Southern Alberta’s June 2013 floods had a large impact on First Nations communities across Southern Alberta. Among the hardest hit was the Siksika Nation off the Bow River banks about 100 kilometres east of Calgary. An initial 1000 people were evacuated from the community over the duration of the flood. Six months later, nearly 700 Siksika residents remain displaced and unable to return home. During the flood, four Siksika communities were affected resulting in 183 of 200 homes damaged [1]. Given the extremely fast pace of the river, Siksika residents were given thirty minutes warning to gather personal items and evacuate the area. As a result, many personal items inside of homes, vehicles and land were affected by flood water.
Moving forward, the Government of Alberta has agreed to provide $80 million to the impacted community to aid with clean-up efforts and re-building of homes away from flood zones. While First Nation’s housing remains a federal government responsibility, steps taken by the Government of Alberta to provide aid reflect the extent of flood damage and need for immediate solutions. Furthermore, David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada honored the Siksika community and Chief Rabbit Carrier with a commendation award in September 2013 for their courage in managing the flood and subsequent inspiration for communities across Canada [2].
Share this Post:
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
We recognize and respect the sovereignty of the Indigenous Peoples and communities on whose land our work takes place.
© 2024 All Rights Reserved.
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.