EDMONTON, AB – Alberta’s new 2024 Drought Response Plan will help guide the province through any and all drought conditions. This is a plan covering everything from conservation plans and water-sharing agreements to declaring an emergency and prioritizing water for human health and safety. It will help make sure that Albertans, communities, farmers, ranchers and businesses get the support they need, whatever the weather. “This spring has brought much-needed moisture to many areas of the province, and new forecasts showing increased precipitation are a cause for optimism,” said Rebecca Schulz ..read more

Kelowna, B.C. – Syilx Territory – The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has awarded $350,000 to 14 projects through its annual Water Conservation and Quality Improvement Grant Program. The grants are available to Okanagan local governments and First Nations, irrigation districts and non-profit organizations. This year, the board of directors chose “drought resilience” as the annual theme, to encourage projects aimed at prevention, management, and/or mitigation of drought or water shortages in the basin. In all, the board received 23 applications with a combined ask of $631,725 ..read more

Thunder Bay, ON – Confederation College announced a collaboration with the Walkerton Clean Water Centre (WCWC), set to improve water treatment education in Northern Ontario. This partnership brings the “Operation of Conventional Treatment Processes” course to Confederation College’s custom-designed and cutting-edge pilot water treatment plant, marking a significant milestone for the Environmental Technician program. For the first time, the 2024 cohort of graduating students had the unique opportunity to engage in specialized training in Thunder Bay. This initiative is not just a first for the ..read more

Group donates 297 acres to DUC along the Beaver River in the Lake Simcoe watershed UXBRIDGE, ON – Thanks to the generosity of a group of conservation-minded individuals, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is celebrating the recent acquisition of 297 acres, (120.19 hectares) in the Lake Simcoe watershed. The property, on the Beaver River in Scugog Township, will provide a contiguous corridor of wetland habitats for migratory waterfowl and rare and endangered bird species. Located just south of Sunderland in Scugog township, the land was acquired from multiple individuals who donated th ..read more

 Through Budget 2024, Alberta’s government is taking action to protect communities and vital water management infrastructure from the impacts of floods. RED DEER, AB – Alberta’s water management infrastructure provides a reliable water supply for irrigation, municipal, industrial, agricultural and recreational use, as well as fish and wildlife habitat, flood mitigation and erosion protection. This includes infrastructure like the Dickson Dam. Built in 1983, the dam helps supplement adequate water supply for Red Deer and Drumheller and enhance low winter flows along the Red Deer River. To ..read more

By Andrew Riley Dalhousie University communications HALIFAX, NS – A signing ceremony held on Nov. 7, 2022 transferred ministerial responsibilities and liabilities to the AFNWA for the development and delivery of water and wastewater services to participating First Nations. The Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA) made history in 2018 by incorporating as the first Indigenous-owned and -led water utility in Canada. It was a significant step for First Nations in the region toward self-determination and control of the resource that is central to the health of their communities and pro ..read more

The Ville de Montréal is proud to announce that a new sponge park, the largest to date on its territory, will be built in the borough of Verdun. The park, which will be built near Joseph and Dupuis streets, on land adjacent to the Atwater drinking water plant, will cover an area of some 4,300 m² – the equivalent of more than 10 basketball courts – and will significantly reduce the risk of flooding in this residential area located in a basin.The new park will be laid out in three distinct areas: a grassy plain with a relaxation area, a free-play area, a bike stop and a training area where acce ..read more

QUEEN’S PARK — MPP Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls riding) called on the Premier to follow through on his commitment to fund the South Niagara Wastewater Project, a critically important infrastructure project for the growing region. “The Niagara Region has been clear that they need this vital wastewater project immediately,” said Gates. “These funds are essential for supporting the thousands of homes we’re expecting to build, and we need the work to get underway as soon as possible.” Last year, Niagara Region representatives secured a commitment for provincial funding for this project. “Development ..read more

VANCOUVER, BC   – The Indigenous Coastal Waters Stewardship Society and the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced $50 million in funding to support First Nations stewardship in the Salish Sea and waters along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Funding through the Indigenous Coastal Waters Stewardship Fund is now available to the 33 First Nations eligible to participate in the Salish Sea Initiative (SSI) and will be administered by the Indigenous Coastal Waters Stewardship Society (the Society) through an ..read more

WEST HANTS, NS – The Province of Nova Scotia is investing in new infrastructure that will benefit residents and business in West Hants Regional Municipality. A new municipal water storage tank will service Windsor and West Hants water utilities, providing benefits that will extend to water systems in Three Mile Plains and Falmouth. The storage tank offers additional storage and capacity that will be required in the future for population growth. The expansion to the water distribution system allows the flexibility and downtime required to properly maintain the current water treatment plant. The ..read more