Program

Program at a Glance

Download the full conference program (pdf)

Many speaker presentations are available as PDF files. Please click on the title of a speaker’s talk to download his or her presentation. Please note that the copyright for these presentations belongs to the presenter.

Videos of the plenary sessions are also available.

Mon., Feb. 28
	Conference Welcome Event
5:00 to 8:00	**Networking Reception with dinner stations (sponsored by RBC Blue Water Project)** With remarks from — Dr. Mark Servos, Scientific Director, Canadian Water Network Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Sandra Odendahl, Director, Corporate Environmental Affairs, RBC — RBC Blue Water Project Dr. Thomas Axworthy, CEO, Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation — Blue Economy Initiative Launch

Tue., Mar. 1
	Identifying Important Decision Needs for Water Management
7:15 to 8:15	Breakfast
8:15 to 9:00	Opening Ceremonies
9:00 to noon (coffee break from 10:45 to 11:15)	*Opening Plenary Panel: Global Water Challenges and Trends* Chair — Dr. Graham Daborn, Professor Emeritus, Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, Acadia University Dr. Zafar Adeel, Chair, UN Water The emerging global water crises — Canada as a champion? Dr. Rita Colwell, 2010 Stockholm Water Prize Winner Climate, oceans and human health: Lessons from cholera Nicholas Parker, CEO, Cleantech Group The changing nature of the global environmental market
Noon to 1:30	Lunch (provided)
1:30 to 5:00	Concurrent Sessions
	Session 1 Multiple Demands of Regional Water Resource Use, Protection and Planning Chair — Dr. Kelly Munkittrick, Canada Research Chair in Ecosystem Health Assessment and Associate Director, Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick Invited speakers will identify the key challenges to the management of regional systems. Session Speakers Dr. Cathy Reidy Liermann Research Associate, University of Washington, Seattle Global threats to human water security and river biodiversity Dr. Dave Sauchyn Department of Geography, University of Regina Water management in the western interior: Emerging challenges imposed by a changing climate Dr. Hank Venema Director, Water Innovation Centre and Sustainable Natural Resources Management Program, International Institute for Sustainable Development The watershed of the future: Reducing Lake Winnipeg nutrient loads through clean technology innovation Dr. Steve Hrudey Professor Emeritus, Analytical and Environmental Toxicology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta Distinguishing evidence from advocacy: The RSC Expert Panel on Environmental and Health Impacts of Canada’s Oil Sands Industry Ian Smith Director, Drinking Water Program Management Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment A watershed-based construct to protect key drinking water supplies in Ontario Dr. Roland Cormier Director, Oceans and Habitat, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Risk analysis approach to planning and management for cumulative effects	Session 2 Prioritizing Needs and Actions in the Operation of Urban Water Systems Chair — Dr. Grahame Farquhar, Senior Advisor, Canadian Water Network Invited speakers will highlight the key challenges to the operation of municipal and urban water systems. Session Speakers Carl Yates General Manager, Halifax Regional Water Commission In our sight and on our minds Ian Douglas Water Quality Engineer, Drinking Water Services, City of Ottawa Challenges and ideas for managing risk and uncertainty in drinking water Dr. Xing-Fang Li Analytical and Environmental Toxicology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta Prioritizing research and monitoring of disinfection byproducts in drinking water Dr. Dan Woltering Director of Research, Water Environment Research Foundation, USA WERF’s research priorities, plans and outcomes for urban wastewater Dr. Diane Dupont Professor, Department of Economics, Brock University Thirsting for knowledge: An economist’s view on challenges and opportunities for municipal/urban water systems	Session 3 Workshop: The Future Management of Small and Remote Water Systems — Part 1 Workshop Facilitator — Dr. Victoria Edge, Senior Epidemiologist, Office of Public Health Practice, Public Health Agency of Canada Using stories to lift us beyond the present and plan for positive futures. The workshop will take an innovative and thought-provoking approach to consider small and more remote systems, including the challenges for Aboriginal communities. Using some of the constructs of scenario analysis, this session hopes to encourage and inspire people from diverse backgrounds to come together to create evidence-based stories that will define trends, drivers, uncertainties and wild cards for envisioning small systems in Canada 15–25 years from now. Storytellers, bright minds and out-of-the-box thinkers are encouraged to attend. Merrell-Ann Phare Executive Director and Legal Counsel, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources Indigenous peoples: Water rights towards a new water future Simon Sihota Regional Manager, Environmental Public Health Services, Alberta Region, FNIHB, Health Canada Drinking water: Are we asking the right questions?
5:00 to 7:00	Networking Poster Session

Wed., Mar. 2
	Responding through Innovation in Water Governance, Technology and Infrastructure
7:15 to 8:15	Breakfast
8:15 to 10:00	*Morning Plenary: What Does Water Innovation Look Like?* Chair — Dr. Linda Gowman, Chief Technology Officer, Trojan Technologies Hon. Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation Opening remarks Greg Koch, Director, Global Water Stewardship, The Coca Cola Company Water stewardship at The Coca-Cola Company: Reduce, recycle, replenish Ooi Kian Eng, Director, Water Reclamation Network, Public Utilities Board, Singapore Innovations in response to Singapore’s water needs
10:00 to 10:30	Coffee break
10:30 to 12:15	Concurrent Sessions: Responding to the Opportunities to Address…
	Session 1 Regional Resource Planning, Demands and Protection — Part 1 Chair — Dr. Dan Wicklum, Director General, Water Science and Technology, Environment Canada Invited speakers will highlight innovations and opportunities to address the key challenges in the management of regional systems. Session Speakers Ken Matthews Former CEO, National Water Commission, Australia Australia’s experiences in regional water planning in a changing climate Émilie Lagacé Environmental Strategy and Programs Officer, National Capital Commission Working together on water: Lessons from the EU Water Framework Directive Steve Bay Aquatic Toxicologist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project The development of cooperative long-term regional monitoring programs in Southern California	Session 2 Management and Operation of Urban Water Systems — Part 1 Chair — Dixon Weir, General Manager, Environmental Services, City of Ottawa Invited speakers will highlight innovations and opportunities to address the key challenges in the management of municipal and urban water systems. Session Speakers Dr. Maggie Lawton Manager, Water Policy, Auckland Council, New Zealand Managing Auckland’s water system — Challenges and opportunities in a South Pacific island country Dr. Nick Ashbolt Senior Research Microbiologist, US EPA Water futures: The imperative for change in urban water management Robert Tremblay Director of Research, Insurance Bureau of Canada IBC storm and sanitary infrastructure risk assessment tool: Combining current and future risks profiles for planning purposes	Session 3 Workshop: The Future Management of Small and Remote Water Systems — Part 2 Workshop Facilitator — Dr. Victoria Edge, Senior Epidemiologist, Office of Public Health Practice, Public Health Agency of Canada The workshop will recap observations from the previous afternoon’s session and the group will address some of the key strategic opportunities to move forward as next steps.
12:15 to 1:30	Lunch (provided)
1:30 to 5:00	Concurrent Sessions (continued)
	Session 1 Regional Resource Planning, Demands and Protection — Part 2 Chair — Dr. Richard Butts, Director General, Agri-Environmental Knowledge, Innovation and Technology Directorate, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Continuing from the morning session, invited speakers will highlight innovations and opportunities to address the key challenges in the management of regional systems. Session Speakers Dr. Rob de Loë Associate Dean, Research, Professor and University Research Chair, Water Policy and Governance, University of Waterloo Regional approaches to source protection governance Dr. Monique Dubé Adjunct Professor, Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick; Environmental Risk Management Lead – Water, Sustainability Division, Total E&P Canada Ltd. Development of a unified framework and database for cumulative effects assessment Dr. Emma Norman Program on Water Governance, University of British Columbia Water security assessment and community governance Dr. Anna Warwick Sears Executive Director, Okanagan Basin Water Board Planning ahead for climate change and rapid population growth — trials and innovations in the Okanagan Dr. David Rudolph Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo Balancing viable agriculture and environmental protection Dr. Chris Le Canada Research Chair in Bioanalytical Technology and Environmental Health, University of Alberta Water arsenic: Challenges and opportunities Dr. Ed Sudicky Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo Impact of climate change on Canada’s surface and subsurface water resources: An integrated modelling approach	Session 2 Management and Operation of Urban Water Systems — Part 2 Chair — Michael D’Andrea, Director of Water Infrastructure Management, Toronto Water Continuing from the morning session, invited speakers will highlight innovations and opportunities to address the key challenges in the management of municipal and urban water systems. Session Speakers Jack Hull General Manager, Integrated Water Services, Capital Region District, Victoria, BC Wastewater as a resource — Greater Victoria’s experience Dr. Judy Isaac-Renton Director, Laboratory Services, BC Centre for Disease Control Future tools for water quality assessment: Is genomics one? Dr. Pierre Payment Professor, INRS The CWN-QMRA project: Microbial risk analysis to support decision-making to protect public health Dr. Michèle Prévost NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution, Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal Protecting Canadian children from lead exposure: The role of water Dr. Wayne Parker / Dr. Chris Metcalfe Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo / Director, Institute for Watershed Science, Trent University Contaminants of emerging concern in domestic wastewater: Tracking their removal in treatment plants and their impacts downstream of wastewater discharges Dr. Hans Schreier Professor Emeritus, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia Innovations in urban water management	Session 3 Special Session: Water–Energy Nexus Chair — Dr. Bob Page, TransAlta Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability, University of Calgary This special session will highlight activities that address the water–energy nexus. Talks will highlight issues related to the twinned challenge of water and energy demand management and efficiency, as well as the impacts on water resources of energy generation. Session Speakers Dr. Bryan Karney Associate Dean, Cross-Disciplinary Programs, University of Toronto A “SWOT” overview of the water–energy nexus David Greenall Ottawa Practice Leader, Sustainability and Climate Change Practice, Deloitte Water disclosure 101 Dr. George Dixon Vice-President, University Research, University of Waterloo Water and sand in northern Alberta Tim Newton Board Member, Western Electricity Coordinating Council Hydro (nexus) power in the Pacific Northwest Dr. Graham Daborn Professor Emeritus, Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, Acadia University Environmental trade-offs in water and energy: The hydrokinetic option
5:00 to 6:30	Networking Poster Session
7:00 to 10:00	Conference Banquet Hon. Sandra Pupatello, Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Opening remarks Banquet Speaker — Charles Fishman, author of The Big Thirst

Thu., Mar. 3
	Innovating in Canada for Needs at Home and Abroad
7:30 to 8:30	Breakfast
8:30 to 10:00	Morning Plenary — Canada’s Capacity for Leading Water Innovation Chair — Rick Findlay, Board Vice-Chair, Canadian Water Network Dr. Gilles Patry, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation The drive for Canadian innovation in water research David Henderson, Managing Director, XPV Capital Corporation Achieving a triple bottom line benefit for Canada through water technology
10:00 to 10:30	Coffee break
10:30 to 12:00	Futures Panel Dialogue on Water Opportunities Join our panelists and participants for a lively discussion with insights and predictions on what the water world will look like in 2035 and how we might collectively develop our present opportunities to be ready! Dr. Margaret Catley-Carlson, Vice Chair, World Economic Forum, Global Agenda Council on Water Security Dr. Bob Page, TransAlta Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability, University of Calgary Jean-François Barsoum, Senior Managing Consultant and Practice Leader, Green + Innovation Strategies, IBM Dr. Hans Schreier, Professor Emeritus, Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia
12:00 to 1:30	Lunch with closing address With remarks from the Hon. Peter Kent, Federal Minister of the Environment Closing address from the Canadian Water Network

Program

Program at a Glance

Mon., Feb. 28

Conference Welcome Event

Tue., Mar. 1

Identifying Important Decision Needs for Water Management

Concurrent Sessions

Session 1

Session Speakers

Session 2

Session Speakers

Session 3

Wed., Mar. 2

Responding through Innovation in Water Governance, Technology and Infrastructure

Concurrent Sessions: Responding to the Opportunities to Address…

Session 1

Session Speakers

Session 2

Session Speakers

Session 3

Concurrent Sessions (continued)

Session 1

Session Speakers

Session 2

Session Speakers

Session 3

Session Speakers

Conference Banquet

Thu., Mar. 3

Innovating in Canada for Needs at Home and Abroad