On June 22nd, over one hundred and sixty water professionals came together to celebrate innovators and influencers in the water sector at the Water’s Next Awards Gala—part of the 8th annual Canadian Water Summit. Gala attendees enjoyed a four-course meal, laughter, and even shed a few tears.
Water Canada editor, Katherine Balpataky and emcee, Fred Keating presented awards in 11 categories with forty finalists from across Canada. “This year, we received nearly 60 submissions, and with the Selection Committee’s help they were whittled down to three or four finalists in each award category,” said Balpataky.
“The awards themselves have two divisions. One is for the awards given to individuals—let’s call them “people,” yeah, the People division. And the other division we refer to as the Projects or Technology Division,” added emcee Fred Keating.
“We are small industry, but we are a big family,” said Jeremy Duguay, Research & Development Manager for Luminultra.
The 2017 winners are:
People – Business:
People – Academia: Edmund (Ted) Molyneux, P.Eng, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, partnership with the University of British Columbia & RES’EAU-WaterNET Strategic Network
People – NGO: Katrina Hartwig, Living Lakes Canada
People – Government: Zoe Kirk, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen
People – Young Professional: Josie Ann Langelier & Stefanie Recollet (joint nomination)
Project/Technology – Drinking Water: LuminUltra Technologies
Project/Technology – Wastewater: Lystek International Inc.
Project/Technology – Water Resources: The Bloom Centre for Sustainability (BLOOM)
Project/Technology – Stormwater: City of Guelph – rainwater harvesting system business wash project
Project/Technology – Conveyance: Liquiforce
Company of the Year: Lystek International Inc.
Water Steward of the Year: Katrina Hartwig, Living Lakes Canada
The 2017 Water’s Next Gala was sponsored by RBC, Nestlé Waters North America, Lystek, Liquiforce, The BLOOM Centre for Sustainability, and Cole Engineering.
Water Canada magazine’s Water’s Next Award program is the only national awards program to honour leadership across the entire water sector—including public servants, non-governmental groups, researchers, municipalities, and technology providers. Since 2010, Water Canada has hosted the awards to help strengthen and celebrate the thriving national community by showcasing Canada’s water leaders, champions, and innovators. Nominations for 2018 will open in the fall. Visit watersnext.ca for updates.
