Water Haller: Downstream and other support for Young Professionals
Print this Article | Send to Colleague
We know that the CWWA is not really known for its work with young water professionals, but we really do play a strong supporting role.
First, we always say that "if” you have to choose between your provincial/regional association or CWWA (your national association), you have to choose your local first. You start with your individual membership in WEF and/or AWWA where you build your local/regional network, understand your provincial/territorial legislation and gain the specific training and educational hours you require. Each of the regional associations across Canada have much longer histories than CWWA and they all have active committees for young professionals that provide unique networking and mentoring activities.
CWWA was formed to address national legislation and pan-Canada issues, so we have always drifted to the more seasoned and senior management sector of our industry, but even that demographic is getting younger (or I’m just getting older). Our national conference program has been designed and curated as Canada’s water management conference. But through our partnership with Water Canada magazine, we have been able to facilitate the popular Downstream program at our events. In Halifax last year, and in Ottawa this past June, we ended our events with a half day Downstream session – inviting young professionals and students from the local region. The idea is to introduce these youth to the wide range of topics and issues in our water/wastewater industry. Water Canada takes advantage of the varied experts at our events and invites several to lead topic discussions at several round tables. The youth then rotate through the experts for a chance to learn about water treatment, source protection, wastewater, storm water and more. I’ve also been fortunate to get both of my children to participate – and it worked! They have both joined the environmental sector for studies. We will host another Downstream program in Niagara Falls on November 15 as the last session of the National Water & Wastewater Conference. Let us know if you have interested students or young professionals in the southern Ontario area.
CWWA is also Canada’s representative to the International Water Association (IWA) which connects us to their Young Water Professionals program (IWA-YWP). I think our Canadian Chapter is the most active for IWA and we have been proud to support three of their national and international events. They will play a very large part in organizing the World Water Congress next August in Toronto with a solid YWP program including a fun "Water Camp."
CWWA contributes annually to the Stockholm Junior Water Prize that supports high school science fairs and sends one Canadian entry to Stockholm each year for the international competition. Canada has won a few times! We have also participated in a number of "hack-a-thon” events serving as mentors. A new program is being developed with the National Science Museum/Ingenium Centre in Ottawa as part of an exciting new exhibit on Shit/Merde!” (seriously) and CWWA has been approached to actively participate…so of course the answer was YES!
The National is in two weeks! It’s never too late to register!!
Robert
Niagara is for Lovers…of water!
