Welcome to the Spring 2026 edition of News Splash, Canadian Water Network’s (CWN) quarterly newsletter. In this edition, you’ll find fascinating interviews with two water pioneers: Kim Sturgess of WaterSmart Solutions Ltd. and Susan Ancel of EPCOR. As they prepare for retirement, they reflect on their careers and provide their insights into water systems management, as well as the importance of relationships and mentorship.

My March CEO blog and our program highlights focus on CWN’s wastewater energy transfer (WET) project, made possible with financial support from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). To support this effort, Bret Collins joined CWN’s team as a program advisor in January. We are also pleased to welcome the Building Decarbonization Alliance (DBA) as a strategic partner for this same project.

We continue to benefit from Bird Construction’s Innovation Partner sponsorship. Under the IPS, Bird is sharing its experience and knowledge of integrated project delivery with our Municipal Water Consortium. A webinar in March featured Bird’s work on IPD with the municipalities of Lloydminster and Nanaimo.

With only two months until our annual conference, Blue Cities, excitement is building. Blue Cities is the only water event exclusively designed for senior decision makers in the water sector. My team has assembled a tremendous line-up of speakers to discuss the most pressing strategic issues facing the Canadian urban water sector. Featured speakers include Peter Weltman, vice chair of the Canadian Infrastructure Council, and Mark Fisher, president of the Canada Water Agency. If you are interested in water utility governance, water security, adaptive planning, private financing, water reuse, new industrial water demand, among many other issues, you need to join us at Blue Cities to contribute to the national dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Check out the program and register at www.bluecities.ca.

I hope you enjoy all our news in this edition of News Splash.

Best,

Nicola Crawhall
CEO
Canadian Water Network