It has been 152 years since Canada took its first step toward independence from England and 37 years since it achieved full independence. Canada Day, which is July 1 each year, marks the day on which Canadians celebrate and honor the historic beginning of their independence. On July 1, 1867, Canada's Constitution Act was enacted and Canada began the process of separating from the British Empire. First, some readers of this column may not realize that there are five AWWA Sections in Canada and that collectively they serve AWWA members living in Canada's 10 provinces and three territories. In total, one out of 10 AWWA members lives in Canada. Canadian AWWA members have been an important part of AWWA for over 100 years—2016 marked the 100th anniversary of the original Canadian Section. It is interesting to note that at first the entire country of Canada was one enormous AWWA Section called the Canadian Section. After 51 years of being a single Section, in 1967 (a century after Canada's Constitution Act took effect), the waterworks professionals in Quebec received Section status. Then on Jan. 1, 1971, the Canadian Section reorganized and three new AWWA Sections came into existence—Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and Western Canada. Finally, on Jan. 1, 1973, the British Columbia Section was inaugurated, making it the youngest of the five Canadian Sections we know today. This year, 2019, has had several events celebrating Canada's success. Perhaps, although no one can be fully sure, they began in January when the AWWA board of directors held its annual winter board meeting in British Columbia, Canada. Maybe that was the sign of things to come. In June at ACE19 in Denver, Colo. (the home of AWWA's headquarters), Canada and Canada's water professionals had three first-time successes, which I am calling Canada Days. Let's start with June 11. For 15 years AWWA has conducted a “Best of the Best” tap water taste test. Drinking water utilities compete fiercely at the Section level, and the best-tasting drinking water from each Section is eligible to compete for the Best of the Best title at ACE each year. For the first time ever, the bragging rights that accompany the honor of being the Best of the Best went to a Canadian utility—the Town of The Blue Mountains (Ontario Section). While I did not have the privilege of judging the competition this year, I have to say that with a name like that, I am not surprised that it has great-tasting water. And look at the picture I've included of Reg Russwurm, the director of infrastructure and public works, as he lifts the Best of the Best trophy high, just like a Stanley Cup champion. But as if that wasn't enough, Canada was not done with its victories. AWWA also conducts a taste test called the People's Choice. In this competition, ACE19 attendees select their favorite water and, as with the Best of the Best, for the first time ever a Canadian water utility won the People's Choice award. This time it was EPCOR (City of Edmonton in the Western Canada Section) that demonstrated its liquid prowess. I can tell you from personal experience that EPCOR's water tastes great, almost like it comes from a glacier, and that is because … it does. Two days later, on June 13, Canada had another first. This was the day that the Toronto Raptors—the only NBA team in Canada—won the NBA finals in six games. Just as with the drinking water taste test firsts, this was the first time a Canadian basketball team had ever won the NBA championship. Three consecutive victorious first-ever Canada Days— a double win on drinking water taste by Town of The Blue Mountains and EPCOR at ACE19, followed two days later by the Raptors’ NBA championship. And who knows—maybe this all happened because the AWWA board of directors met in British Columbia. Happy Canada Day.
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Sep 1, 2024
Sabine Waas 
Open Access