January 9 2024 OLW e-newsletter

OLW NEW YEAR’S UPDATES

It’s time to say bon voyage 👋🏻 to Taylor Wilkes, Our Living Waters’ Network Facilitation Lead since 2019! We’re celebrating her time at OLW with a story, and want to say: thank you, Taylor, for your embodied, intuitive approach to facilitation and all things OLW.

Stay tuned… we’ll be hiring soon!

The entire Shared Measurement System is now available in French, including all 24 impact measure pages. Haven’t thought about our Network’s common agenda in a while? Dive back in!

RIGHT RELATIONS

	Learn how new federal water legislation aims to “do better on Indigenous rights” and “set drinking water standards in First Nations”.
	Check out Water Carriers, an initiative of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, and explore their recent resources and engagement activities.
	On the international stage, watch Indigenous water protectors weigh in on climate change solutions at COP28 and take a look at recordings and slides from the Trinational Forum on Indigenous Approaches to Freshwater Management in North America.

WINDOW ON WATER POLICY & GOVERNANCE

	On Nov. 30 2023, the Canada Water Agency Act was tabled in Part 5 of Bill C-59. Last fall, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development held ten meetings that explored freshwater and received 20 briefs on the topic from diverse organizations and individuals. In December, the Forum for Leadership on Water co-produced a report on “The Future of Freshwater in Canada” with Massey College and the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.
	At COP28, the UN highlighted how “Water IS the Climate Challenge”, while 37 countries joined the Freshwater Challenge to restore and protect freshwater ecosystems.
	Alberta Wilderness Association is 1) asking if the Alberta Energy Regulator needs to be reformed or revolutionized amid recent mishandling of an oil sands wastewater leak (check out page 18) and 2) calling attention to the large quantity of freshwater used by oil companies in the province. Oldman Watershed Council has created an ABWater page to monitor the ongoing drought situation in Alberta. A new United Nations University Hub focused on water is opening in Alberta.

EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

Building Resiliency to Multi-Year Drought in Alberta workshop, co-hosted by multiple Alberta Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils, Grande Prairie AB, Jan. 31
‘Le droit de l’eau au Québec‘ (Quebec Water Law & Rights, in French) webinar, CentrEau, Feb. 1
Virtual Annual Meeting, Atlantic Water Network, Feb. 7-8
Pre-budget consultations questionnaire, federal Department of Finance, deadline Feb. 9
Stakeholder and partner input questionnaire on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Employment and Social Development Canada, deadline Feb. 29
New websites: DataStream & Experimental Lakes Area
New toolbox: virtual freshwater resources (in French), Regroupement des associations pour la protection de l’environnement des lacs et des bassins versants
New name & identity: Urban Ecology Centre (in French)

JOBS & GRANTS

Funding to protect freshwater ecosystems, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Project Manager – Youth Sector position, International Secretariat for Water
Environmental Project Manager positions (in French), Corporation du bassin de la Jacques-Cartier

Wishing you hope-filled renewal for 2024,

Rebekah
Network Communications Lead
Our Living Waters

PS: Check out this photo of Network members in zany pipe cleaner glasses at a lil’ OLW virtual holiday party last December!