The June 2013 flood in Southern Alberta will be remembered by all Albertans as the most damaging flood in our province’s history. The combination of melted snowpack and days of torrential rain resulted in extremely high and swollen rivers in the Southern region of Alberta. Approximately one-hundred thousand people were evacuated, four people killed, and numerous homes and businesses negatively impacted by the flood waters [1]. Emerging from this natural disaster, however, was a greater sense of community and ambition to better prepare for and mitigate the effects of future floods and severe weather events.
In response to the damage caused by the flood, the Government of Alberta and Federal Government of Canada promised aid and financial support to the affected regions. Despite these commitments, the price tag of this natural disaster continues to increase with insured property damage exceeding $1.7 billion[1] prompting questions of Alberta’s preparedness for severe weather events such as flooding and drought. Emphasis from water experts in Alberta has been on improved planning and modelling to anticipate severe weather events, a review of infrastructure and municipal planning in flood zones, an evaluation of flood insurance policies, and improved water management.
The following is an account of the events and impacts of the June 2013 flood. Moving forward, collaboration between the different levels of government and water experts within Alberta will inform best practices for mitigating the damage and destruction of future severe weather events such as flooding.
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Ross has extensive executive experience in Operations, Governance, Information Technology and Strategy at the board and senior management level including Mancal Corporation, Mancal Energy, Highridge Exploration and Atlantis Resources. He has worked in Oil and Gas, Coal, Commercial Real Estate, Portfolio Management, Recreation, Retail and Water and Wastewater Treatment. His experience is also geographically diverse having overseen operations in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Additionally, he has been on the board of companies with operations in Argentina, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Kazakhstan, and Russia. He has served on numerous Public, Private and Not for Profit Boards across a number of industries.
Ross has been active on several industry Boards and committees including the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and The Schulich School of Engineering Industry Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Engineering.
Brian is a seasoned Cleantech entrepreneur with a proven history of successfully bringing complex water technologies to the market. With over 25 years of experience, he has led various organizations to achieve significant milestones in the industry.
Having started as the founding CEO of the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) and later taking the helm at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP), Brian’s entrepreneurial spirit has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth within the sector.
He is an active investor in the cleantech sector and has served on many boards including the Ontario Clean Water Agency.
Actively engaged in industry associations like AWWA, WEF, IWA, and ASCE, Brian enjoys collaborating with fellow professionals to promote advancements in the field.
Brian holds an undergraduate degree and a PhD in Physics from Queen’s University, which has provided him with a solid technical foundation. As a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors, he brings valuable insights to corporate governance.