WIL Atlantic Canada 2022

Developing Water Solutions within the Context of Climate Change

VIRTUAL COMPONENT

MAY 24 – JUN 14, 2022

4 VIRTUAL SESSIONS

IN-PERSON COMPONENT

AUG 28 – SEP 2, 2022

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

About WIL Atlantic

It is with great enthusiasm that we are launching the first hybrid Water Innovation Lab in Canada (Northern Turtle Island) with both virtual and in-person programming. The Waterlution team is fortunate to be working with a knowledgeable local team, in Prince Edward Island (PEI) and the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation (CCCA). The multi-phase capacity building, entrepreneurial and innovation training initiative will accept 100 young water professionals who together will increase Canada’s adaptability, resilience, and innovation leadership in the face of climate change. WIL Atlantic takes place within the traditional and ancestral lands of the Mi’kma’ki people, and Indigneous youth of all Nations are highly encouraged to apply.

The program combines leadership and skills training with on-the-land knowledge sharing from local knowledge holders and water-dependent industries (farming and fisheries) so as to stimulate and accelerate innovative climate change solution-making.

Core Themes

Innovation teams will create entrepreneurial projects that tackle one of three core themes:

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion of island & coastal communities
Flooding and water insecurity from changing weather events
Species impacts (crops and aquatic life)

STAY CONNECTED

OUR Water in the Atlantic Canada needs

INNOVATION

The Water Innovation Lab, known as WIL, is a front-running, immersive leadership training designed to accelerate collaborative innovation, fast-track global knowledge-sharing and devise new innovations that improve water security. WIL supports emerging leaders and entrepreneurs(20-35 yrs) across water and climate change disciplines to learn and innovate together. WIL develops future water leaders to think holistically, design innovatively, and communicate effectively across cultures.

Learning about water, on the water, WIL Nederlands.

Field Tour, 1 of many field tour sites at WIL 2013.

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Participants Phase 1 (online)

Participants Phase 2

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Resource Guests

Themes

PROGRAM DETAILS

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is a small densely-populated island with 3,200 km of coastline, and as such, it is highly vulnerable to water challenges related to climate change, primarily sea level rise, coastal erosion, and storm surges that result in flooding. The island is made of primarily sand and sandstone leaving it especially vulnerable to coastal erosion, and the island land area has already decreased by a net 2,000 hectares over the last half century. Prince Edward Island is the most densely-populated province, and over the next hundred years, it will face approximately 1m of sea level rise putting its residents’ homes, coastal infrastructure, and cultural heritage resources in danger.

With these local challenges in mind, participants at WIL Atlantic will dive into the following 3 themes:

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion of island & coastal communities
Flooding and water insecurity from changing weather events
Species impacts, looking at diverse crops and aquatic life.

WHO can apply?

Open to young professionals (ages 19-35) across PEI and Canada/ Northern Turtle Island. We are seeking applicants with a keen interest in water and climate change adaptation and innovation. We encourage applications from women and all genders as well as Black, Indigenous and People of Colour.

Applications open

Fee Structure

Phase 1 Online Sessions
No Cost

Phase 2 In-Person Collaboration
3 fee options for selected participants for In-person Collaboration in PEI. Payment due in early August, 2022.

1. Full Fee – $339 (including HST), for fully employed, sponsored and able to pay this full fee.

2. Reduced Fee – $170 (including HST), for students or underemployed applicants.

3. Scholarship – intended for participants that cannot contribute the amounts above.

WIL ATLANTIC Phases

Phase 1 – Online Training

Phase 1 takes place virtually, with 4 weeks of interactive online training where experts will share knowledge on the themes and the WIL community will be nurtured.

Phase 2 – In-Person Immersive Training

Phase 2 invites up to 30 of the original participants to a 5-day, in-person immersive event taking place at the newly built Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation (CCCA) in PEI which will be an intensive program of skills development and innovative collaboration.* Participants will receive mentorship from experts and participate in immersive field tours designed to deepen understanding of the 3 themes.

Phase 3 – Mentorship and Innovation Acceleration

3 project teams will receive extended mentorship for team innovation projects, acceleration of project development, and potentially initial piloting or prototyping (depending on nature of innovation project) of innovative solutions.

Phase 4 – Community Knowledge Sharing

Targeted to the broader public and school aged children, Phase 4 is dedicated to community-wide engagement including a Community Day showcase of innovation projects, community feedback gathering, collective knowledge sharing, and a participatory, community-created art installation. Phase 4 also includes the creation of K-12 curricular resources to infuse the classroom with rich knowledge about climate change in PEI and ways in which students can act to make local change.

*All in-person programs will only take place if safe to do so in the context of the global pandemic. Adaptations will be made as necessary if gathering is no longer possible.

Schedule

PHASE 1: Online Training

4 virtual sessions held on Tuesdays from 5-7 pm AT

Opening Session
May 24, 2022 | 5-7 pm AT

Session 2
May 31, 2022 | 5-7 pm AT

Session 3
June 7, 2022 | 5-7 pm AT

Session 4
June 14, 2022 | 5-7 pm AT

Targeting 100 young professionals, the 4-week highly interactive on-line program provides leadership skill development, resource guest specific to climate change approaches and about PEI’s water and climate challenges and the early-stage formulation of team-based innovation projects. This phase also includes office hours for innovation project coaching, mentorship for developing project pitches, and a culminating in-person project pitch showcase. 30 participants who attend the virtual sessions and present innovative water/climate/community projects will be selected to participate in Phase II, in beautiful PEI.

PHASE 2: In-Person Immersive Training

August 28-Sept 2, 2022

to be hosted in Prince Edward Island at the Canadian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation

Participants will stay in dual occupancy rooms at the Canadian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation in PEI.
*Schedule may change.

Sunday August 28

Arrival/Registration opens 12 pm
Program begins 2pm

Mi’kmaw Elder Methilda Knockwood-Snache opening the week with a water ceremony, a smudge & talking circle.

Welcome and introduction to the program, networking and community building.

Monday August 29

Capacity building & Facilitation Training – a deep dive into 21st century skills training, developing a collaborative network, unpacking complex problems, innovation theory, collaboration and team building.

Tuesday August 30

Field Tours – with local experts we will explore the 3 themes more deeply through on-the-ground field tours, getting outside and seeing hands-on application of the concepts.

Wednesday August 31

Continued project development, skills training and mentorship.

Optional Field Day – more details to come.

Thursday Sept 1

Resource Guests – teams will receive mentorship and coaching from experts, working to advance their final projects.

Final Project Presentations.

Friday Sept 2

Reflection and Closing.

10 am Departure

Up to 30 selected innovation project members come together for the in-person 5-day immersive, an intensive program of skills development, field tours, knowledge learning circles with Indigenous knowledge holders, farmers and fisher people, watershed groups, policy makers and innovation project development. Taking place at the Canadian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation in PEI, participants will learn from the facility and the lands surrounding it which serves as a living laboratory allowing for unlimited access to nearby wetlands, forests and coastal habitats directly affected by climate change.

Elder Methila Knockwood-Snache

Mi’kmaw Elder Methilda Knockwood-Snache will open the week with a water ceremony, water stories, smudge and a talking circle to start our time together with the right intention.

These are just some of the exciting field tours planned with local experts!

Morrel River Management Cooperative

The Morrel River Management Cooperative has been working to protect the watershed from agricultural impacts – working collaboratively with farmers to create buffer zones. Participants will take a trip to Mooney’s Pond to see their work in action.

Perry Gotell with Tranquility Cove Tours

Participants will get out on the water on boating tours, learning first hand about fisheries and coastal erosion from expert Perry Gotell.

Scott Anderson with Agriculture Canada

Participants will visit Living Labs sites to explore concepts in water drainage and constructed wetlands in relation to agricultural practices.

Stephanie Arnold - ClIMAtlantic/UPEI

Potatoes, drones, and agriculture – visiting research sites with Stephanie Arnold from the UPEI Climate Lab, participants will learn about the impact of climate change on crops.

Souris Harbour

Visiting the harbour, participants will learn about erosion protection installations & have a brief tourist moment on the Souris Boardwalk.

FAQs

I don’t have professional experience in the water sector but I’m interested in applying.

We encourage you to apply! Tell us about how you’ve been engaged with this topic, and the reviewers will see if you have the right background to be included. This is a young professionals space, and if you really feel you want to be there, put your best effort in. Diversity of experiences adds richness to the WIL program and we encourage applicants that have unique backgrounds.

I love the sound of this program, but I am not Canadian.

WIL Atlantic is open to Canadians and people living, working or studying in Canada. Unfortunately, we cannot accept global applicants, but sign up for our newsletter and/or follow our social channels as we do host global WILs!

Are scholarships available?

There is no cost to attend Phase 1. We do not want price to be a barrier for those hoping to attend Phase 2. We have wonderful partners and funders and scholarships are available to anyone who cannot afford the fees. Scholarship information is available on our webpage and in the application form.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes, participants who attend 3 of 4 sessions during phase 1 will be eligible for a certificate (although we prefer and encourage you to attend all 4 sessions!). Those who attend phases 1 and 2 will receive a combined certificate.

How much time should I set aside to participate?

For Phase 1, please allow for 2 hours per week to attend the virtual session plus 2-3 hours per week to connect with others and work on your projects.

Phase 2 is an immersive 5 day program with evening activities which are part of the networking. There will be wifi to check email and stay in touch, but the less work you can do during that week the better. This is a professional experience and you will get the most by being as present as possible!

Beyond Phase 2 there will be opportunities to advance innovation projects, with work schedules created by each project group.

Will the virtual sessions be recorded?

Yes, sessions will be recorded for you to review afterwards if you are unable to make a session. We strongly encourage you to attend all sessions, as they are collaborative and interactive, and you will get the most learning by being present! Out of the 4 virtual sessions we allow for 1 absence.

I am a more experienced professional - are you looking for experts and speakers?

At Waterlution, speakers and experts are usually referred to as Resource Guests, where the role is to elevate the knowledge and skills of the young professionals participating. If you think you have a strong set of skills to contribute, please email krystal.pyke@gmail.com with your background and she will be in touch.

I have specific dietary needs, are they able to be accommodated if I attend Phase 2?

As a general approach, Waterlution does vegetarian as the base, sometimes adding animal proteins and dairy to fit a variety of people. We do our best to accommodate vegan diets and allergies and would work with you on a case-by-case basis. Participants attending Phase 2 will be sent a form where those details will be included.

What will happen to Phase 2, if gathering is no longer possible due to Covid-19?

It is our sincere hope that the in-person portion will proceed as planned. The number of people attending phase 2 has already been adapted to a lower number as a covid consideration. However if something happens beyond our control, we will revisit whether phase 2 will happen in person. (But our fingers and toes are crossed!)

If I am accepted to Phase 2, I might have to leave a day early.

Our strong preference is that people can stay the whole time; however, we understand that there can be exceptions and there is space for this included in your application form. It will be taken into consideration.

WIL Atlantic Canada

Resource Guests

More amazing guests will be added soon