Who We Are
The Bouchard Creek Foundation team has decades of experience in budgeting and financial management for multimillion-dollar projects. Projects are funded by donations, grants and in-kind contributions from a network of partners, private and government organizations, businesses, citizens, and volunteers. Projects are managed with rigorous and transparent best-practices in accountability, governance and change management.
Bouchard Creek Foundation
Founded in 2021 and based in Dorval, Quebec, the Bouchard Creek Foundation (FRB) is a volunteer-driven, non-profit registered charity dedicated to the restoration and protection of the Bouchard Creek and its watered. Bouchard Creek is one of the oldest watercourses on the Island of Montréal—shown on maps from 1620, it is one of the few historic creeks to survive. Now urbanised and partially buried, it starts at the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and flows southeast to the St. Lawrence River. To meet the challenges of urban water restoration, the FRB relies on best practices, innovative and scalable solutions and technologies. It implements solutions and creates materials and models that can be replicated in urban watersheds across Canada. The FRB and its partners have secured over $2 million in grants and donations for projects over 5 years (2024-2029) to restore and protect Bouchard Creek. Through collaborating with private landowners, businesses, municipalities, citizens and schools), the FRB is transforming Bouchard Creek into a model of environmental sustainability.
Our Mission
The FRB works to protect the environment in the public interest by :
- Conserving and restoring ecosystems, shorelines and long-term biodiversity in the Bouchard Creek area.
- Reducing pollution and rehabilitating polluted water in the creek.
- Documenting the state of the watercourse and ongoing restoration efforts.
- Creating educational tools and conducting awareness campaigns with the public, businesses, schools and political decision-makers to promote the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Approach
FRB adopts innovative strategies to achieve its goals:
- Act as an umbrella organization, managing the strategic alignment of data and efforts from an evolving set of volunteers, paid public and private partners, to maximize the impact of watershed-focused initiatives.
- Use Bouchard Creek as a laboratory to develop and validate replicable solutions and business models.
- Mobilize private-sector expertise and leadership to support the implementation of innovative, scalable solutions.
- Collaborate with schools, universities and environmental organizations to achieve measurable results and validate reusable methodologies.
- Progressively restore Canada’s lost urban waterways, while increasing municipal property values in their watersheds.
Our Ecosystem - Bouchard Creek Watershed
Bouchard Creek, one of Montreal’s oldest natural waterways, appears on maps dating back to the 17th century. Despite urbanization, which has buried many streams in sewer systems, 64% of Bouchard Creek’s 12 km length remains visible. Fed by rainwater from over 9 square kilometers of Dorval, notably near the Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Bouchard Creek flows towards Millenium Park at the St. Lawrence River, passing through industrial, residential and commercial areas.
Watersheds are defined by the geographic area whose slopes run downhill to the associated watercourse. Urban watersheds can be more complex than rural watersheds because water from outside the geographic area may be flowing into the creek through private and municipal infrastructures, such as storm sewers, culverts and drains. This urban infrastructure may have a significant impact on pollution and flooding of the creek.
Finances
Board members and volunteers receive no remuneration, and the Foundation has no salaried staff.
The Bouchard Creek Foundation team has decades of experience in budgeting and financial management of multi-million dollar projects. Since our incubation phase prior to COVID-19 and our incorporation in 2021, we have received considerable in-kind support from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Collège Sainte-Anne schools, GRAME, PME MTL West Island, local residents, businesses and other partner organizations.
As our network of partners, supporters and volunteers has grown and we have gathered more data, we better understand the environmental damage to Bouchard creek. With our local partner GRAME we have successfully applied for grants from the Environmental Damages Fund (FDE) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). We have leveraged these grants with additional funding from donations and in-kind contributions from local businesses, schools and municipalities to build out a $2.1 million multi-year (2024-2029) program of projects to restore and protect the creek. As we progress in this work we continue to develop additional exciting project opportunities, as time and funding become available.
Governance & Leadership
Since its inception, the Bouchard Creek Foundationhas adopted high standards of legal, financial and operational governance. This rigor guarantees transparency, accountability and sustainable growth, making the FRB a partner of choice for major donors and a rewarding environment for new board members.
Board of Directors
George Cervinka
Co-founder and President
George Cervinka is a visionary leader in the field of urban environmental restoration, with an emphasis on technological innovation and collaboration with the private sector. Under his leadership, the FRB has implemented innovative approaches to urban water revitalization, starting on the island of Montreal and expanding across Canada.
George’s long career in executive positions in global business technology, notably with Infosys and CGI, testifies to his expertise in delivering results and managing international teams. His academic background – a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and a Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology – shapes his methodical and innovative approach to problem solving.
With dual Czech and Canadian citizenship, George brings a global perspective to local environmental challenges. His personal and professional values are aligned with the promotion of sustainable urban ecosystems and meaningful collaboration. He invites donors and leaders in ESG (Environmental and Social Governance) to join the FRB’s mission to create healthier urban spaces.
Alan Capes
Director and Secretary
Alan combines engineering expertise and strategic acumen to strengthen the FRB’s operational success. With a degree in civil engineering and an MBA in transportation, Alan brings decades of experience, most notably with Canadian National Railway (CN).
At CN, Alan developed and led transformative projects such as CN’s $350 million Asset Management Systems Modernization and the $250 million Service Reliability Strategy, which streamlined operations and improved customer service management. His ability to navigate complex systems and drive efficiency translates into a strategic focus for FRB’s long-term impact.
Alan is also on the board of the Massawippi Foundation, a volunteer led environmental conservation organization in the Eastern Townships
Valérie Pinard
Director and Treasurer
Valérie brings valuable financial and management expertise to the Fondation Ruisseau Bouchard (FRB). As Vice-President of Client Services at FM Global, she leads a diverse team and oversees operations in Eastern Canada. Her background in engineering and risk management enables her to provide sound financial advice to the Foundation.
Valérie’s focus on sustainability and dedication to the FRB’s mission contribute to the organization’s ability to deliver impactful environmental projects, ensuring that resources are used effectively for the benefit of donors and stakeholders.
Carmela Martinez
Director
Carmela Martinez is the CEO of MP Repro, a well-established local SME specializing in print solutions. Under her leadership, the company has successfully transitioned from a traditional print production model to a fully automated, Industry 4.0-enabled, on-demand print business.
Most recently, she has completed advanced training in corporate environmental and social responsibility. She is now spearheading a strategic initiative in sustainable development that aims to establish MP Repro as an industry leader in environmentally responsible printing practices.
Carmela holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Entrepreneurship from McGill University. She is a board member of the Bouchard Creek Foundation and is deeply engaged in advancing the Foundation’s projects. A committed and active resident of Dorval, she lives alongside Bouchard Creek and is a passionate advocate for local environmental stewardship.
Policy Framing and Recognition
We position environmental action as a strategic investment for landowners by introducing a practical, business-case approach that incentivizes site-level improvements on residential, institutional, and commercial properties.
We secure endorsements from a wide spectrum of stakeholders — including public agencies, corporate leaders, and grassroots organizations — through a model built on trust, transparency, and collaborative action. FRB was recently named a finalist in the West Island Chamber of Commerce Accolades competition, a further sign of its credibility and growing momentum.
We prove that high-impact environmental restoration is possible — even without permanent staff, office space, or conventional NGO infrastructure — through disciplined focus, strong partnerships, and volunteer-led leadership.
