300 articles on conservation and served as Past Chair of the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council.[8]
Angelo was awarded honorary doctorates from Simon Fraser University and Trent University for his international conservation efforts. Recognized as a Fellow of the Explorers Club and the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, he co-produced the acclaimed documentary RiverBlue in 2016 to further advocate for waterway protection.[9]
World Rivers Day is observed by a variety of events that emphasize the value of rivers.
In 2024, Georgia and Melissa Laurie performed a marathon swim in the River Thames to help PTSD UK and Compañeros en Salud, a Mexican nonprofit Organization.[10] In the United Kingdom and Canadam, several activities are undertaken to remove fish barriers and restore river ecosystems, emphasizing the need of conserving healthy waterways. Similarly, public awareness initiatives are designed to educate people about the value of rivers and the need to protect them.[11] World Rivers Day is marked in Bangladesh with activities that emphasize the importance of rivers in daily life and the environment. These festivals usually incorporate educational programs, community cleanups, and cultural activities that bring people together to celebrate and conserve their local rivers.[12] In Dharamshala, India, several organizations and volunteers gathered at the Bhagsu riverside to celebrate World Rivers Day 2024 with the theme “Waterways of Life.” The event included a mass cleanup and an interactive seminar organized by the Tibet Policy Institute.[13]
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