By Todd Latham

There are many conversations about oil prices, world energy needs and climate change in the mainstream media, but outside of the water-starved areas of the world, there is very little discussion about water.

The 2014 Canadian Water Summit featured world renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky as the luncheon keynote speaker. Mr Burtynsky spoke about his haunting images of water scarcity and impacts around the globe as well as his movie, Watermark, which was released early in 2014.

At the 2014 Canadian Water Summit in Toronto last June one of the most popular sessions was “Putting Water on Page One”.

This panel discussion was moderated by Doug Saunders of the Globe & Mail and included Lynn Patterson of RBC who talked about the annual RBC Water Attitudes Survey, Krystyn Tully of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper who spoke on the use of social media for water awareness.

Canadian TV stars, Alex and Tyler Mifflin (the Water Brothers) spoke about their television show on water issues and how it is making an impact with youth and public audiences around the world.

I mention this session in particular because this unique panel captured the “energy of water” for public consumption.  We are helping turn on the taps, so to speak, for public support and political interest and action on water in Canada. That ‘flow’ continues in Vancouver this June.

[stextbox id=”custom” float=”true” align=”right” width=”300″ bcolor=”d2d0d1″ bgcolor=”dbdbdb” image=”null”]“The Energy of Water theme for the 2015 Canadian Water Summit is more than the water/energy nexus conversation – it’s about water professionals celebrating the positives and opportunity that water can bring to Canada”
–  Todd Latham, Director of the Canadian Water Summit 2015 in Vancouver – June 25.[/stextbox]

At the 6th annual Canadian Water Summit in Vancouver, BC on June 25, we will be exploring the many nexus opportunities we have with water.

There is the social nexus, as reflected in how we talk about water in the public domain (we are 70% water, after all) and there is the energy nexus, where we look at the energy footprint of water and how latent energy in water (movement and heat) can be captured for our use.

There are other opportunities as well, including at the food and beverage nexus where conservation and reuse activities can reduce manufacturing costs and prices for consumers of common goods that contain or require water to produce.

Finally, we will explore the intersection of water and land use / fisheries. What are the best practices for watershed management, agricultural impact and fishery rights and obligations?

Margaret Catley-Carlson, Patron of the Global Water Partnership

The national water event will be hosted by media personality Fred Keating and chaired by Margaret Catley-Carlson, Patron of the Global Water Partnership (GWP).

The program will offer expert plenary sessions and panel presentations filled with case studies, real world projects and positive examples of these nexus opportunities which benefit government, industry and first nations.

BC Minister of the Environment, Mary Polak will deliver a key note address and join a host of other water experts and influencers to inspire collaboration and seize advantages of the “energy of water” in Canada.  Led by an advisory committee of water industry leaders (click here), the Summit program is taking shape.

If you want to explore the energy of water and learn more about how you and your organization intersect with water, I invite you to join the conversation.   For more details visit www.watersummit.ca