Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of Canadian Water Network’s (CWN) News Splash. It’s been quite a summer, and let’s start with the good news. The pandemic is finally receding, and people are embracing the return of travel and in-person events. For this reason, we’re thrilled that CWN’s flagship event, Blue Cities, is making a comeback after a three-year hiatus. Mark your calendars for October 24-25, 2023, as this is a networking and strategizing event that senior leaders in the water and public health sectors simply can’t miss.
During the conference, we’ll be addressing critical national water-related issues such as housing, wildfires, pandemic prevention, and engagement with Indigenous peoples. We’re pleased to be joined by Don Iveson, former mayor of Edmonton, and a distinguished panel of VIPs who will shed light on the alignment needed between all levels of government and the private sector to meet the housing demands of densely populated urban centers. We will also explore the integration of grey, green, and blue infrastructure for enhanced community resiliency, as well as the water-related risks associated with post-wildfire aftermath.
This year, Blue Cities introduces a new program stream focused on public health and water. This stream explores the role wastewater surveillance can play as a complementary method to public health surveillance data. We’re delighted to welcome several high-profile speakers who will discuss the future of wastewater surveillance in Canada. These speakers include Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial officer of health, Dr. Guillaume Poliquin, vice president of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory, and Dr. Thomas Piggott, medical officer of health and CEO of Peterborough Public Health. We invite you to join us for serious discussions and the social aspects of CWN’s most significant event of the year.
Unfortunately, this summer has witnessed the relentless ferocity of forest fires across multiple regions of our country. As I write this, Kelowna and Yellowknife remain under evacuation orders. We’ve heard countless stories of Canadians impacted by these wildfires. Even if we’re not directly in their path, many of us have loved ones who are or have been exposed to wildfire smoke or are assisting families who have been forced to evacuate.
Once these fires are extinguished, the affected communities will embark on the long journey of recovery from this devastating ordeal. Recent experiences have emphasized the importance of assessing the impact of fires on drinking water and the threats they pose to public health. In this edition of New Splash and at the Blue Cities conference, we’re privileged to have Dr. Monica Emelko, Canada Research Chair of Science, Technology, and Policy at the University of Waterloo, guide us through the latest scientific insights into post-fire contamination of water supplies.
This edition of News Splash also features Xylem’s expert advice on leveraging digital solutions to assess prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) mains, enabling proactive segment replacement before failures occur.
In addition to this, we’re excited to share updates on CWN’s programs. We extend a warm welcome back to Kim Jusek, program manager of the Municipal Consortium, who has returned from maternity leave. Furthermore, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our first program, made possible by funding from RBC Tech for Nature, under CWN’s Water and Climate focus area.
As always, I value your feedback and encourage you to reach out to me at [email protected] with your news and perspectives. I look forward to meeting you at Blue Cities. Please refer to the registration details available on the conference’s website.
Warm wishes for the coming Fall,
Nicola