Ready, Set, Network!

Downstream brings current and future water professionals together to connect, bridge the skills gap, and drive clean water solutions for Canadians.
Event in April
Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant, Toronto
9 Leslie St, Toronto, ON M4M 3M9
April 8, 2025
2:30 PM - 5:30 PM (EST)
Special opportunity to tour Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, one of Canada’s largest and oldest facilities, located in Toronto’s east end.
Event in April
Event Location
Ashbridges Bay, Toronto
April 8, 2025
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How does Downstream work?
Early career professionals and students are invited by program directors and industry organizations in partnership with Water Canada magazine to attend a 2-3 hour event that provides the opportunity to learn from and network with experts representing different streams of Canada’s water sector. The event features micro-sessions: roundtable discussions led by experienced water professionals, where students participate in focused conversations addressing three key questions related to the table’s specific topic:
- What are the trends in this stream?
- What are the challenges?
- What are the opportunities for early career professionals?
Students cycle from table to table, engaging with experts from various sectors, asking questions about career opportunities, and building connections to help launch their careers.
How do students benefit from Downstream?
- Students come away with key contacts and information that provides direction and opportunities for career growth
- A better understanding of potential career paths that are available to them
- Opportunity to connect with other early career professionals
How do industry professionals benefit from Downstream?
- Industry professionals (AKA “experts”) get early access to emerging talent, helping to identify and recruit top candidates.
- Serving as mentors enhances experts’ own leadership and communication skills while reinforcing commitment to supporting the industry’s growth.
- Supporting and engaging with students aligns with organizational goals related to social responsibility, addressing the “S” in ESG by investing in community and workforce development.






Partners
Thank You to our Downstream Partners!
Partner with Downstream to help close the skills gap!
Sponsoring Downstream is more than just an investment—it’s an opportunity to drive real change in Canada’s water sector. As a sponsor, you’ll take action to help close the skills gap while positioning your organization as a changemaker across Water Canada’s print, digital, and experiential platforms.
- Gain early access to Canada’s top emerging talent and insights into attracting and retaining early career professionals.
- Join a vibrant community of post-secondary institutions, private sector businesses, industry associations, and government initiatives, all working together to shape the future of water.
- Plus, it’s a meaningful ESG investment, allowing you to demonstrate your social commitment to the Canadian water industry while addressing the “S” in your ESG responsibilities.
For more information on sponsoring Downstream, contact Vanessa Watson at [email protected]
Experts Directory
Downstream events thrive thanks to our expert volunteers. These experienced water industry professionals share valuable insights into diverse roles across the sector, from drinking water and wastewater to stormwater, conservation, and beyond. Representing municipalities, Indigenous communities, clean tech, academia, consulting, and more, they help participants identify opportunities, offer tailored advice, and inspire meaningful connections.
Meet the experts by browsing our Experts Directory.

Linda Li
Engineering Project Manager, Associate,
Dillon Consulting
Linda is an Environmental Engineer heavily involved in complex and multidisciplinary projects in both the public and private sectors. In recent years, Linda’s work has focused on supporting the pharmaceutical industry with environmental management and infrastructure construction. Linda has been a dedicated committee member with several Canadian and international water associations.

Kiersten Runte
BFP Communications Coordinator,
SOI Foundation / Blue Future Pathways
Kiersten Runte is a marine researcher and science communicator, working with the Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) Program led by the Students On Ice Foundation as a BFP Communications Coordinator. With passion for science communication and storytelling, and over 5 years experience working in Canada’s ocean innovation and research space, they’ve fostered skills in project management, graphic design, photography, videography, technical writing, workshop development, science education and outreach. Kiersten’s background in marine mammal acoustics led them to investigate a mystery beaked whale signal, where a passion for creating marine educational programming for youth and communicating science to non-science audiences was kindled. They completed the Dalhousie University’s Indigenous studies certificate program, located on the unceded territory of Mi’kma’ki people. They are also an alum of BFP’s first cohort of interns and hopped aboard the first dedicated BFP expedition back in 2023.

Anna Scheili
Project Manager and Consultant,
WaterShed Monitoring
With a chemical engineering diploma and a PhD in water management, Anna Scheili has a profile integrating know-how from the fields of research, public and private sectors. During her professional activities she gained more than fifteen years of experience in the water sector with increased expertise in data acquisition, management and exploitation. WaterShed Monitoring benefits from her strong project management skills through multiple major projects as source vulnerability analysis or development of decision-making tools.

Stephen Braun
Principal Engineer,
Vanguard Water
Stephen Braun has over 30 years of water resources experience in stormwater quality, urban drainage, riverine flooding, stream restoration, civil design, environmental assessment, and multi-disciplinary studies. Stephen is a senior water resources engineer at Matrix Solutions Inc. and is currently President of the Canadian Water Resources Association. He is also a founding partner of CB Shield Inc. and co-inventor of several commercially available stormwater treatment devices.

Geoffrey Gunn
Senior Analyst,
Canada Water Agency
Geoffrey Gunn is a Senior Analyst working in the Canada Water Agency’s Data Office. A geographer by training, Geoff has worked at the interface of science and policy for over a decade from the Canadian Prairies to the high Arctic. Before joining the Canada Water Agency, he’s had roles at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the International Institute for Sustainable Development and IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, and the University of Manitoba’s Centre for Earth Observation Science.
Interested in becoming an expert? Contact Corinne Lynds at [email protected]
Get Involved
Getting involved with Downstream is a truly rewarding experience. By paying it forward to the next generation, you’ll help shape the future of Canada’s water sector. Whether you’re recruiting the brightest minds or simply sharing your journey, spending time with these future leaders is both energizing and impactful. Experts and students alike leave inspired and motivated, discovering new opportunities to collaborate and drive meaningful change.
There are four ways you can get involved with Downstream:
- Register as a student or early career professional and attend an Upcoming Event (link).
- Volunteer as an industry expert.
- Host a Downstream event on your campus or at an industry conference.
- Partner with us as a sponsor to drive change in Canada’s water sector by closing the skills gap, accessing top emerging talent, and positioning your organization as a leader committed to shaping the future of water.
Past Events
Contact Us
Volunteer as an expert: [email protected]
Sponsor Downstream: [email protected]
Host an event: [email protected]