Author: Andrew Wilson

What is “Water for Life?”

Governance “Water for Life” is a strategic action plan set by the Alberta Government in 2003 by then Minister of the Environment Lorne Taylor. This plan looks at strategizing effective […]

What is FITFIR?

Governance Alberta and other western Canadian provinces use an allocation system referred to as FITFIR (First-in-Time, First-in-Right).This system uses ‘priority’ as the determining factor in certain water-specific situations. Priority is […]

What is Transboundary Water Management?

Governance Niagara Falls. Photo by Venti Views on Unsplash Water is a precious resource which crosses boundaries as it flows between many different nations and regions throughout the world. For […]

How is Water Governed?

Athabasca Falls in the fall with snow-capped mountains in the background.

Governance Governance External Alberta Resources Alberta Water Act Water Act: Licences Fact Sheet Water Licence Cancellations Fact Sheet South Saskatchewan River Basin Approved water management plan Surface Water Allocation Directive […]

What’s a Watershed?

What’s a Watershed? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a watershed is a region or area bounded peripherally by a divide and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water. It is […]

Drought Forecasting and Monitoring

What is drought forecasting and monitoring and how does it work? Drought forecasting and monitoring can be defined as data collection, analysis, and reporting to develop information on current and […]

History of Drought in Western Canada

Two line graphs showing river flows on the North Saskatchewan River (top) and South Saskatchewan River (bottom) between the years 1110 and 2010.

Drought Drought is no stranger to the Canadian Prairies.   In fact, some may say that drought is a defining characteristic of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.   Drought is something that has […]

What are Dams and Reservoirs?

Dams are structures built on a river in order to retain water for one or more specific purposes (e.g. hydroelectricity generation, water storage, irrigation structures, flood control). Reservoirs are formed […]

Agriculture and Alberta’s Water Distribution

Thank you to our generous sponsors for the Water Connections Project This phase of the project has been made possible by Nutrien, Enbridge, and Manulife Financial, along with the Government […]

Alberta’s Agriculture Activities by Watershed

Thank you to our generous sponsors for the Water Connections Project This phase of the project has been made possible by Nutrien, Enbridge, and Manulife Financial, along with the Government […]

We provide Canadian educational resources on water practices to promote conservation and sustainability. Our team crafts current and relevant content, while encouraging feedback and engagement.

The Canada WaterPortal is a registered charity, #807121876RR0001

Facebook Youtube Linkedin X-twitter Instagram
Land Acknowledgement

We recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples and communities on whose land our work takes place.

Keep In Touch
1500, 850 2nd St SW
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0R8
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Donate
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

© 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Ross Douglas

Ross Douglas

Board Member

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.

Photograph of WaterPortal Board Member Brian Mergelas

Brian Mergelas, PhD, ICD.D

Board Member

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.