Wednesday, October 28, 2026
According to public opinion research, 86 per cent of Canadians say water literacy for young Canadians should be a high priority, and yet, more than a third (37 per cent) of Canadians do not know where their own tapwater comes from, about half (51 per cent) do not feel well informed about the state of freshwater in Canada, and two in three (66 per cent) think our schools do not prepare young people well on water issues.
Enter the Water Literacy Project.
Now available for parents and teachers across the country, the Water Literacy Project puts free, fun, freshwater education activities into the hands of Canada’s next generation.
“Knowledge is power,” said Marie-Paule Jeansonne, executive director of the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation. “And in this day and age, when water security is becoming paramount, what Canada needs is a vastly better understanding of our nation’s water issues. With the Water Literacy Program, we are aiming to educate and inspire the next generation of water leaders at an early age. With that passion, and with future training, these young people can help Canada achieve our water security ambitions going forward.”
The Water Literacy Project is a unique, bilingual, multi-year education program for young people, focused directly on freshwater awareness. The Project’s activities connect students from kindergarten to grade 12 with the lakes and rivers in their own environments, encourage the real-world actions they can take to protect freshwater, and inspire them to consider careers in the water sector.
The Water Literacy Project is brought to life by AquaAction, in partnership with Canadian Geographic and the Canadian Museum of Nature. It is supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Climate Action and Awareness Fund, with matching funds from the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation. The Canada Water Agency and NRCAN also support this important project.
“Despite our reputation for freshwater abundance, Canada faces growing water security challenges, and public opinion research shows 51 per cent of Canadians still lack a basic understanding of water issues. Closing that knowledge gap can help strengthen Canada’s water awareness, inspire impactful actions and support future careers in the water sector,” said Soula Chronopoulos, president, AquaAction
Featured image: (AquaAction)
