When most folks in Canada and the U.S. hear about Canadian water, their first response generally goes something like this: “Man, Canada is SET. We/They have all the fresh water. (Lucky bastards).” Well folks, sadly, that’s an oversimplified view of the advantages Canada has and the challenges it now faces. The Canadian Water Summit begins today. Convened by my amazing friends at Innovolve, it brings together businesses, public sector leaders, municipal planners, civil society and citizens alike to talk about the present and future of Canadian water through five frames:

* Water and the Canadian Economy
* Water Strategy for Business
* Water Adaptation for Green Communities
* Innovation & Investment
* Water Sustainability in Canada’s Natural Resource Sectors

The Summit draws big names and public figures, despite everyone’s current focus on the upcoming G20 Summit in Toronto — Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty gives the luncheon talk. This conversation is far from new, however. The awesome folks at The Council of Canadians, led by Maude Barlow, have worked tirelessly to connect Canada with the global conversation about the future of water scarcity and resulting global destabilization. In the next few weeks, Maude Barlow is launching a fantastic new documentary, Water on the Table, with filmmaker, Liz Marshall. Screenings to coincide with the G20 Summit in Toronto can be found here.

 

Melanie Redman

Melanie Redman

Melanie Redman is a Social Mission Collaborator with more than 10 years of direct experience in strategic, leadership and advisory roles across the social mission sector in the U.S. and Canada. She...