The year 2022 is shaping up to be an exciting one for CWN. In this update, we mark CWN’s 20th anniversary, announce the launch of our 2022-2027 strategic plan, and provide details about our search for a new CEO. Enjoy!
Celebrating 20 years of collaboration, evolution and impact
This past fall marked 20 years since Canadian Water Network (CWN) was established. We are grateful to our network participants for their contributions to our shared goals and the progress we have made together!
CWN was launched in 2001 as a federally funded Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE). Under the NCE program, CWN fostered multi-disciplinary research collaborations and connected end-users to projects, which led to improved water quality, reduced public health risks, hundreds of millions in cost savings, and more than 100 policy and practice changes.
CWN’s network and collaborators recognized the value of our role and expressed a strong desire for CWN to continue beyond the NCE mandate. With their support, we successfully transitioned to CWN’s current model as an independent, national non-profit organization in 2017. Today, CWN plays a vital role in Canada and internationally as a neutral broker that enables meaningful collaborations around shared goals. We engage stakeholders across the water sector and beyond to achieve progress on complex environmental, social and economic challenges.
A new plan to support communities of the future
Like Canada’s water landscape, CWN’s work continues to evolve. Communities across Canada are facing an uncertain and rapidly changing future, including major challenges linked to the global pandemic, climate change, shifting population distribution, and declines in biodiversity and ecosystem health.
To meet these challenges, we’re launching CWN’s strategic plan for 2022-2027: Building Communities of the Future Through Water. The new plan outlines CWN’s goals and approach for helping communities get to a future that is resilient, equitable and healthy by collaborating around water. Watch for additional details that will be shared in the coming weeks.
Passing the leadership torch
CWN is powered by a vibrant team of bright and committed individuals who are passionate about our work. After 20 years with CWN, CEO Bernadette Conant is proud of the team’s achievements and the strong collaborations we have built across Canada and internationally. With our new strategic plan providing a solid foundation and starting point, Bernadette sees this as an opportune time to pass the torch to a new leader who will carry CWN into the future.
The next CEO will lead the implementation of CWN’s strategic plan to achieve our goals and mission, while providing leadership that reflects CWN’s values and role as a trusted broker and convenor for the water sector and beyond. CWN has engaged LHH Knightsbridge to support recruitment for the CEO role. More information about this important role and opportunity is available.