“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 ways to ensure water availability for future generations with three main goals:
The “Water For Life” strategy involves strategic thinking, planning and action around current water use. The Government of Alberta released the 2014 Action Plan as a guide for the government and its partners to follow over the next 10 years. The “Water for Life” strategy analyzes the population increase and economic growth that Alberta has seen over the past years, which has impacted Albertans’ changing water needs.
The goals outlined within this plan are expected to be achieved through extensive research, knowledge, partnerships and education. The action plan demonstrates Alberta’s commitment to the “Water for Life” approach: the wise management of our province’s water resources for the benefit of all Albertans.
“All Albertans must recognize there are limits to the available water supply” – Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability, 2003.
The strategy, released in 2003, was renewed in 2008 and further updated in 2014 with the “Our Water, Our Future: A Plan for Action“.
In Water for Life: Alberta’s Strategy for Sustainability and subsequent updates, Alberta Environment has released several reports that offer insight into the state of Alberta’s water resources and will help inform the decisions made by government and watershed planning and advisory groups for the next 20 years.
Alberta Environment has also conducted an initial assessment of the health of the province’s aquatic ecosystems.
Their reports provides an overview of current knowledge on Alberta’s major water bodies, based on an assessment of water and sediment quality and invertebrate and algal information. Most sites marked on the report’s maps show ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ water quality. None was rated ‘poor’. This science-based, province-wide evaluation helps us spot where data and information gaps exist and need to be addressed. Click here to read those reports.
Alberta Environment commissioned a group of nine world experts from the Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy to review and make recommendations to strengthen Water for Life. Their review is clear that implementation of the strategy should continue.
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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.