Since 2006, The Future of Water Workshop Series has engaged youth across Alberta and Ontario to learn about and deepen their understanding of water and water-related issues within diverse geographical areas across each province. The workshops - built with the active support and involvement of private, public and non-governmental entities - are designed to meet the demand within the young (ages 20-35) Canadian demographic to participate in dialogue and hands-on learning experiences to understand the depth and breadth of water issues within their province/region. It is intended that the dialogue and the networking that ensues amongst these young people will both encourage their ongoing engagement in water issues and build capacity to support policy decision making, interaction with secondary and elementary schools and inform corporate initiatives.

To see if Waterlution workshops are coming to your province, region or territory in 2008, please visit the 2008 Workshop Schedule.

Past Workshops

• The Future of Water
  Residential Workshop May 25-27, 2007
  Engaging Alberta Youth on Water Issues within the City of Calgary and Suburban Areas

  Workshop Theme: Water Management in Urban and Sub-urban Centres

  Purpose of the Program
  The Future of Water is a two and a half day residential workshop that engages Canadian youth in dialogue surrounding current water issues in the province of Alberta. This workshop focuses specifically on urban and sub-urban management of storm-water, wastewater and drinking water.

  Field tour on Water Management of Calgary and Surrounding Area

  • Presentations by Nancy Stalker and Liliana Bozic from the City of Calgary Water Resources.
  • A morning field trip with a watershed engineer to learn about City stormwater management will include stops at: a pilot study on porous pavement, a constructed wetland and a new housing development incorporating leading edge stormwater management practices.
  • An afternoon field trip will include a learning tour of the City's Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant with a plant operator.
  • A guided rafting float trip down the beautiful Bow River with RiverWatch.
• The Future of Water
  Residential Workshop June 22-24, 2007
  Engaging Youth on Water Issues in the Agricultural Heartland of Alberta

  Workshop Theme: Water Management, Irrigation and Agriculture in Southern Alberta

  Purpose of the Program
  The Future of Water is a two and a half day residential workshop that engages Canadian youth in dialogue surrounding current water issues in the province of Alberta. This workshop focuses specifically on the rural context where agriculture accounts for 70% of the province’s water allocation. This workshop will look carefully at agricultural water issues and how they are connected to the water management and land-use policy in the region.

  This area has been chosen as a location for this workshop because it is one of the most water scarce regions in Canada. Local rivers have all been fully allocated and a moratorium has been put on further water licenses by the provincial government.

  Field Tour on Agriculture, Irrigation and Watershed Group communities

  • Presentations by Lorne Fitch (Cows and Fish) and Dave Hill (Alberta Irrigation Projects Association).
  • Morning field trip to visit John Kolk, local rancher, environmental farm plan pioneer and regional Councillor.
  • Afternoon field trip will include a visit, presentation and discussion with Beaver Creek Watershed group, along with a visit to Springpoint Colony.
  • Late afternoon barbecue at community centre with watershed group members and speakers.
• The Future of Water
  Residential Workshop September 13-15, 2007
  Engaging Youth on Water Issues in the Oil Sands Region of Alberta

  Workshop Theme: Water and Oil Sands – Corporate, Public Policy and Community Engagement

  Purpose of the Program
  The Future of Water is a two and a half day residential workshop that engages Canadian youth in dialogue surrounding current water issues in the province of Alberta. This workshop focuses specifically on the oil sands region, where vast quantities of water are used for Alberta’s booming energy sector. Participants will look closely at corporate operations, the provincial government ´s policies, the engagement of First Nations and community leaders, and how these groups work together in managing water within this intensive environment.

  Field Tour in Fort McMurray and Fort MacKay

  • Oil sands company tour and group discussion.
  • Presentations by Alberta Environment and the Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program (RAMP) followed by group discussions on city planning and First Nations involvement.
  • Barbecue with participation from community members and stakeholder groups.
• The Future of Water
  Residential Workshop November 23-25, 2007
  Engaging Youth on Water Issues in Alberta

  Workshop Theme: Water, Wilderness, Industry

  Purpose of the Program
  The Future of Water is a two and a half day residential workshop that engages Canadian youth in dialogue surrounding current water issues in the province of Alberta. Growing demands on limited water resources will play an increasingly important role in the future of the Canadian West in the 21st century. In addition to possessing enormous tourism value, upland areas in the Rocky Mountains produce water and other ecological services necessary for the downstream success of agriculture, industry and cities on the Great Plains. While the scientific community has the responsibility to analyze the complex interactions of climate, water and landscape change so as to ensure that population growth and its impacts on water resources do not limit social and economic development, researchers cannot work alone. Land managers, municipalities, developers, industry leaders and concerned citizens must work together and utilize the best and latest technology if we are to have any hope of achieving integrated watershed management in the West in the future. This forum will explore all the elements we will need to marry to ensure a sustainable way of life in upland watersheds in the Canadian West.

  Field Tour in Canmore and Speakers

  • Bill Fisher, Director General, Parks Canada, Western Region will speak about how industry and partners are helping to protect our watersheds and also where further attention is still needed. Alberta is blessed with five national parks: Banff, Elk Island, Jasper, Waterton Lakes and Wood Buffalo. Most of these parks are the headwaters for major watersheds. However, Wood Buffalo National Park is the home for the Peace Athabasca delta, the confluence of two major rivers draining northern Alberta. Parks Canada works with tourism industry partners inside our national parks and with adjacent land managers (farmers, ranchers, forest industry, oil and gas industry, and municipalities).
  • Mike Lauchlan, Business Development Manager, Environmental Monitoring Systems, Telvent will speak about the role of private business in water management and finding the most effective mix of private and public participation.
  • Kirsty Venner, Environmental Manager, Trident Exploration Corporation, will introduce water use and quantities in Alberta industry, how coal-bed methane (CMB) uses water and for what, how Trident has developed innovations to reduce water use and hopefully volume reductions, problems with produced water and spills, and potential changes to water regulations that impact CBM.
  • Tour of the Canmore Wastewater Facility (EPCOR).