On the occasion of World Water Day, the Council of the Federation (COF) announced today the recipients of the Excellence in Water Stewardship Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement, innovative practice and leadership in the area of water stewardship. This award is presented to organizations, partnerships, businesses, institutions, and community groups in each province and territory across Canada.

Stemming from the Water Charter, adopted by Premiers in August 2010, Premiers have established this new award in recognition that water is critical to human and ecosystem health. A sustainable water supply ensures our communities are liveable and economically viable whether they are large urban centres or remote or rural communities.

“On behalf of all Premiers, I want to congratulate the first-ever recipients of the Council of the Federation Excellence in Water Stewardship Award,” said Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, Chair of the Council of the Federation. “These awards are an important mechanism for change as they bring deserved recognition to the champions of water stewardship and inspire all Canadians to take action.”

The recipients of the 2013 Council of the Federation Excellence in Water Stewardship Award are:

Alberta Urban Municipalities Association – Alberta

Okanagan Water Stewardship Council – British Columbia

Lake Winnipeg Foundation – Manitoba

City of Moncton Automated Water Meter Reading Project – New Brunswick

Atlantic Coastal Action Plan (ACAP) Humber Arm – Newfoundland and Labrador

Sambaa K’e Dene Band – Northwest Territories

Clean Annapolis River Project – Nova Scotia

Centre for Water Resources Studies – Nunavut

City of Kitchener Impervious-area Based Stormwater Utility and Credit Policy – Ontario

Winter River-Tracadie Bay Watershed Association – Prince Edward Island

Regroupement pour la protection du Grand lac Saint-François – Québec

Lower Souris Watershed Committee Inc. – Saskatchewan

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council – Yukon

Each recipient receives a glass award, a monetary prize and a certificate signed by the Premier of their province or territory.

Further information about the Excellence in Water Stewardship Awards can be found at www.councilofthefederation.ca.

Backgrounder

Prince Edward Island recipient of the 2013 Council of the Federation Excellence in Water Stewardship Award

Winter River-Tracadie Bay Watershed Association – Prince Edward Island

The Winter-River-Tracadie Bay Watershed Association was formed in 2008 to protect and enhance the Winter River and Tracadie Bay watersheds. Initial work focused on stream and riparian zone enhancement, but the group recognized that the withdrawal of ground water from the Winter River watershed in order to supply the City of Charlottetown was having a negative impact on habitat. Along with restoration activities, the Association has carried out educational initiatives in the schools, developed a video series “Save some water for me please,” and participated in radio and television interviews to inform the public about the need to conserve water. Group members have used newspaper articles to challenge Charlottetown residents to reduce water usage and challenge the city to introduce regulations to reduce water usage at critical periods of the year.