Water Allies

All Our Relations: Nipissing First Nation and Sovereign Fishing Practices
2020-02-06 14:00 - 16:00 UTC | Room 2007D Wilson Hall, 40 Willcocks Street, University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Nicole Latulippe is an Assistant Professor in the departments of Human Geography and Physical and Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She has also worked for the Anishinabek Nation on Ipperwash implementation and as a community-based researcher. Her research and teaching interests include the treaty relationship; Indigenous, cross-cultural, and place-based research methodologies; Indigenous geographies; and environmental knowledge, governance, justice and law. Nicole is a treaty person. Her family is French-Canadian from Nipissing and unceded Algonquin territories and she has Anishinaabe ancestry from the Ottawa and Mattagami River areas.
In this talk, Nicole will discuss her community-based research with Nipissing First Nation (NFN); specifically, the responsibilities underpinning community members’ sovereign fishing practices and how NFN has managed to maintain relations with Lake Nipissing, a hotly contested ‘resource’.
“All Our Relations” is a winter talk series which shares stories and insights about water and decolonial water governance from the perspectives of other water beings.
These events are co-sponsored by the Indigenous Environmental Justice Project at York and Water Allies.
Date: February 6th, 2020
Time: 2:00 pm- 4:00 pm
Location:
Rm 2007D Wilson Hall
40 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON M5S 1C6
University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Speaker: Nicole Latulippe

"Being Salmon, Being Human" Storytelling Performance
2020-01-28 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | George Ignatieff Theater, University of Toronto- St. George Campus, 15 Devonshire Pl, Toronto, ON, M5S 2C8, Canada
Artwork by April White www.aprilwhite.com
With permission from Chelsea Green Publishing.
This January, a unique storytelling performance from Norway is coming to Toronto called BEING SALMON, BEING HUMAN. Inspired by Martin Lee Mueller’s award-winning book by the same name, this tour combines traditional tales, original music, and contemporary philosophy.
The performance draws upon the salmon stories of Sami and First Nations peoples of Scandinavia and North America and takes us on a journey through the extraordinary lives of wild salmon — sentient beings who are born in rivers, traverse the oceans, and return towards the end of their lives to spawn in their birth rivers and gift forward more life.
What becomes of this awe-inspiring creature when surviving our dams, diseases, and fish farms, and through this process, what becomes of us? More so, how do salmon survive their erasure from the ancient and reciprocal cycles that have fed humans with nutrients, ritual, and storytelling since time immemorial?
By interweaving old and new stories against a powerful backdrop of traditional song and contemporary sound art, BEING SALMON, BEING HUMAN offers surprising and evocative insights into the vital relationship between humans and the larger living world.
To follow, founder of Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours, Alan Colley will mediate a discussion on Indigenous knowledge and the local relationship to land, water and environment, making connections to teachings and themes found throughout the performance.
Refreshments will be provided, including cedar tea and smoked trout cream cheese and bannock, courtesy of Alan.
The tour is supported by Performing Arts Hub Norway. Created by philosopher Martin Lee Mueller, renowned Sami Joiker and composer Torgeir Vassvik, Norwegian-British storyteller Georgiana Keable, and Norwegian storyteller Tiril Bryn. When on tour in Canada, performed by Martin Lee Muelle, Torgeir Vassvik, and Canadian dancer and storyteller Elisha MacMillan.
Register at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/being-salmon-being-human-the-performance-and-panel-discussion-tickets-85477025083
PWYC and $20 suggested donation welcomed.
Location:
George Ignatieff Theater, University of Toronto- St. George Campus
15 Devonshire Pl, Toronto, ON M5S 2C8
Co-Sponsors for this event include:
Water Allies

Great Lakes Commons
https://www.greatlakescommons.org/

Environmental Humanities Group

All Our Relations: Eels and Other Swimmers Teaching Us Life
2020-01-15 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | Room 2007D Wilson Hall, 40 Willcocks Street, University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Kristi Leora Gansworth is Anishinaabe poet and geographer and a citizen of Kitigan Zibi Anishinaabeg. She has ancestry belonging to the Onkwehonwe Haudenosaunee. Her presentation will focus on research related to current and historic relationships between humans and eels. Currently, Leora is a PhD candidate in the department of geography at York University.
“All Our Relations” is a winter talk series which shares stories and insights about water and decolonial water governance from the perspectives of other water beings.
These events are co-sponsored by the Indigenous Environmental Justice Project at York and Water Allies.

Date: January 15th, 2020
Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location:
Rm 2007D Wilson Hall
40 Willcocks St, Toronto, ON M5S 1C6
University of Toronto, St. George Campus
Speaker: Leora Gansworth

Panel of International Speakers on Global Impact of Nestlé Water Taking: Toronto Event (Nov. 12)
2019-11-12 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Wilson Lounge, New College, University of Toronto, St. George Campus
On Tuesday November 12th, from 7pm-9pm, the second of a series of public events Wellington Water Watchers is sponsoring is taking place in Toronto!
Located at Wilson Hall Lounge, 2nd Floor Wilson Hall @ New College, 40 Willcocks St. Toronto.
RSVP Here: https://wellingtonwaterwatchers.nationbuilder.com/eyes-on-nestle-toronto?utm_campaign=nestle_panel_tour&utm_medium=email&utm_source=wellingtonwaterwatchers
International speakers from communities impacted by Nestlé water taking will speak about their experience opposing Nestlé.
The event will feature Franklin Frederick (Brazilian writer and political/ environmental activist now living in Switzerland), and Bernhard and Rene Lisee Schmitt (founders of Collectif Eau 88 in Vittel France).
Learn about the impact of Nestlé water bottling in communities around the world and learn more about how to take action to protect water and Say No To Nestlé water bottling in Ontario.
Water is a human right and a public trust and should never be under the control of private corporations like Nestlé.

Gathering with the Credit River, July 12-14, 2019
2019-07-12 12:00 - 2019-07-14 12:00 UTC | Ontario
Niibi Aawin Maadziwin! Water is Life!
OPEN INVITATION TO ATTEND & SUPPORT A GATHERING WITH THE CREDIT RIVER
July 12-14, 2019-Erindale Park, Missisauga, ON.
We are excited and honored to let you know about a gathering with and for the water this summer. It will take place at Erindale Park, in Mississauga, July 12-14, 2019. We invite you to come and meet, discuss and hold ceremony together for the waters for future generations. We will hold water ceremony, share water teachings and offer traditional healing.
All peoples willing to respect the protocols are invited.
Confirmed speakers are:
Autumn Peltier (Wikiwemkong FN)
Doug Sinclair and Katherine Jack (Oigaming FN)
Hohepa Hei (Maori)
We are humbly asking for volunteers and financial or in-kind donations to help with direct costs of the gathering. Also welcome are donations for the giveaway, and use and setup for a tipi.
Rough camping will be available, as well as some availability for trailers. This is an outdoor event: please dress for the weather.
If you wish to help in any way, or are interested in more information, please contact: watergathering2019@gmail.com
Updates are also available on the Facebook event page: Water Gathering with the Credit River: https://www.facebook.com/events/399296264166154/
Miigwetch!

Film Viewing: Water Warriors
2019-03-22 15:30 - 17:30 UTC | 51A Wetmore Hall, New College, 300 Huron Street, Toronto ON, M5S 273
Date: Friday, March 22nd, 2019
Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Room 51A Wetmore Hall, New College, University of Toronto St. George Campus
In honor of World Water Day please join us for the viewing of “Water Warriors” by filmmaker Michael Premo.“Water Warriors” is film about a community’s successful battle against the oil and gas industry in New Brunswick, Canada. When an oil industry starts searching for natural gas, Indigenous and white families get together to send away the company in a campaign to defend their water and traditional way of life. This film viewing is following the Feasting on Forgotten Rivers water walk. Everyone is welcome to rest and gather and engage in discussion and contemplate ways of thinking about water and resistance. Refreshments will be served.
This event will be introduced by Nicole Latulippe who is cross appointed in the Departments of Human Geography and Physical and Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Her area of focus is Indigenous (Anishinabek) knowledge, governance, and laws concerning the environment (water, fisheries, land, management, environmental justice). She has also worked in First Nations political advocacy with the Union of Ontario Indians. Nicole comes from an area east of North Bay, Ontario, part of Robinson Huron Treaty and unceded Algonquin territories, and homelands of the Nipissing and Algonquin peoples. Nicole is an English-speaking Franco-Ontarian with Algonquin ancestry (Noire River, Allumette Island).

World Water Day Event: Feasting the Forgotten Rivers
2019-03-22 10:00 - 15:00 UTC | Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4W 3X8, Canada
Date: Friday, March 22nd, 2019
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Meeting at the Children’s Garden at Evergreen Brickworks (550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4W 3X8) then walk down to Queens Park to Daniel’s School of Architecture and then finally to Queens Quay.

Finding our way through water paths and life paths, streaming love without end, uncovering ancient waters in Toronto. Please join us in honoring the lost and found waters. Walk with us on World Water Day: Friday, March 22nd, led by traditional life practitioner, Dr. Debby Wilson Danard.

Dr. Debby Danard, an Anishnaabe-kwe from Rainy River First Nation, in North Western Ontario. She is a PhD graduate from University of Toronto, a water walker, advocate and water ambassador who speaks and performs water ceremonies to raise awareness of the spiritual nature and rights of water. She is also a traditional life practitioner and life promotion ambassador and shares these teachings in schools and community organizations.

Agenda:
1) Gather at the Children’s garden at the Brickworks at 10:00 AM coffee/tea snacks will be provided. Begin with territory acknowledgement, ceremonial collection of water from there. Leave at 10:30 AM
2) Walk to Queen’s Park from Brickworks (1 hour/ 3.9 km) approximate time of arrival: 11:30-12:00 PM
3) Take break at Queen’s Park (half an hour) Debby does food offering. Leave at 12:30 PM
4) From Queens Park walk to Spadina and stop at Daniel’s school of Architecture and do food offering. (1.1 km/ 15 mins)
5) Walk down to Lake Ontario at Queen’s Quay to return the water we gathered from the Brickworks and do the final food offering and closing words (45 minutes/3.4 km) 2:00 PM
6) Come back to New College around 3:00-3:30 PM at Wetmore Hall Room 51A (300 Huron Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3J6) where people can convene, watch “Water Warriors” and have something to eat.
Ceremony Protocols:
All are welcome.
No dogs. No bikes/skateboards.
Traditionally women wear long skirts and men long pants to show respect in ceremony.
When we walk, this is a time for prayer or songs for the water and life.
Pregnant women and women on their moon-time will not carry the water during this time, as they are already in ceremony.
Men carry the Eagle Feather Staff, in balance with the water, when there are no male participants, then women will carry the staff.
Gchi’miigwech Grandmother Josephine Mandaamin, for teaching us the protocols and leading the way forward honouring the water.

Stories and Sovereignty: Winter Tales of Water and Love - Walking for the Water
2019-03-07 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Ontario
Walking for the Water

Date: Thursday, March 7th, 2019
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: HNES Building, Rm. 140, York University
Speaker or Panel: Kelsey Leonard

Kelsey Leonard
Kelsey Leonard is a PhD candidate from the Department of Political Science at McMaster University and the first Native American woman to earn a science degree from the University of Oxford, which she earned in 2012, she has an MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management from St. Cross College, Her master’s thesis, “Water Quality For Native Nations: Achieving A Trust Responsibility”, discusses water quality regulation and how water resources on tribal land are not protected. Kelsey strives to be a strong advocate for the protection of Indigenous waters through enhanced inter-jurisdictional coordination and meaningful consultation. She has been instrumental in protecting the interests of Tribes with the development of the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Action Plan and building a sustainable ocean future by valuing Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge. A part of her research has been creating dialogue with the Great Lake Water Walkers to better understand the threats to water protection in the Great Lakes, representing a call to action for Indigenous water governance. Accompanying Kelsey are a panel of Water Walkers who will share their stories, struggles and experiences.

Wild Rice and Indigenous Rights: A Conversation with Drew Hayden Taylor and James Whetung
2019-02-13 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Toronto) | Tarragon Theatre, 30 Bridgman Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1X3, Canada
Facilitator: TBD
Date: February 13th
Time: 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Location: Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman Ave.) The nearest TTC Stop is Dupont Station. Click here for more information on how to get there.
Description: As part of the Stories and Sovereignty: Winter Tales of Water and Love speaker series, playwright Drew Hayden Taylor and wild rice activist James Whetung will join in conversation about the work that Whetung does in restoring wild rice plants to the lakes of Northern Ontario and about the creation of the play Cottagers and Indians. Now playing at Tarragon Theatre the piece is a battle royal between a native farmer and a white cottager, whose increasingly bitter dispute becomes a microcosm for reconciliation.
This talk session is free. If you are planning on attending the performance at 8:00, after the talk, please use the coupon code BONNIE2019 to get 20% off your tickets.30 Bridgman Ave30 Bridgman Ave

Stories and Sovereignty: Winter Tales of Water and Love – Nibi Onje Biimaadiiziiwin: Water is Life
2019-01-15 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto) | Wilson Hall, New College, University of Toronto, 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C6, Canada
Date: Tuesday, January 15th, 2019
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Location: 2007D Wilson Hall, New College, University of Toronto (St. George Campus)
Panel: Sue Chiblow (PhD, York University) Deborah McGregor (Osgoode Hall) Aimee Craft (Lawyer, University of Ottawa)

Nibi Onje Biimaadiiziiwin: Water is Life brings together three esteemed Indigenous scholars to lead a panel and share knowledge on their stories, experiences and research, to foster dialogue on Indigenous water law and concerns facing our waters and Indigenous communities today. We welcome Sue Chiblow of Garden River First Nation, a PhD student at York University’s Environmental Studies program, examining humanity’s relationship with water, Aimee Craft (Anishinaabe-Métis) who is assistant professor at the Faculty of Common law at the University of Ottawa, specializing in Anishinaabe and Canadian Aboriginal law, and Deborah McGregor, a cross-appointed professor at York University from Osgoode Hall and the Faculty of Environmental Studies, whose research focuses on Indigenous knowledge systems and their various applications toward water, environmental governance and environmental justice. Together these scholars aim to create conversations to support further knowledge and research on water and Indigenous legal traditions.

Sue Chiblow
Sue is from Garden River First Nation. She has worked extensively with First Nation communities in environmental related fields and has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Environment and Management. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the Environmental Studies program at York University. Her PhD research examines humanity’s relationship to water and efforts on improvement for humans, animals and finding reconciliation with water itself.

Aimee Craft
Since 2013, Craft has lead research on Anishinaabe water law. An Indigenous lawyer (Anishinaabe-Métis), Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Common law at University of Ottawa and an Adjunct Professor in Law at the University of Manitoba, her expertise is in Anishinaabe and Canadian Aboriginal law. Professor Craft is one of the lead researchers on Water sustainability and indigenous laws and on hydo-impacted communities in Northern Manitoba. In 2016 she was voted one of the top 25 most influential lawyers in Canada.

Deborah McGregor
Professor Deborah McGregor joined York University’s Osgoode Hall law faculty in 2015 as a cross-appointee with the Faculty of Environmental Studies. Professor McGregor’s research has focused on Indigenous knowledge systems and their various applications in diverse contexts including water and environmental governance, environmental justice, forest policy and management, and sustainable development. Her research has been published in a variety of national and international journals and she has delivered numerous public and academic presentations relating to Indigenous knowledge systems, governance and sustainability. Professor McGregor, who is Anishinaabe from Whitefish River First Nation, Birch Island, Ontario, is the Primary Investigator on two current SSHRC-funded projects: Indigenous Environmental (In)Justice: theory and practice and Indigenizing the First Nations Land Management Regime.

Stories and Sovereignty: Winter Tales of Water and Love - “What we do to the Water, We do to ourselves”
2019-01-10 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Toronto) | Wilson Hall, New College, University of Toronto, 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C6, Canada
Date: January 10th, 2019
Time: 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
Location: Room 2007D Wilson Hall, New College, University of Toronto (St. George Campus)
Speaker: Dr. Debby Danard
Dr. Debby Danard, an Anishnaabe-kwe from Rainy River First Nation will be performing a water ceremony and sharing Indigenous water teachings as a way to challenge the way people think about water that go beyond law, policy and citizen science. In 2006, Danard went on her first water walk and it was after this she started thinking of water through ceremony. Her knowledge and experience will be sure to change the way we consider water and help us identify with water as humans, as this can help bring things back into balance. As Deborah says, “what we do to the water, we do to ourselves!”
Anishnaabekwe (Ojibway) from Rainy River first Nation in North Western Ontario. She is a PhD graduate from University of Toronto, a water walker, advocate and water ambassador who speaks and performs water ceremonies to raise awareness of the spiritual nature and rights of water. She is also a traditional life practitioner and life promotion ambassador and shares these teachings in schools and community organizations.

Contact Photography Festival
2018-05-10 - 2018-05-20 | Ontario
May 10-20 CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY: 10 days of Events at New College in partnership with film-maker Dan Berman and the Daniels Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto.
More info soon.

All Nations Water Ceremony
2018-04-14 09:00 - 19:00 UTC | 262 Concession Road 2 E Tiny ON Canada, 262 Concession Road 2 E Tiny ON Canada, Tiny, Ontario, Canada
On April 14th, 2018 All Nations will be Gathering on the Worlds Purest known Aquifer in a form of extended ceremony for the Water.
It will be an all day event leading up to the ceremony:
• Information sharing about the Alliston Aquifer
• Guest speakers including Josephine Mandamin Autumn Peltier, Candace Day Neveau, Becky BigCanoe, Liz Osawamick, Tasha Beeds — we are awaiting confirmation of more speakers.
• Setting Intentions and Prayer Poles led by Elizabeth Brass Elson of Dumpsite 41 & WaterWalkers from For Earth & Water Walk 2017
• Stephanie Peltier will lead a dance from a dream she received. Women are asked to participate in this dance and be prepared by wearing skirts, jingle dresses or traditional clothing. We are hoping for about 200 dancers or more.
• Josephine Mandamin will then lead the water ceremony inside the circle we are creating. The ceremony itself will be continuous singing and prayer for the water contained in all the copper vessels. Everyone is required to bring a copper vessel.
• A feast will follow at the Waverly centre
**More details will be provided as to the ceremony, the logistics and event details in coming days**
**Everyone is asked to bring a copper vessel with them, a feast bundle, a reusable water jug, and a contribution of food or donation to cover costs of the feast**
**Please plan for rain and cold weather. DRESS WARM, bring an umbrella, a blanket or lawn chair for this outdoor event. It will go on rain or shine**
**We kindly ask for your understanding in that this event is not a protest or political rally. It is a ceremony intended to bring about healing through the water, to lift each other up, and to create greater awareness**
Facebook Event Page Link

University of Toronto Outdoors: Experiential Teaching & Learning Workshop
2018-04-12 13:00 - 17:00 UTC | Room 318, 170 St. George Street, Room 318, 170 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University of Toronto Outdoors: Experiential Teaching & Learning Workshop
WHEN: Thursday, 12 April 2018, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
WHERE: Room 318, 170 St. George Street @ University of Toronto
In this workshop we will review research conducted by the University of Toronto Outdoors (UTO)initiative, which has been experimenting with place-responsive, immersive, and embodied teaching and learning. Faculty will present their work and we will discuss pedagogical benefits and challenges of experiential teaching and learning. Together we’ll go through administrative, logistical, and financial practices and challenges involved in experiential teaching at the U of T.
Refreshments will be served. Please register here.
For further information: https://outdoors.hackinghistory.ca/
UTO Workshop Flyer

Land Based Education Panel Discussion
2018-03-24 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | 252 Bloor Street West, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Land Based Education Panel Discussion
WHEN: Saturday March 24th, 2018 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
WHERE: OISE Library, 252 Bloor St. W. Toronto
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
~ Lilla Watson, Aboriginal Elder and Activist
Is there a role for the university to play in local land reclamation, land grievances and land education? Join OISE’s Dean’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Education (DACIE) and the Indigenous Education Network (IEN) for an afternoon of discussion.
Panels will share perspectives from Indigenous scholars and leaders in land-based education from the University of Victoria, the University of Alberta, Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, University at Buffalo, and the University of Toronto.
Speakers will include: Elaine Alexie – Jeffrey Ansloos – Martin Cannon – Erin Freeland – Adam Gaudry – Susan Hill – Shanne McCaffrey – Theresa McCarthy – Bernadette Shawanda – Sandra Styres – Eve Tuck – Stephanie Waterman
The OISE Library is an accessible space. Single-user and accessible washrooms are available in the event space.
Free and open to the public
Register at https://land-based-education.eventbrite.ca

2018 Aquahack Launch
2018-03-24 | Ontario
Register here for the 2018 Aquahacking Launch presented by the Gaspe Beaubien Foundation on March 24 at the Ryerson DMZ Business Incubatory (Time to be determined).
About the Aquahack:
Each year, over several months, we engage with and recruit multi-disciplinary teams of hackers, engineers, programmers, developers, marketers, designers, water-savvy, designers, environmentally-conscious people and other creative minds to collaborate on developing environmentally sustainable engineering, web and mobile solutions to help solve water issues affecting the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin.
Each team has access to a 360° mentorship as well as to exclusive workshops with leading experts.
This year, the 4 water issues to be tackled will be revealed at the Launch on March 21st. They are designed and submitted by organisations representing the eNGO, Municipalities, Farmers ,and Academia, who will also provide expert insights to teams for deeper understanding of issues and provide access to relevant data.
The expected results are functional, marketable and demand-driven solutions that have a real and measurable impact in solving water issues.

Water is Sacred: Multi/Interfaith Dialogues on Protecting Water
2018-03-22 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | New College, 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C6, Canada
“Go as a River” (Thich Nhat Hanh) Multi-Faith Dialogues on Sacred Water
World Water Day
March 22, 2018 Thursday | 9 – 11 AM
Room 207 @ The U of T Multi-Faith Centre
569 Spadina Ave, Toronto
If these are times of great destruction and desecration, how does re-learning reverence and radical humility teach us to protect the sacred? How can we learn to “suspend damage” (Eve Tuck) in ways that do not deny, but create generative possibilities? On World Water Day, join us for a morning of meditation and dialogues with a multi-faith panel to reconnect with the sanctity of water.
Wendy Phillips (Anishinaabe elder), Rev. Leigh Kern (St. James Cathedral, KAIROS and Vision Keepers Council), David Frank (Plum Village), and Sabrina Malach (Shoresh) will be sharing teachings, stories, and reflections on how the faiths they belong to guide them, and may guide us, in engaging in daily acts of renewing our relationship to water.
A water meditation will be led by the True Peace Toronto Sangha.
Snacks and refreshments will be served. Please bring your own mug or container.
Come see art by Jenny Blackbird (Water Words) and learn chakra healing by Dr. Romila Verma (Water Speaks).
go as a river poster

Water in the City: Green Infrastructure in the Urban Landscape
2018-03-19 18:30 - 21:30 UTC | 720 Bathurst St, 720 Bathurst St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Water in the City
Green Infrastructure in the Urban Landscape
World Water Day Panel Discussion
Date: March 19, 2018 – Registration Opens @ 6:30pm
Location: Centre for Social Innovation – Annex Garage
720 Bathurst St., Toronto
*For the full agenda and further details of the event please click here.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Each year, in celebration of World Water Day, Canadian Water Resources Association’s Ontario Branch hosts a moderated expert panel discussion. The goal is to bring together a broad spectrum of professionals to create a dialogue around issues of effective water management, in the context of the United Nation’s annual World Water Day Theme. This year’s theme is Water and Nature. We will be looking at this theme through the lens of Water Management Challenges in Urban Centres, seeking insight on solutions that work within our urbanized landscape as ‘natural’ systems.
The evening is centered around a moderated panel of experts, whose perspectives will be drawn from careers in fields such as urban planning and policy development, water resources engineering, first nations stakeholder engagement and natural heritage preservation and advocacy. After the talk, please join us to continue the discussion and meet diverse professionals at our networking session.
This event will be catered and licensed. Cole Engineering is the catering sponsor for the event. All proceeds from beer and wine sales go towards the event.
Online registration for the event can be found here.
EVENT LINEUP
Event Moderator: Lesley Herstein (WaterTAP)
Panelists:

Sheila Boudreau, RPP, MCIP, OALA, CSLA (Toronto and Region Conservation)
Deborah Martin-Downs, M.Sc. (Credit Valley Conservation)
Chris Denich, P.Eng. (Aquafor Beech Limited)
Cathie Jamieson, Councillor (Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation)

Panel Biographies
Sheila Boudreau
As the Senior Landscape Architect at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Sheila has over 20 years of professional experience in both the private and public sectors (most recently as an urban designer in City Planning, City of Toronto). Her work includes: the development of guidelines and standards; the design and construction of innovative green infrastructure pilot projects and program development; site plan development review; and the coordination of interdisciplinary working groups with community engagement. Examples of projects include: City of Toronto Green Streets Technical Guidelines, Evergreen Brick Works, and Waterfront Toronto Water’s Edge Promenade. She teaches courses on green infrastructure at Ryerson University and the University of Toronto, is on the Board of Advisors for Ryerson Urban Water and represents the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects on the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition steering committee. With Landscape Architecture Canada Foundation funding, she is currently co-leading a project aimed at increasing the voice of Indigenous youth in green infrastructure.
Lesley Herstein
As Manager of policy at WaterTAP, Lesley works with companies and other water sector partners to determine how to benefit from and mitigate the effects of changes in government policy, regulations, and programs. She also plays a role in WaterTAP’s efforts to collaborate with private and public stakeholders to improve water management in Ontario by addressing challenges to the adoption of innovative water solutions. Lesley’s water-related experience includes working with a water technology start-up to develop and test a remote water monitoring device for drinking water systems, and working in Chennai, India, to develop an inexpensive mapping method to map, track, and address water-related health issues in remote villages. She holds a Biosystems Engineering degree and a Masters and PhD in Civil Engineering.
Deborah Martin-Downs
Deborah is the Chief Administrative Office of Credit Valley Conservation and the Chair of Green Infrastructure Ontario. Her 30-year career in the environmental community includes both private sector consulting and public sector, in-the-field postings. She holds her Masters Degree in Zoology and Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto and Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo.
Chris Denich, P.Eng.
Mr. Denich is the Director of the Water Resource Engineering and Green Infrastructure division of Aquafor Beech Ltd. where he participates in a variety of municipal, private and public-sector projects focusing on stormwater management using innovative approaches for both retrofit and new developments. Mr. Denich is responsible for the planning, design and construction of more than fifty (50) LID and GI installations and projects across Canada, including several award winners, and has authored numerous SWM and LID standards and guidance documents, including recent updates to the Province of Ontario Stormwater Management Manual. He is considered an expert in LID, GI and Sustainable Stormwater Management by organization including Toronto Water, Canadian and Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority (LSRCA), the Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership (ALIDP), Sustainable Building Canada (SBC), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Interlocking Concrete Paving Institute (ICPI) and others.
Cathie Jamieson
Ms. Jamieson is from the Bear Clan and is an elected bank Councillor from the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. She holds the following positions: Chair: Education & Social Health Services Council; Chair: MNCFN Employment and Training Board; Co-Chair: Aboriginal Labour force; Development Circle Board Member; Member: MNCFN – Land Claims Team; Member: Ganawenjigejik Niibi Bemaadiziwin Water Committee; Councillor Lead on Strategic plan – Pillar 3: Environment Sustainability; Stewards of Our Air, Land, Water & Natural Resources. Born and raised within the MNCFN Community, Cathie graduated with Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree and diploma – a specialist in Art & Art History, from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. She is multi-disciplined in art and exploring the concepts of Indigenous identity though historical and contemporary representation. This helps within the reflection of current position within the political frame work of First Nation governance, as well as the systems of intergenerational influences that impact First Nations communities, and drawing back to the community framework to throttle forth change. Ms. Jamieson also works as a youth advocate and is one of the founding members of ‘Alternative Roots’ a grassroots support group with efforts to get youth away from drugs and alcohol.

Water Advisory Launch
2018-03-04 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Ontario
Water Advisory! poster FINAL
Great Lake Waterworks @ New College is pleased to be a co-sponsor of WATER ADVISORY!
Exhibition Timeline: March 3 – 25, 2018.
Official Opening: Sunday, March 4, 2018.
Water Advisory! is an exhibition of art by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists that will illustrate the current disconnection between society and water. Water Advisory! calls us with urgency to reestablish our right relationship with water.
Co-Curators:
Crystal Sinclair—Water Warrior, Indigenous Artist, Activist with Idle No More Toronto
Rochelle Rubinstein—Artist, Environmental Activist, Community Arts Facilitator
The exhibition will run from March 3 – 25, 2018. This coincides with Canada Water Week (March 20 – 27) and World Water Day(March 22). Loop Gallery is an artist run gallery located at 1273 Dundas St. W. Toronto.
The official opening will be Sunday, March 4, 1p.m. to 4p.m. Hosting conversations with the artists and a performance by Test Their Logik. *This is an alcohol-free event.
Water Advisory! Is an initiative of Wellington Water Watchers Campaign to phase out permits to bottle water in Ontario. To help spread the word and alert others about your attendance RSVP here!
For more information: 416-516-2581
info@loopgallery.ca
www.loopgallery.ca

Rivers, Ravines, Resilience, Resurgence
2018-03-03 - 2018-03-31 | Ontario
Rivers, Ravines, Resilience, Resurgence
Every Saturday in March.
@ 11:00AM – 4:30PM.

Take a Field Trip every Saturday in March to learn about Toronto’s lost history with rivers and ravines and the relationships to who we are and who we aspire to be. Lunch is provided before the fieldtrip. This program is FREE and includes orientation, guided tour and transport to and from the site.
Register now! *Preference is given to New College Students, followed by U of T students.
New College/U of T students are chronicling their trips by feeding photos into the Instagram Feed for Dan Berman’s film ACCIDENTAL PARKLAND. Follow their journey this month!
@accidental_parkland account on Instagram and @TO_Ravines on Twitter
Select images from the Instagram feed, from New College/U of T students and other photographers, will be exhibited at New College during the CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL, May 10-20, 2018.
Also to be exhibited:
*photographs of a beaded Great Lakes Map created by students at First Nations School working with artist Amber Smith and landscape architect Sheila Boudreau (TRCA)
*Images from projects by students at the Daniels School of Architecture and Planning (Alissa North’s course on Rivers and Ravines).
Upcoming trips:
SATURDAY, MARCH 17th, 2018
Toronto Aboriginal Eco-Tours w/ Alan Colley
With the mighty Humber River as our backdrop, Alan Colley and Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours will connect ritual, ceremony, and the arts and lead us on a deeper understanding of the river and the land, historical and contemporary. Toronto Aboriginal Eco Tours is a liaison of Aboriginal culture and environmental understanding provided by nature guide Alan Colley. Their mission is to create a sustainable relationship with Toronto, Turtle Island (North America) and Mother Earth for generations to come. They help people nurture connections to the natural, sacred spaces of Toronto.
SATURDAY, MARCH 24th, 2018
Lost Rivers/Rivers Rising w/ Helen Mills and Sabina Ali, Chair, Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee
Lost Rivers reconnects people with the social and environmental history of the city, and the way that human and natural systems interact in their own backyards. Rivers Rising explores Lost River Watershed communities to capture and share stories where food, water, history and cultures intersect. Students can even join the River Rising team. This trip will particularly touch on the historical role of women in water walks, women and leadership, and contemporary question of new immigrants to this land.
Central question: How is the city haunted by the rivers that were buried?

downstream: reimagining water relations through interdisciplinary writing and Indigenous perspectives A discussion between writers and scholars Lee Maracle, Rita Wong and Dorothy Christian
2018-01-25 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | Ontario
Great Lakes Waterworks 2017-2018 Discussion Series @New College, University of Toronto
downstream:
reimagining water relations through interdisciplinary writing and Indigenous perspectivesA discussion between writers and scholars Lee Maracle, Rita Wong and Dorothy Christian
When: January 25, 2017|6:30 p.m-8:30 p.m.
Where: Wilson Lounge @New College, University of Toronto, 40 Willcocks St
Join us for a talk with renowned Canadian writers and scholars Lee Maracle, Rita Wong and Dorothy Christian as they discuss their collection downstream: reimagining water (2016). Moderated by York University geographer Chaya Ocampo Go, the authors and editors of this book will discuss their collaborative work and the possibilities that interdisciplinary writing practices and Indigenous perspectives offer to reimagine our relationships to water.
About downstream: Growing out of a conference organized by Lee Maracle, on Imagining Asian and Native Women, downstream brings together artists, scientists, writers, Elders, environmentalists, scholars, and activists to focus on cultivating peaceful and creative cultures that foreground water as a builder of relationships.
Refreshments will be served. Questions? Contact justin.langille@mail.utoronto.ca
About the Authors and Moderator
Dorothy Christian Cucw-la7 is a visual storyteller who is from the Secwepemc and Syilx Nations of BC. Ms. Christian completed her PhD in early 2017 at UBC’s Department of Educational Studies. Her dissertation “Gathering Knowledge: Visual Storytellers & Indigenous Storywork” links land, story and cultural protocols. Publications include chapters in Thinking with Water (2013), Cultivating Canada: Reconciliation Through the Lens of Cultural Diversity (2011) and Alliances: Re/Envisioning Indigenous and non-Indigenous Relationships (2010).”
Lee Maracle is the Traditional Teacher in Residence at the University of Toronto First Nations House and author of a number of critically acclaimed literary works. She is also co-editor of a number of anthologies including the award-winning My Home as I Remember and Telling It: Women and Language across Culture. She is published worldwide. Maracle was born in North Vancouver and is a member of the Sto:Loh nation.
Rita Wong learns from and with water as an (un)settler living on unceded Coast Salish Territories, who has responsibilities to build better relationships than colonization could imagine. She teaches at Emily Carr University of Art and Design and has written four books of poetry-mokeypuzzle, forage, sybil unrest (with Larissa Lai), and undercurrent.
Chaya Ocampo Go is a transnational Filipina scholar whose work is a commitment to life and resurgence in ravaged ecologies-communities at the front lines of the climate crisis. She is currently a PhD student at York University’s Geography Department, and a research fellow for the Citizens’ Disaster Response Centre in the Philippines.

Writing Water Futures: Ceremonies and Science Fiction Readings and conversations with Nina Munteanu and Gwen Benaway two Toronto-based writers exploring the meaning of water in their work
2017-12-07 06:30 - 20:30 UTC | New College, 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C6, Canada
Great Lakes Waterworks Discussion Series 2017-2018, @ New College

Writing Water Futures:
Ceremonies and Science Fiction
Readings and conversations with Nina Munteanu and Gwen Benaway two Toronto-based writers exploring the meaning of water in their work

When: December 07, 2017|6:30-8:30 p.m

Where: The Atrium@New College, University of Toronto, 45 Willcocks St

Join us for readings and conversation between Gwen Benaway and Nina Munteanu, two Toronto-based writers exploring the meaning of water in their works. University of Toronto anthropologist Kristen Bos will moderate a discussion between Munteanu and Benaway on their process and the significance of creative writing about the meaning of water today. This is part of the Great Lakes Waterworks discussion series.

Gwen Benaway will read from her 2015 book Passage, her second collection of poetry.

This Magazine writes: In this book, award-winning poet Gwen Benaway journeys through ancestral and geographic origins, trauma history, and gender identity. Broken into five sections named after the Great Lakes, the poems within Passage are a testament to Benaway’s survival: of violence, of rejection, of being treated recklessly. Through grief, loss, exile, and absence, Benaway asserts that there is no right way to hold hurt—though there are quite brilliant, evocative ways to write about it. Benaway does just that.

Nina Munteanu will read from her 2016 book Water Is… The Meaning of Water….
Part history, part science and part philosophy and spirituality, "Water Is..." combines personal journey with scientific discovery that explores water's many "identities" and ultimately our own. Water, she writes, is magic, life, motion, communication, memory, rhythm, beauty, story, prayer, wisdom and joy.

About the authors

Gwen Benaway is a trans girl poet of Anishinaabe and Métis descent. She has published two collections of poetry, Ceremonies for the Dead and Passage, and her third collection, Holy Wild, is forthcoming from BookThug in 2018. She has received many distinctions and awards, including the Dayne Ogilvie Honour of Distinction for Emerging Queer Authors from the Writer's Trust of Canada. Her poetry and essays have been published in national publications and anthologies, including The Globe and Mail, Maclean's Magazine, CBC Arts, and many others.

Nina Munteanu is a Canadian ecologist and internationally published novelist of science fiction and fantasy. In addition to eight published novels, Nina has written award-nominated short stories, articles and non-fiction books, which have been translated into several languages throughout the world. Recognition for her work includes the Midwest Book Review Reader’s Choice Award, finalist for Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award, the SLF Fountain Award, and The Delta Optimist Reviewers Choice. Nina regularly publishes reviews and essays in magazines such as The New York Review of Science Fiction and Strange Horizons.

About the moderator

Kristen Bos is a Métis archaeologist, anthropologist, activist, and researcher of Indigenous material culture. She is a graduate of the University of Oxford and a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) Doctoral Scholarship and the President’s Award for Outstanding Native Student of the Year. She is also the lab manager for the Technoscience Research Unit and the T.A. trainer for the Social Sciences at the Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation. Her research engages with the material culture of the Métis, Indigenous feminism, and settler colonial studies with an emphasis on decolonizing methodologies and transgressing disciplinary boundaries.

The People’s Great Lakes Summit 2.0
2017-11-13 - 2017-11-14 | Ontario
People who care about the waters and wetlands of the Great Lakes-St Lawrence River Basin will be gathering for The People’s Great Lakes Summit 2.0, a workshop for Canadian individuals and organizations that are interested in Ontario’s water-related policies on November 13-14, 2017 in Toronto. If you are interested, please register by Tuesday, October 31, 2017 using this form: https://goo.gl/forms/nfIf1HDLRbLSIvX03
Spaces for The People’s Great Lakes Summit 2.0 are limited, so register early! There is no conference fee. We also expect to be able to provide some travel support, if needed. We ask that you limit registration to 2 people per organization for now. If there are more than 2 people interested in attending from your organization, please let us know.
The People’s Great Lakes Summit 2.0 is a follow-up on a Summit hosted on May 17, 2017. The full report of the May Summit is available for download here: http://www.cela.ca/peoples-great-lakes-summit.
Even if you weren’t able to attend the May Summit, you are welcome to attend in November! Please forward this message to anyone that you believe might be interested.
Preliminary itinerary:
November 13 – please plan to arrive in Toronto in the morning
November 13 –12noon-4:30pm – lunch and afternoon plenary sessions
November 13 – ~5pm-9pm – reception and dinner, networking event
November 14 – 8:30am-4:30pm – light breakfast, followed by both plenary and concurrent workshops, lunch included
We anticipate having a draft agenda and additional materials available shortly.
If you have any questions, please contact Anastasia: anastasia@cela.ca or 647-705-7564 or Natalija: natalija.m.fisher@gmail.com

Honouring Josephine Mandamin
2017-11-11 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | New College, 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1C6, Canada
New College is honoured to host this event, a celebration, recognition event, and a feast, for and with Grandmother Josephine Mandamin. It’s open to the community; All are welcome, but you are asked to reserve a seat.
See details below and attached poster.
Honouring Josephine Mandamin
A Recognition Celebration for All Her Work for Nibi and Creation
Where: William Doo Auditorium, New College, University of Toronto, 45 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario
When: Saturday, November 11, 2017, 2:00pm-5:00pm
MC: Edward George
Itinerary:
Opening Remarks
Jingle Dress Healing Dance
Gimaa Duke Peltier
Autumn Monague
Gift Honouring Maurice Switzer
Closing Remarks and Nibi Song
Catered Feast
No cost, all welcome, limited seating.
Contacts:
Crystal Osawamick
Tel: (705) 923-4227
Email: info@maawnjidmi.com
Edward George
Tel: (519) 691-6791
Email: waasekom@icloud.com
