Waterlution's Canadian Water Innovation Lab 2010

Last weekend I had the absolute pleasure to be a participant in the Canadian Water Innovation Lab 2010, organized by Waterlution.

This photo captures all 250 participants from across Canada, and the 50 or so facilitators, all of whom helped shape one of the most inspiring, thought provoking and insightful unconferences I have ever been to. The purpose of the event was to provide the tools and connections necissary for future water leaders to protect and preserve water resources. In upcoming posts I'll explain why.

In case you haven't heard the term before, an unconference is a participant driven event. Rather than staying in hotel rooms, or sitting through presentation after presentation, we were free to guide discussion and interact with one another. Not costumed in suites and business attire, situated in a camp setting surrounded by forest, an instant sense of ease was created. With barriers down, ideas and knowledge flowed freely.

I had the chance to participate in experiential learning activities, field tours, interactive dialogue sessions, and to meet water experts in various fields.

One of the tours was of the LEED Certified Ralph Klein Park in Calgary, both an environmental education centre and a stormwater mangement site. The 200-hectare man made wetland habitat is not merely an aesthetic addition. Much like a naturally occurring wetland, the bioengineered site will use natural vegetation to treat stormwater before it is discharged into the Bow River. Stormwater is typically managed to control flooding and erosion, prevent runoff and pollutants from entering surface water or groundwater resources in addition to other reasons.

One of the highlights was a presentation by Sans Facon, composed of artist Tristan Surtees and architect Charles Blanc, on the role and place art has in the consideration of a city's water infrastructure. Their Watershed+ project is brilliant. Not only are they achieving public mindfulness of often invisible water infrastructure, but they are doing so while allowing for people to engage with the art/infrastructure on their own terms. Rather than commanding a particular interpretation or creating an abstract vacuum, the team succeeded by appealing to one's curiosity. They trigger an innate desire to explore one's personal connection to the built and natural aspects of their watershed.*

Exposure. Appreciation. Engagement.

I loved it.

*Watershed. Not a shed for storing water but rather a natural drainage basin. The area drains all precipitation as runoff or base flow (groundwater sources) into a common body of water such as a lake or river. It is important because water quality concerns apply over multiple political boundaries e.g. land-use decisions in one town effect another in the same watershed. So, a watershed approach requires cooperative efforts for mutual wellbeing.

**If you come across a better graphic then feel free to share it.