Water Leaders Learning Network
In 2008, we asked the Sustainability Network to help us organize our inaugural Water Policy Leaders Network. This event was held from September 24 - 26, 2008 at the Harmony Dawn Retreat Centre and it involved sixteen emerging water policy leaders.
A number of guest speakers were generous enough to commit time to present their perspective on the policy process and interact formally and informally with water leaders during the three days. Guests included: Patrick Johnston (CEO, Gordon Foundation); Theresa McClenaghan (Executive Director, Canadian Environmental Law Association); Patrice Leblanc (Director, Department of Fisheries and Oceans); Nicola Crawhall (Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Cities Initiative); Ted Bowering (City of Toronto); Mike Layton (Environmental Defence); and Krystyn Tully (Lake Ontario Waterkeeper).
Sessions included:
- Sharing Research
- Public Policy 101
- Lessons from Walkerton
- Policy Makers' and Influencers' Worlds
- Addressing Constraints and Opportunities in Policy Making
Click here for a PDF of Patrick Johnston's presentation on the Public Policy Process in Canada.
Participants:
Alice Cohen - PhD Student, UBC and Water Policy Fellow
Bryan Poirier - PhD Candidate, University of Guelph and Water Policy Fellow
Bryony Halpin - MA Public Policy, Ryerson University and Water Policy Fellow
Carla Stevens - Landscape Ecologist and Research Assistant, Water Matters
Celeste Côté - National Water Campaigner, Sierra Club Canada
Daphne Ferguson - Masters Student, Urban Planning, Université de Montréal
and Water Policy Fellow
Jocelyne Rankin - MES, Dalhousie University and Water Policy Fellow
Korice Moir - MES, York University and Water Policy Fellow
Mario Levesque - PhD, McMaster University and Water Policy Fellow
Matt Binstock - Masters Student, York University and Water Policy Fellow
Megan de Graaf - Forest and Watersheds Coordinator, Conservation Council
of New Brunswick
Meghan Beveridge - MES, University of Waterloo and Policy Associate,
Water Matters
Sacha Kopelow - Water Caucus Coordinator, Manitoba Eco-network
Shelly Lobay-Minark - Masters Student, University of Calgary, and Water
Policy Fellow
Stephanie Merrill - MSc Candidate, Forestry and Environmental Mgmt,
UNB and Water Policy Fellow
Organizer:
Paul Bubelis, Executive Director, Sustainability Network
Facilitator:
Charlotte Young, PhD, ENVision... synergy
Participant Feedback:
"Building a network among other people working in the sector is so key at this (early) stage of one's career."
"It was a great learning opportunity to hear from experts in the field who provided advice, concrete examples and exploration of key issues/barriers. The speakers built off each other and there were some consistent messages with respect to keys to success."
"Fantastic, knowledgeable invited experts, who provided a great diversity of insight. There was a good balance of receiving information and reflection."
"I really liked that it was a small group isolated from distractions, in a great setting and with no internet."
Participants
