The middle of March is important for more than just spring break — it also marks Canada Water Week. Described as the week to celebrate water across the nation, Canada Water Week is held annually in the third week of March, coinciding with the United Nations’ International World Water Day on March 22.
Heather Jirousek and Erin Light, from Yukon Government’s Water Resources Branch, are spearheading this year’s events and have pulled together six free activities with broad appeal taking place March 18 through 25.
On Friday, March 21 there will be an art exhibit and a film screening at the Yukon Beringia Centre in the evening. The art exhibit features Yukon artists who have worked in a diverse set of mediums to create water-inspired work. The group of artists involved include Martin Berkman, Marie-Hélène Comeau, G. Frank Halpenny, Hildur Jónasson, David Neufeld, and Blair Thorson.
“I know that we have many talented artists and I can’t wait to see what they have come up with,” Erin Light says.
A free screening of Edward Burtynsky’s film, Watermark, will follow the opening of the exhibit.
“This film caught our eye during the Available Light Film Festival as the imagery was beautiful and the scenes were so diverse, featuring water around the world,” Light says.
This will be coupled to the announcement of this year’s Premier’s Excellence in Water Stewardship award recipient. The award recognizes outstanding achievements, innovative practice and leadership.
On Saturday, March 22 there will be a wetlands nature walk in McIntyre Marsh, which is 3.4 km along Fish Lake Road. This walk will offer a chance to see animal tracks and birds.
The last event takes place on Tuesday, March 25 at the Yukon College – it’s a free lecture on water treatment and remediation. The talk is part of the college’s Brown Bag Lunch Speaker Series.
In addition to these public events, a set of Yukon Government representatives and Yukon College scientists will deliver more than 50 classroom presentations in seven Yukon communities throughout March.
“I am excited about all of these events because I am passionate about water and all of these events are unique, but if I had to narrow down the field, I am especially excited about all of the classroom presentations that we will be doing,” Light says. “The classroom presentations provide us with the opportunity to reach out to so many youth and share information about our abundant water resources. I like to think that we may be inspiring some children to choose hydrology as a career in the future.”
Last year, Yukon was a leader for Canada Water Week regarding the number and breadth of activities offered.
The organization’s website shows that there are a plethora of events taking place across the nation, all in celebration of water. Some of these include film screenings in B.C., a leak detector challenge in Manitoba, art exhibitions in New Brunswick, a workshop for kids in Ontario, and panel discussions on water and energy at the Universities of Alberta and Calgary.
For more information about the Water Week activities in the Yukon, go to YukonWater.ca and click on Canada Water Week 2014.
