Wednesday, June 17, 2026
The stage is officially set, the tension is mounting, and the finest minds in the Canadian water sector are about to converge for the biggest night of the year! We are absolutely giddy to reveal the finalists for the 2026 Water Canada Awards.
Every year, these awards give us a chance to shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals, game-changing projects, and trailblazing organizations pushing the boundaries of water management, sustainability, and tech. But this year? The competition has been next-level.
New categories spark a friendly (but fierce!) municipal rivalry
If you thought the water sector was quiet, think again. For 2026, we teamed up with the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) to introduce two new, dedicated municipal categories: Municipal Early Adopter and Municipal Community Outreach & Engagement.
To say these new categories struck a chord would be an understatement. We were flooded with a massive wave of high-quality submissions from municipalities across Canada, all eager to showcase their cutting-edge projects and public initiatives.
“We were absolutely blown away by the response this year, especially with our new CWWA partnership,” says Corinne Lynds, Chief Content Officer at SiteMedia and past Editor of Water Canada. “The sheer volume of entries for the new municipal categories proves that Canadian cities aren’t just adapting to water challenges, but they are also aggressively innovating. October 22nd is going to be a fun, high-energy night to honour that hard work, and we can’t wait to see everyone in Toronto.”
2026 award categories at a glance
From fresh-faced trailblazers to massive infrastructure triumphs, here are the categories we will be celebrating this year:
Individual Awards
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Emerging Leader: Recognizing a rising star under 35 making an early impact.
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Water Steward: Celebrating leadership and advocacy in protecting water ecosystems.
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Career Champion: Honouring long-term devotion and mentorship in the water industry.
Municipal Awards (New for 2026!)
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Municipal Early Adopter
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Municipal Community Outreach & Engagement
Project & Technology Awards
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Innovation Partnership Award
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New Tech Award
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Drinking Water: Large Project Award (Serving > 5,000 residents)
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Drinking Water: Small Project Award (Serving < 5,000 residents)
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Wastewater: Large Project Award (Serving > 5,000 residents)
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Wastewater: Small Project Award (Serving < 5,000 residents)
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Stormwater: Large Project Award
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Stormwater: Small Project Award
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Conservation: Large Project Award (Improving > 2 hectares of watershed)
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Conservation: Small Project Award (Improving up to 2 hectares of watershed)
👉 Click here to see the full list of finalists! (Note: Check out the full breakdown at The Water Canada Awards 2026 Finalists Page).
Grab your tickets before they’re gone!
As usual, we’re swapping out the stuffy ballroom for the cozy, vibrant vibes of Henderson Brewing Co. in Toronto! It’s going to be a fantastic night of high-energy networking, collaboration, and celebration with Canada’s top water leaders.
Winners will be revealed live, and tickets are strictly limited. Don’t miss out on the fun—secure your spot at the bar (and the gala) today!
For more details on the event, head over to watersummit.ca. See you in Toronto!
