Evolution
In late 2024, a group of nonprofit organizations working on water priorities in Alberta approached Alberta Ecotrust Foundation with a hope-filled request: for Alberta Ecotrust to convene and lead a province-wide Alberta Water Coalition.* The founding advisory committee members – Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS Canada), the International Institute for Sustainable Development, and the Oldman Watershed Council – recognized a real need in the province for:
- a united voice for water,
- coordinated action on shared water priorities,
- stronger government relations (GR) and GR capacity building in the water space,
- and research into a potential water fund.
They also recognized how Alberta Ecotrust’s vision and mission could directly address these needs. From there, conversations began around working toward the establishment of a collaborative effort with a flexible structure designed to balance strategic leadership and incorporate diverse voices and broad participation. The intent is to create a space where members can engage at a level that reflects their expertise, interests, and capacity while contributing to the coalition’s shared vision and mission in a “coalition of the willing.” Participation in government engagement will remain at the discretion of the individual organizations. Importantly, the coalition is not designed to take on individual issues — that vital work remains with other organizations. Instead, the coalition’s role is being shaped to focus on the systems that influence watershed security in Alberta, building sustainable frameworks where no one else is currently working.
My name is Breanna Sayles, and I am the Water Coalition Program Specialist with Alberta Ecotrust Foundation. With a background in conservation, aquatic ecology, and Indigenous engagement, I completed my BSc and MSc at the University of Calgary and have worked with communities affected by downstream wastewater effluent in the Bow River. I now see my role supporting the Alberta Water Coalition as a natural fit, bringing people together to understand water-related concerns in Alberta and working collaboratively to find solutions.
Photo credit: Aphra Sutherland (2024)
Alberta Ecotrust Foundation: Who We Are
Vision: An Alberta where people and nature thrive
Mission: We realize our vision by recognizing gaps, mobilizing resources, investing in our communities, creating partnerships, and building capacity across sectors.
Alberta Water Coalition: Who We Are
Vision: A trusted coalition advancing watershed security in Alberta by aligning science, policy, and people—amplifying shared efforts and unlocking lasting investment for future generations.
Mission: We bring together Alberta’s water and nature-based solutions community to unlock stronger long-term investments, effective policy, and amplify collective action—advancing watershed security, climate resilience, and a renewed relationship with water alongside land stewards, rights-holders, and decision-makers.
Short Term Priorities
As conversations about a coalition began, many shared a strong concern about the future of funding for nature-based solutions through the Government of Alberta’s Watershed Resiliency and Restoration Program (WRRP). Early discussions focused on how a coalition could help strengthen and grow this important program. Since then, efforts are working to ensure that the WRRP can remain active and visible by raising awareness about its value and highlighting the successes it has already delivered across Alberta. Recently, the province confirmed $3.5 million in WRRP funding, consistent with last year’s allocation – a positive sign for continued support for watershed resilience. The coalition applauds the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas for this commitment and will continue to engage with the Government of Alberta on this file.
Additionally, the coalition is also working to deliver government relations (GR) capacity building for organizations working on water priorities in Alberta. At Alberta Ecotrust’s May Environmental Gathering, they offered a GR session, and are planning to offer two more follow up sessions this fall, tailored to the Alberta political landscape.
Long Term Vision
As the coalition’s vision, goals, and structure continue to solidify, there is a sense of momentum as the message of nonpartisanship and credibility is being recognized by senior provincial officials within the Government of Alberta.
Looking to the future, the coalition is discussing a potential research project on a sustainable watershed security funding model for Alberta. This might include an inventory of other regional funding models across the country, as well as a gaps and opportunities analysis within the province. Some of the impetus for this thinking came from conversations with next door neighbours who lead the B.C. Watershed Security Coalition, especially through exploring successes and challenges in growing B.C.’s own sustainable Watershed Security Fund.
In addition to working on an Alberta watershed security funding model, the coalition also hopes to contribute to conversations on geographically equitable and sustainable federal watershed security funding. (For more information on current federal water advocacy efforts, refer to the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters website.)
Stay tuned for the official launch of the Alberta Water Coalition’s website this fall and information on how to:
- become a member,
- engage in coalition actions,
- and access coalition offerings like provincial GR training.
Our Living Waters will publicize the coalition’s official launch in late 2025, but in the meantime, if you have questions, feel free to reach out to Breanna Sayles, Water Coalition Program Specialist at Alberta Ecotrust.
Alberta Ecotrust Foundation would like to thank our main funders of this work, Calgary Foundation and Small Change Fund.
*Alberta Water Coalition is a working title, the official name is yet to be confirmed.
About Rebekah Kipp
Network Communications Lead, Our Living Waters: mother, freshwater champion, beachcomber, and origami enthusiast
