Water Federation Builds Connections and Capacity at Western Canada Water Conference
From September 16 to 19, the Alberta Rural Federation of Water Co-operatives (the Water Federation) participated in the Western Canada Water Annual Conference in Edmonton.
The event brought together water professionals, utility leaders and industry innovators from across the country to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and explore emerging trends in water and wastewater management.
This year’s theme, “Flowing Toward Sustainability,” set the tone for a program focused on long-term resilience, environmental stewardship and operational innovation. From cybersecurity strategies to regional collaboration, the sessions delivered insights to help strengthen systems and enhance service delivery, reinforcing the Federation’s role as a forward-thinking leader in water management.
For the Water Federation, the conference was a valuable opportunity to build stronger relationships, expand technical expertise, and promote ongoing initiatives.
|
“The conference was a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from across Western Canada, learn about their projects, and share our own initiatives,” said Chris Hancock, Executive Director. “The Federation is committed to staying current and supporting rural water systems, and participating in this event helps reinforce our role as a forward-thinking leader in the sector.” |
The importance of face-to-face engagement and the technical depth of the sessions was also a highlight. “It was great to meet some of our technical experts in person, as we’ll be working directly with them in the future, says Owen Bennett, Business Systems Analyst and Project Manager. “The sessions on cybersecurity were also very interesting. Overall, there are lots of takeaways for our Federation and plenty for us to implement so we can continue to improve.”
“Attending the conference gave us a chance to see how our work stacks up alongside others in the sector and offered practical ideas we can apply to our water co-ops,” said Daniel Perri, Project Manager. “I also made new connections and gained insights that will help strengthen our technical capacity as an organization.”