Impact Stories

Alt text: A lush, green rooftop garden covers a series of sloping, domed structures under a clear blue sky. Glass skylights protrude from the vegetation. In the background, trees and part of a building are visible. Translation: Un jardin verdoyant et luxuriant recouvre une série de structures en dôme inclinées sous un ciel bleu clair. Des puits de lumière en verre émergent de la végétation. En arrière-plan, des arbres et une partie dun bâtiment sont visibles./.

The Living Cities Canada Project: Lessons Learned from a Virtual, pan-Canadian Forum

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How can cities across Canada advance equitable, abundant and thriving green infrastructure (GI)? That’s the challenge that OLW member, Green Communities Canada (GCC), has been working to address with their Living Cities Canada: Green For All project. The project emerged from the collaborative work of the Green Infrastructure Community of Practice, an OLW Team, and is now supported by […]

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Alt text: A 3D map of Canada in varying shades of blue highlighting provincial and territorial borders. Territories are depicted in a darker hue than some southern provinces, with a focus on geographic outlines and perspectives. / Carte en 3D du Canada dans une gamme de bleus, soulignant les frontières provinciales et territoriales. Les territoires sont représentés dans une teinte plus sombre que certaines provinces du sud, mettant laccent sur les contours et les perspectives géographiques.

Annual Network Priorities and Feedback for 2022

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Since the Our Living Waters Network first took form in 2016, membership has grown to 157, including 117 organizations and 40 individuals, with a Shared Measurement System of 24 impact measures to track progress on our ambitious goal of all waters in good health by 2030! Each year, members inform our Network priorities through the Annual Survey. This

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Alt text: Hands cupped together catching water droplets, with a blurred background of greenery and soft sunlight. / Mains en coupe recueillant des gouttes deau, avec un arrière-plan flou de verdure et une douce lumière du soleil.

A Gift of Learning about Working with Indigenous Partners

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In early April, the Community-Based Water Monitoring Collaborative and other freshwater community members interested in First Nations principles of ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP) had the privilege of spending an afternoon with Aaron Jones from Ketegaunseebee (Garden River First Nation) Lands & Resources Department and Dr. Elaine Ho-Tassone from Algoma University. Aaron and Elaine shared their experiences monitoring watersheds

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A wide view of a majestic waterfall with turquoise water cascading over a cliff, creating mist at the base. The horizon shows a clear blue sky and lush greenery on the banks. / Une vue large dune majestueuse chute deau avec une eau turquoise dévalant une falaise, créant une brume à la base. À lhorizon, un ciel bleu clair et une végétation luxuriante sur les rives.

Water Policy Updates from the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters

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Since the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters (CCHW) took shape last year, it has been making a real impact through federal advocacy for freshwater health! Now at 56 members, the CCHW is setting the stage to advocate for policy change. In mid-January, the CCHW sent a letter with 31 signatures from Coalition members to Minister Guilbeault outlining three

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Alt text: Abstract image with swirling patterns in shades of blue, white, and beige. The design features fluid, organic shapes and textures resembling waves or clouds, creating a dynamic and calming visual effect. Canadian French Translation: Image abstraite avec des motifs tourbillonnants dans des tons de bleu, blanc et beige. Le design présente des formes et textures fluides et organiques rappelant des vagues ou des nuages, créant un effet visuel dynamique et apaisant.

The Art of Water: Waterlution’s Integrated Arts Strategy

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Our Living Waters has decided to feature stories about member organizations’ use of art in their work, and to put a spotlight on the art and artists involved! This focus on “The Art of Water” aims to: highlight effective ways of driving change; honour the sacredness of water; and centre on right relations with Indigenous

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**Alt text:** A tranquil lake with vibrant turquoise water reflects dense pine trees and colorful autumn foliage on its banks. Mist shrouds the background forest, creating a serene and dreamy atmosphere. / Une lac tranquille aux eaux turquoise vives reflète les pins denses et le feuillage automnal coloré sur ses rives. La brume enveloppe la forêt en arrière-plan, créant une atmosphère sereine et rêveuse.

Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters Springs into Action!

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In early 2021, Our Living Waters (OLW) and the Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW) championed a joint submission to the federal government to influence the creation of a Canada Water Agency. Building on this momentum, a new OLW Team has coalesced: the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters (CCHW). OLW Teams bring together member organizations within our Network to drive collective

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Four people are standing in a shallow river. One person brushes a rock while another holds it. Two others watch. They are dressed casually, and one holds a net. The setting is outdoors, with green vegetation in the background. / Quatre personnes se tiennent dans une rivière peu profonde. Une personne brosse une roche pendant quune autre la tient. Deux autres regardent. Elles sont habillées de façon décontractée, et lune delles tient un filet. Lenvironnement est extérieur, avec de la végétation verte en arrière-plan. .

Business Case for Investing in Community-Based Water Monitoring

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More than 150 community-based water monitoring (CBWM) groups are actively monitoring changes in their watersheds and informing freshwater decision-making across Canada. Monitoring programs reflect a diversity of water conditions and landscapes, varying in purpose and size to address specific community needs. Yet, they all rely on consistent, adequate funding to keep their volunteers and data collection afloat!   For years

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Alt text: Map highlighting the Great Lakes region with data points in blue circles showing various numbers. The map includes parts of the United States and Canada, with notable concentrations near Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario. / Carte mettant en évidence la région des Grands Lacs avec des points de données sous forme de cercles bleus indiquant divers nombres. La carte inclut des parties des États-Unis et du Canada, avec des concentrations notables près du lac Michigan et du lac Ontario.

DataStream Moves Towards Pan-Canadian Coverage with Great Lakes on Board

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Carolyn DuBois lives in the Toronto area. She loves her home, and has a soft spot for the Humber River. As the Executive Director of the Water Program for the Gordon Foundation, she’s been a key player in the expansion of DataStream, a platform for sharing open data on freshwater health. I spoke to Carolyn just

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**Alt Text:** A barefoot adult and a toddler holding hands walk on a wet sandy beach. The toddler wears a navy top and pink shorts. Reflections of clouds and the shoreline are visible on the sand. **Translation:** Un adulte pieds nus et un tout-petit se tenant par la main marchent sur une plage de sable mouillé. Le tout-petit porte un haut bleu marine et un short rose. Des reflets de nuages et du rivage sont visibles sur le sable./Un adulte pieds nus et un tout-petit se tenant par la main marchent sur une plage de sable mouillé. Le tout-petit porte un haut bleu marine et un short rose. Des reflets de nuages et du rivage sont visibles sur le sable.

Our Living Waters & Canadian Freshwater Alliance: Shared Goals, Different Ways of Getting There

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The Canadian Freshwater Alliance and the Our Living Waters Network are sister projects with a shared goal: for all waters in Canada to be in good health. Besides this shared goal, we have other things in common: both initiatives are projects on MakeWay’s shared platform. Both projects work together quite closely. And, we have overlapping networks

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