Office Decor

Jenny Beorkrem is the founder and designer of Ork Posters. She’s known for her city posters that map neighbourhoods with a cool, clean approach to typography, combined with a unique cramming technique (see her dazzling map of Toronto here). Recently, Ork Posters released a Great Lakes-themed poster. Clearly, we had to get a print for the Water Canada office.

I asked Jenny why she decided to tackle the Great Lakes.

“Being in Chicago, Lake Michigan and the lake system is such a big part of the city, and historically the lakes were hugely influential in opening up the Midwest for industry and Chicago’s formation as the second largest city. People identify with them in the same way they do a city,” she says.

“I’ve lived as close as a half a block and never much more than a mile away from a large body of water my entire life. My favourite memories are just sitting by water (or on it) and enjoying the expansiveness and the unique way water connects places, where most other types of landforms separate us.”

Of the 40 million or so people who reside in the Great Lakes area, many share similar feelings and memories. And when I took part in a few of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) public webinars a month ago, it was very clear that many of us, on both sides of the border, take our responsibility to the Lakes very seriously.

Tomorrow (July 9) marks the last day for public comment on the binational negotiations for the GLWQA’s amendment process. Written comments can still be submitted online—if you haven’t already made your voice heard and expressed your concerns, now’s the time to participate.

Thanks to Catherine Masson for reminding me of the deadline.