Squamish has a long history of water issues - from the rewatering of the Mamquam Blind Channel to the recovery of the Cheakamus River following a caustic soda spill to the recent adoption of a riparian areas bylaw, residents have long been protectionist when it comes to local waterways. This fact has led the national program Waterlution - A Water Learning Experience across Canada in 2008, to come to Squamish to host Water from Sea to Sky, a workshop that's part of the series Future of Water Workshops."We will be talking about issues directly relating Sea to Sky, such as hydro power, highway construction, water flow from mountains, logging, shipping, and salmon habitat," said Simon Ham, biologist and Waterlution associate.Participants will be taken to the BC Museum of Mining wastewater treatment plant, an EPCOR-designed facility that's transformed the area by cleaning the mineral-laden water that had been seeping into the Howe Sound for 100 years. There will also be tours to visit local green design projects and watersheds. Ham said people will be encouraged to learn about the problems affecting the Sea to Sky Corridor and how solutions can be implemented. "We often attract people in fields with water issues, but water is such a broad topic that we want artists, as well as policy-makers, engineers and students to come together and discuss," said Ham.Guest speakers will include Linda Nowlan, an environmental lawyer and faculty research associate for the program on water governance at the University of British Columbia, will discuss the BC Water Act. Karen Leslie, a water policy analyst for BC Ministry of the Environment will talk about the Living Water Smart program. Edith Tobe from the Squamish River Watershed Society will explain the latest developments revolving around the Mamquam River and salmon habitat. The workshop will be held Friday to Sunday, Nov. 7 to 9, and will be held at Inn on the Water.Waterlution asks for participants between the ages of 20 to 35 but says this is more of a recommendation then a restriction."We target that age group but we have realized there is value in inter-generational learning," said Ham. "We will take older people and even high school students for a broader discussion group."Waterlution began five years ago after the founder, Karen Kun, went to South Africa for the World Summit for Sustainable Development where, Ham said, she learned about water issues that had not been discussed yet in Canada. She returned home and with the help of friend, Tatiana Glad, co-founded the program to teach people in Ontario about the water pollution in and around the Great Lakes. This year Ham said the organization has gone national and held workshops in stations all across Canada discussing local water problems and the solutions. Squamish will be one of the last workshops for this year. The workshops cost $40, which includes accommodation, meals, and field trips.The deadline to apply to the workshop was Thursday Oct. 30 but Ham says there is always room for more, and encourages those who are interested to e-mail him at [email protected].
