Celebrating Those Who Keep Our Water Flowing
For over 30 years, rural Alberta's water hasn't just flowed through pipes on its own. It has been delivered by dedicated people who step up to keep their communities thriving.
Since 1994, the Alberta Federation of Rural Water Co-operatives (Water Federation) has supported safe, reliable and affordable water access for rural Albertans. Representing 101 water co-ops across the province, the federation empowers communities to pool resources, share ownership and operate self-managed water systems. These co-ops rely on volunteers who give their time, skills and energy to build and manage sustainable water solutions.
"We see volunteers who show up at 2 a.m. to fix a water leak, who spend weekends maintaining pump stations and who organize their communities around shared challenges," says Chris Hancock. "This program is a foundational step toward building a culture where volunteerism is not just expected, but deeply valued and sustained."
To honor and celebrate this dedication and inspire others to get involved, the federation is creating its first-ever volunteer recognition program. By sharing volunteer stories, the federation hopes to shine a light on the extraordinary people who go above and beyond to ensure communities have access to safe, reliable and affordable water and to inspire current volunteers and a new generation to step up and serve.
Award Categories
Whether it's a neighbor who has spent decades maintaining a system or a co-op that has found an innovative way to solve an old problem, we want to hear about it.
Individual Recognition: Nominate a volunteer who demonstrates one or more of the qualities listed below or any other meaningful contribution that deserves recognition.
- Impactful Service: A volunteer who has consistently delivered dependable, high-quality support to water access initiatives. Things to consider: long-term, impactful involvement. Reliable and consistent service. Trust and respect from peers and community members.
- Innovation in Action: A volunteer who introduces creative, practical solutions to water co-op challenges. Things to consider: application of innovative technologies or methods. Creative adaptation to evolving challenges and conditions. Inspiration through effective and thoughtful problem solving.
- Volunteer of the Year: An exceptional volunteer whose dedication, leadership, and impact have advanced the Water Federation’s mission. Things to consider: embodiment of the spirit of service and community uplift. Respect and admiration from volunteers, co-op members, and the broader community. Ongoing commitment and availability to support co-op initiatives.
- Lifetime Service Distinction: A volunteer whose long-standing commitment and leadership have significantly advanced the Water Federation’s mission. Things to consider: a minimum of 10 years of active volunteer service. Alignment with the Water Federation’s core pillars: reliability, community ownership, stewardship, and innovation.
Co-op Recognition: Nominate a co-op that demonstrates one or more of the criteria listed below or any other meaningful contribution that deserves recognition.
- Impactful Co-op: A that has made a measurable, mission-aligned impact in its community. Things to consider: measurable impact within the community. Effective volunteer engagement and leadership development. Promotion of sustainability and responsible stewardship. Creative adaptation to evolving challenges and conditions.
- Co-op Innovation of the Year: A co-op that has introduced a creative, practical solution to a co-op challenge. Things to consider: original and relevant innovation. Measurable impact on service delivery or sustainability. Potential for replication across other co-ops.
- Co-op of the Year: A co-op that exemplifies excellence in service, leadership, and community impact. Things to consider: meaningful volunteer engagement. Measurable impact in the broader community. Alignment with the Water Federation’s core pillars. Innovation or improvements to systems and operations.
How It Works
We need your help to identify and celebrate our water volunteers.
- Nominations: Nominations open on February 2nd, 2026.
- The Celebration: Recipients will be honored at our Annual General Meeting in April with a personalized award.
- The Legacy: Throughout the year, we will share winners' stories on our website and social media to inspire Albertans across the province.
Help Us Tell the Story
Behind every faucet that turns and every field that's watered, there is a story of a volunteer who cared enough to step up. Help us tell those stories.