Wednesday, October 21, 2026
The International Water Association (IWA) announced that the IWA Young Water Professionals Canada Chapter has been recognised as the 2026 IWA YWP Chapter of the Year.
The recognition was announced during the 8th IWA Emerging Water Leaders Forum, held on 6 October 2026 as part of the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland.
Launched by IWA in 2024, the Chapter of the Year initiative recognises and celebrates the outstanding contributions of IWA Young Water Professionals (YWP) Country Chapters worldwide. The annual evaluation considers the quality and completeness of chapters’ yearly reports, as well as innovation, collaboration, community impact, communication, leadership development and alignment with IWA’s Strategic Goals.
Following a comprehensive assessment of the activities delivered during 2025, the Canada Chapter stood out for its strong national programming, international collaboration, measurable reach, leadership development, inclusive communications and effective engagement with partners across the water sector.
“Having been part of IWA YWP Canada for nearly five years in different roles, it means a lot to see the Chapter receive this recognition,” said Hadi Mokarizadeh, Chair, IWA YWP Canada. “When I look back at the past six years, it is amazing to see how all the small steps, ideas, and efforts from so many people have brought us to where we are today. At the heart of our work has always been bringing young water professionals together and creating opportunities for them to connect, learn, and lead. This recognition belongs to all the volunteers and leaders who have contributed along the way. It motivates us to keep building a stronger and more connected YWP community, while creating more meaningful and impactful opportunities at both the national and global levels.”
Connecting young water professionals across Canada
Canada’s geographic scale, linguistic diversity and varied regional water challenges create both opportunities and barriers for collaboration. In response, IWA YWP Canada has developed a national platform connecting students, researchers and early-career professionals working across drinking water, wastewater, water resources, environmental engineering, policy and innovation.
The Chapter’s network includes more than 500 young water professionals, supported by regional representation across Eastern, Western, Central, Atlantic and Pacific Canada. Its activities seek to bridge regional and disciplinary boundaries while creating opportunities for professional development, leadership and knowledge exchange.
The Chapter’s work is informed by the complex water challenges facing Canada, including climate-related flooding, glacier loss, pressure on freshwater ecosystems, ageing infrastructure, emerging contaminants and inequalities in access to safe water and sanitation. By connecting young professionals across sectors and regions, the Chapter is helping prepare a skilled and collaborative workforce capable of responding to these challenges.
A flagship national conference
A major achievement in 2025 was the organisation of the 3rd IWA YWP Canada Conference, held from 18 to 20 June at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
Under the theme “Leading from the Future,” the conference provided a platform for young professionals and students to present their work, develop professional skills and connect with colleagues from across Canada and internationally. Its programme included technical sessions, poster competitions, workshops and networking opportunities, as well as a dedicated session involving Young Water Professionals from Latin America.
The conference also included a workshop on navigating career growth in the water industry, offering perspectives from both early-career and senior water professionals. Discussions explored the transition from academia to industry, early-career challenges, technical and interpersonal skills, professional development and pathways into leadership.
Alongside the conference, the Chapter hosted its second International Hackathon in a hybrid format. Five IWA YWP Chapters participated as finalists, demonstrating how practical challenges can encourage innovation, teamwork and international knowledge exchange among emerging water professionals.
Knowledge exchange across Canada
Beyond its flagship conference, IWA YWP Canada delivered and supported more than ten activities during 2025.
These included the 60th Central Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research at Toronto Metropolitan University, the 12th Western Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research at the University of Alberta and the 38th Eastern Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research at Concordia University.
The Chapter also supported regional networking and professional engagement through Civil Night Fall 2025 at Memorial University and the Connect’25 alumni and networking reception at the University of Manitoba.
Through these activities, the Chapter connected students, researchers, utility professionals, industry representatives and policymakers across different regions of Canada. It also organised a bilingual workshop during the Eastern Canadian Symposium, supporting more inclusive participation within Canada’s multilingual professional community.
The Chapter continued its Waterside Chat series with a session titled “Thinking with machines: when to trust GenAI, when to learn and work without it.” The webinar encouraged participants to consider the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence in education, research and professional practice.
Looking ahead
Building on the achievements of 2025, IWA YWP Canada aims to strengthen its internal governance, expand participation across regions and increase the representation of Francophone communities and diverse voices.
“For us, this award is both an honour and a reminder of why we do this work. What I value most is seeing young professionals step forward, share their voices, take on new roles, and turn their own ideas into something that creates value for others. Looking ahead, we want to open more doors for YWPs across Canada and around the world to get involved, take initiative, and make their mark on the water sector,” said Lin Sun, Co-Chair, IWA YWP Canada
The Chapter also intends to develop the fourth IWA YWP Canada Conference, expand its webinars and Waterside Chat series, deepen partnerships with universities, utilities, professional associations and industry, and increase Canadian YWP representation in national and international water forums.
Its future program will continue to address themes connected to Sustainable Development Goal 6, including climate resilience, water quality, emerging contaminants and equitable access to water and sanitation.
Featured image: (IWA)
