After a three-year hiatus, CWN’s flagship Blue Cities 2023 conference was bigger and better than ever. Drawing 200 participants from across Canada, the event unfolded at the Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto. The conference focused on topics related to municipal water management and public health protection. Notably, 70 percent of Blue Cities attendees held pivotal decision-making roles. Half of all attendees held senior positions, such as CEO and director, while 20 percent of all attendees were emerging leaders (e.g., managers) poised to ascend to senior roles in the coming years.
The sessions at Blue Cities 2023 sparked intense dialogue on pivotal issues shaping our cities. During a national dialogue, esteemed experts, including former Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, spoke about servicing the demand for dense urban growth to support housing. The experts emphasized the indispensable nature of continuous dialogue and collaboration in navigating the multifaceted challenges posed by urban development. A concept highlighted throughout the was ‘radical collaboration,’ urging stakeholders to break free from silos and actively engage with sectors critical to urban revitalization.
Another focal point of the conference was the national dialogue on the future of wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) in Canada. A panel of experts, featuring Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, vice president of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, explored how we can build on the success of tracking COVID-19 through wastewater and expand WBS to more pathogens and agents to benefit public health decision-making. It was evident from the discussion that the success of WBS hinges on a collaborative approach that brings together researchers, labs, public health decision-makers, utility workers and communities from the start.
Reflecting CWN’s core values of equity and engagement with Indigenous peoples, we integrated Indigenous perspectives throughout the conference. Blue Cities 2023 commenced with an impactful opening ceremony led by Credit River Water Walker, Dale Reeves Cimolai, who shared profound insights on the spirit of water and the transformative Credit River Water Walk.
CWN also hosted a lightning talk by Heather Swan from Indigenous and Community Engagement, who emphasized the crucial need for an actionable plan for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. In doing so, Heather identified the need for clear commitments and transparent metrics that organizations can publicly disclose. This approach enables organizations to showcase their progress on the national imperative of advancing reconciliation and nurturing relationships with Indigenous peoples based on rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.
Furthermore, CWN hosted a dedicated session on engaging Indigenous perspectives in urban water servicing. Panelists spoke about how utilities engage with urban Indigenous residents and adjacent Indigenous communities on water-related issues. They also discussed how Indigenous perspectives and expertise can be incorporated into strategic planning and decision-making.
The conference concluded with a keynote address by Terry Duguid, parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and special advisor on water, who shared his thoughts on the purpose and potential of the new Canada Water Agency. His fireside chat with Xylem America’s President Mike McGann further highlighted Canada’s prospective role on the world stage in this domain.
A big thank you goes out to our sponsors, whose support made the conference possible. This year’s sponsors, by category, included:
- Platinum: GHD, Matrix Solutions Inc., Stantec and Xylem.
- Gold: ECO Canada, Esri Canada, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), ideavation and Verily.
- Silver: Genome Canada.
- Supporting organizations: Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) and the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID).
- Media partner: Water Canada.