FINAL EVENT Program
Water Reuse and Climate Resiliency in Municipalities: An Engaged Event to Share Insights and Experiences, Generate Ideas for Action, and Network
Thursday, October 24
Virtual event hosted by the Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health in partnership with Alberta Innovates, Alberta Municipalities, and the City of Calgary.
| 8:30 a.m. |
Welcome, Land Acknowledgment, Event Overview, and Housekeeping Dr. Candace Nykiforuk, Scientific Director, Centre for Healthy Communities and Professor, School of Public Health Welcome and Indigenous Introduction to Water Dr. Hughie Jones, Director, Waka Mne Science & Culture Initiative Bernice Alexis, ANSN Elder & Knowledge Holder |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Keynote Presentation: Exploring the Drivers and Impediments to Water Reuse Dr. Norman Neumann, Professor, School of Public Health and Centre for Healthy Communities Scientist [time for questions from audience] |
| 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:15 a.m. | Community Marketplace Conversations (detailed below) |
| 11:30 a.m. | Break |
| Noon |
Panel Discussion: Taking Action on Water Reuse and Climate Resiliency Pamela Duncan, Team Lead, Environmental Strategy, Climate & Environment, Planning Development Services, The City of Calgary Dr. Mohamed Gamal El-Din, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable and Resilient Wastewater Treatment for Reuse, NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair in Oil Sands Tailings Water Treatment, and Director of Water Research Centre at the University of Alberta Rob Hough, Project Manager, WaterSMART Solutions Ltd. Susan Satterthwaite, Water Policy Specialist, Water and Circular Economy, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas Bert van Duin, Drainage Technical Lead, The City of Calgary Ralph Makokis, COE and Founder, Indigenous Skilled Trades Alliance Moderator - Dr. Norman Neumann, Professor, School of Public Health and Centre for Healthy Communities Scientist [time for questions from the audience] |
| 1:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks |
About the Community Marketplace Conversations
- Opportunity for smaller group discussions and networking on the sub-topics related to the Centre for Healthy Communities Innovation Forum theme of water reuse and climate resiliency (see details below)
- Conversations are meant to spark insights, ideas, networking, and actions about the sub-topic
- Participants can choose which topic conversations they would like to join and will be able to move between the conversation topics
- Participants are strongly encouraged to come prepared to engage in the Community Marketplace Conversations
- A facilitator will be present in each community marketplace conversation to briefly introduce the topic and get the conversation started
Community Marketplace Conversation Topics
The Community Marketplace Conversations will focus on the drivers and impediments to water reuse introduced in Dr. Neumann's keynote presentation. Specifically, the following topics will be explored in the smaller group conversations.
Policy/Legal/Institutional/Economic: In this conversation, participants will share their experiences, successes, or challenges with the strategies, guidelines, legislation, regulations, or resource allocations related to water use, irrigation, and/or reuse. For example, this can include water reuse policies, sustainability or resilience policies, water rights, the broader regulatory environment, water governance, political will, or government support. In addition, participants will share their experiences, successes, or challenges related to government subsidies, price rebates, tax incentives, investment, or other economic factors related to water reuse. This may include, for example, residential cost savings or willingness to pay.
- Facilitated by: Karah Harvey, Public Health Inspector III, Healthy Physical Environments, Safe and Healthy Environments, Alberta Health Services and Vic Adamowicz, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Alberta
Social: In this conversation, participants will share their experiences, successes, or challenges related to social values and public perceptions of water reuse. For example, this could include the public’s water security concerns, perceived water scarcity, the need for reclaimed/recycled water, public education, public trust, or acceptance of water reuse policies or programs.
- Facilitated by: Tanya Thorn, Mayor of the Town of Okotoks (representing Alberta Municipalities)
Technical: In this conversation, participants will share their experiences, successes, or challenges related to technology in the industry, technological innovation or capability, as related to the cost and quality of water treatment, the adoption of water reuse, or water system monitoring.
- Facilitated by: Dr. Norman Neumann, Professor, School of Public Health and Centre for Healthy Communities Scientist
Environmental: In this conversation, participants will share their experiences, successes, or challenges related to natural resources, pollution, climate conditions or climate change as they relate to water use and reuse. This may include issues such as increasing demand for water, lack of alternative sources, ecological protection, irrigation, extreme weather emergencies or natural disasters, or factors related to the natural or built (urban) landscape.
- Facilitated by: Mark Donner, Director, Water Innovation Program, Alberta Innovates
Come prepared to engage in visionary conversations, share your experiences, and meet others working on these topics. Together, we will spark insights, ideas, and actions.