Programs
“Waterlution workshops make us question, and that's the root of change.” – Participant, The Future of Water Workshop Series, 2009
Waterlution offers opportunities for leadership development and multi-stakeholder dialogue around water resource and watershed management.
We engage diverse individuals, organizations and communities in exploration of creative management solutions that respect water and the broader ecosystem for generations to come.
“I greatly admire how Waterlution creates space for all voices at the table; the emphasis on engagement and importance of relationships… Waterlution reignites my passion and reminds me of why I love this work!” – Facilitator, The Canadian Water Innovation Lab, 2010.
Our programs fall into four categories:
- The Future of Water Workshop Series
- The Waterlution Hub Network
- Unconferences and Special Events
- Custom Learning Programs
Who can attend Waterlution programs?
We encourage anyone and everyone with an interest in water to participate in our programs. The only prerequisite for involvement is a genuine interest in water, and in sharing your perspectives and/or increasing your knowledge around how this resource is managed. Our ideal participant-base is a diverse mixture of experienced water practitioners (from industry, policy, Aboriginal, community, scientific, agricultural, and educational backgrounds) and less formally experienced individuals with a strong commitment to getting actively engaged in water issues, either for personal or professional reasons.
The Future of Water Workshop Series
Check out our 2011 series now! Don’t miss an upcoming workshop near you.
The Future of Water Workshop Series is Waterlution’s flagship program, launched in 2006. This community-based series brings together outstanding Canadian young leaders, aged 18-35 years, to engage in exploration of regional water issues through inspirational, thought-provoking and interactive residential workshops. To-date, Waterlution has hosted 40 Future of Water workshops in 28 communities across Canada, engaging thousands of youth, guest mentors and experts.
Each workshop is focused on specific regional water themes relevant to the surrounding area; designed with emphasis on leadership development, systems change theory, inter-generational sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The goal of the series is to develop passionate, informed decision-makers of tomorrow; building the capacity of a community - and Canada as a whole - to address its water-related challenges, while providing valuable networking, skill building, and critical thinking opportunities to individual participants.
"Waterlution workshops allow for discussion and shared learning. Instead of boring lectures, we are out there in the field experiencing the issues."
– Participant, The Future of Water Workshop Series, 2009.
"I would recommend Waterlution to anyone! Even if water isn't a passion of theirs, the connections and networks and overall experience of critical thinking is worth it."
– Participant, The Future of Water Workshop Series, 2009.
Check out our 2011 series now! Don’t miss an upcoming workshop near you.
The Waterlution Hub Network
Waterlution Hubs are all about building robust communities of effective water leadership. Based in select cities across Canada, they are networks of water-focused change-makers who learn from one another and build each others’ capacity to make real change towards the sustainable management of water resources and watersheds in their communities.
A Hub mobilizes interested and active individuals in the surrounding area via regular programming, similar to pieces of a typical Future of Water workshop: guided field tours, facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogue sessions, mentoring resources, network development, and facilitation/skill-building opportunities. Each Waterlution Hub is managed by a Hub Mobilizer – please check out the Waterlution Hub page to contact your local Hub Mobilizer and join the movement today.
Check out our Hubs page for updates on programming near you.
Unconferences and Special Events
At Waterlution, we believe systemic change occurs through meaningful dialogue and collaboration across sectors, generations and cultures.
An unconference is a facilitated, participant-driven event organized around a specific theme; one which uses interactive, collaborative methods instead of the usual unidirectional approaches of a regular conference (i.e. multimedia, arts-based technologies, World Cafe dialogue sessions and experiential field tours in place of powerpoints or panel discussions).
As a complimentary initiative to our regular Future of Water Workshops, we offer special unconferences (of national, regional, and local scope) focused on a specific region or “hot water” topic.
Custom Learning Programs
Waterlution works with partner organizations and individuals to provide workshop/event facilitation and learning process design.
Drawing on creative and participatory methodologies, our facilitation is available for coaching emerging projects and water entrepreneurs, encouraging networking within communities, and creating communities of practice relating to water within specialized groups, city council, companies and schools.
We welcome you to get in touch with us at info@waterlution.org to learn more about how we may be able to contribute to your project or event.