Canadian Water Network (CWN) is a hub for cross-sector collaboration to address Canada’s water challenges and opportunities.
As a non-partisan, non-profit organization, CWN works with a wide range of organizations and individuals with diverse perspectives and expertise to solve today’s complex water issues. Its partners and collaborators include government decision-makers, water managers, public health practitioners, community-based and Indigenous organizations, and representatives from water-dependent economic sectors, among others.
Its headquarters are currently located in Waterloo, Ontario, on the University of Waterloo campus. Canadian Water Network is a member of the Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC), an international water research alliance.
History
Canadian Water Network was established in 2001 as a Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE) in response to Walkerton's drinking water crisis. From 2001 to 2015, CWN was funded by the Canadian government to help decision-makers access and apply relevant research to manage risks to the safety, security and abundance of Canada's water resources. In 2015, Canadian Water Network transitioned to a self-sustaining organization. It is governed by a board of directors representing government, municipal water utilities, non-profits and industry. In 2022, CEO Bernadette Conant passed the leadership of CWN to successor Nicola Crawhall.
Canadian Municipal Water Consortium
In 2009, Canadian Water Network established the Canadian Municipal Water Consortium. The consortium is a national network of water utility leaders with a common goal of advancing sustainable, equitable and resilient urban water management. It provides a platform for leaders to share their knowledge and approaches to municipal water management and explore strategic issues on the horizon. Currently, the consortium supports senior decision-makers from 25 municipal water departments and utilities that collectively serve over 25 million people across Canada.
Program areas
Canadian Water Network initiatives bring together leaders from different fields and sectors to learn from each other, share knowledge and work together to make a difference. CWN is working in three interconnected program areas.
- Water and communities: Helping communities and water-reliant economic sectors find solutions that effectively increase climate resilience and minimize GHG emissions.
- Water and health: Protecting human health from water-related risks and promoting health through proactive solutions.
- Water and climate: Helping leaders make more informed decisions about providing safe drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services.
In 2017, Canadian Water Network led a National Expert Panel on Canada's challenges and opportunities to address contaminants in wastewater. The findings from the panel were released in a report in 2018.
From 2004 to 2024, Canadian Water Network offered a leadership development program for students and young professionals in water.
References
- ^ "GWRC Membership".
- ^ GLAUSER, Wendy (November 7, 2017). "Research networks facing funding cut-off get thrown a lifeline". University Affairs.
- ^ Boon, Sarah (December 17, 2017). "Women in Science: Bernadette Conant". Canadian Science Publishing.
- ^ admin. "Municipal Consortium". Canadian Water Network. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ^ Chattha, Simran. "What we do". Canadian Water Network. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ^ Cruickshank, Ainslie (April 30, 2018). "Expert panel calls for holistic approach to wastewater management". Toronto Star.
- ^ admin. "Students & Young Professionals". Canadian Water Network. Retrieved 2022-05-15.