ABOUT THE FOUNDER
By Grade 8, while searching online for a real-life problem to tackle, I came across a picture of a large mass pulled out of the City of London, Ontario’s sewer system. It caught my eye, sparked my interest and my scientific inquiry took off on this not-so-glamorous, but important topic of flushables.
Barry Orr, Sewer Compliance Officer/Sewer Outreach and Control Inspector City of London, standing beside a mass found in the London sewers.
In 2014, my first project on this topic titled Environmental Impact of Shifting Consumer Hygiene Trends, won gold at the Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF). Upon returning from the fair, I was inspired by a quote by Dr. Marcus Eriksen, “Science without solutions is only doing half its job.” So in 2015, armed with Nelson Mandela’s idea that, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” I founded Red Fish Route (RFR),
an educational awareness campaign to promote change and as a solution to this local, national, and global problem faced by environmental wastewater systems.
Between Grade 9 and Grade 12, I have presented to over 6800 students, Grades 1-6 on my PA days, exam breaks and at the Tri-County Children’s Water Festival for four years in a row; as well as hundreds of adults. Using my “Toilet Paper Challenge” experiment, I continue to help establish good flushing habits for the next generation and teach them that ‘toilets are not garbage cans.’ Returning to the CWSF 2018, in Ottawa, winning a bronze medal with this new project, on the same topic of Flushables; bookended my high school career, with another great opportunity to bring more awareness to this environmental water topic that I am very passionate about.
2014 - Windsor, ON
2015 - Fredericton, NB
2018 - Ottawa, ON
I love public speaking and seize any opportunity to present my Red Fish Route program at city council or board meetings or in schools; and I am motivated by young students who at the end of my presentation tell me things like, “I will never forget this for the rest of my life” and adults who tell me, “I will change my ways after 40 years.”
I welcome everyone to view my Toilet Paper Challenge on YouTube at ‘Red Fish Route’ and also, the CBC news article and video I am featured in (click here to watch video).
Remember to think twice before you flush.
