As of October 6, 2023, Dominique Monchamp of the De Gaspé Beaubien Foundation and Emily Hines of Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW) have taken on the role of co-leaders for the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters. The entire Foundation team is proud of these nominations, which will further the work of the Coalition. Our thanks go to Andrew Stegemann of Our Living Waters, who has held the fort for the past two years. His work is in good hands and will continue to flourish.
A growing role for the Foundation in the Coalition
Thanks to its unique position linking Quebec to the rest of Canada, the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation has played a leading role in the Coalition since its beginnings. In 2022, Dominique Monchamp was already a member of the Coalition's steering committee; her involvement is now growing as she takes on the responsibilities that go with the role of co-leader.
Initially, her most important objective is to unite Canada's stakeholders around water issues in order to convey a coherent message endorsed by all Coalition members. Her greatest assets will be listening to and respecting members to achieve this. Secondly, Dominique wants to ensure good communication between English-speaking and French-speaking Canada by overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers. Once again, sharing, openness and respect will be the values conveyed throughout her mandate.
"The members of the Foundation's Board of Directors unanimously approved Dominique's appointment as co-leader for the Coalition. The Foundation will also provide financial support for the Coalition's activities. There's strength in numbers, and the members of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters understand this." - Nan-B de Gaspé Beaubien
A word from our Executive Director
"The Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters is a very important platform for rallying under a single voice the aspirations of field groups across Canada. I'm convinced that together, we're stronger and can facilitate relations with the various levels of government. Our work for healthy waters, for the preservation and restoration of fresh water, is essential for all our futures." - Dominique Monchamp, Executive Director, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, Senior Advisor, AquaAction, Coordinator, Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters
What is the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters?
The Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters is a non-partisan alliance of organizations united in a common effort to preserve the health of Canada's fresh waters, from inland waters to coastal shores. The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation has been a proud member of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters since its launch in 2021.
The Coalition explains: "This must be a collaborative effort that involves all levels of government, engages Canadians and draws on the wealth of scientific, ecological and traditional water knowledge of the population. The federal government has a leading role to play in this transformation, and the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters is united in its advocacy for assertive and appropriate federal leadership."
The goal of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters
The Coalition and its members want to reduce threats to freshwater across the country and encourage the preservation of healthy waters. For the organization, this means making three demands of the federal government.
The Coalition's demands are clear:
- Build a robust Canada Water Agency.
- Renew the over 50 year old Canada Water Act.
- Make a historic investment of $1 billion over 5 years in the Freshwater Action Plan.
If you are interested in the goals of the Canadian Coalition for Healthy Waters and would like to contribute to change, we encourage you to visit the website and register your organization to become a member of the Coalition.
Let's unite for the future of water!
You don't have an organization that could become a member of the Coalition, but you still share our motivation for water preservation? No problem. There are many other ways you can contribute to freshwater preservation. Support water organizations like AquaAction, use water wisely, and raise awareness among your family and friends... Every action counts!
Threats to our drinking water supplies include climate change, inadequate infrastructure and over-consumption. By working together, we can help preserve this vital resource before it's too late. Let's preserve our water sources, so that they remain pure and abundant, for present and future generations alike.