The PEOPLE Network is delighted to announce that it has received the 2026 Water Canada Award in the Education category, recognizing its contributions to education, knowledge mobilization, and workforce development in Canada’s water sector.
The Water Canada Awards recognizes people, projects, and technologies that demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the quality of the Canadian water sector. The award winners were celebrated at the Water Canada Awards Gala on October 22, 2026, at Henderson Brewing Co. in Toronto, Ontario. The annual awards recognize individuals, projects, and technologies making significant contributions to Canada’s water industry.
Advancing Water Education and Workforce Development
Water systems in Canada and globally are increasingly impacted by persistent, emerging and organic pollutants from legacy pollutants (e.g., petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, and heavy metals) to chemicals of emerging concerns (e.g., micro/nano-plastics, flame retardants, PFAS, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, disinfection by products, etc.). In particular, many emerging contaminants are still not fully addressed in existing monitoring and regulatory frameworks. The PEOPLE Network was established in 2017 to respond to this challenge by advancing science and technology and promoting education, knowledge mobilization, and workforce development in the water sector. Guided by the principle that people create environmental problems, and our PEOPLE help find solutions, the program not only facilitates collaborative R&D but also trains the next generation of professionals to address complex water challenges for our sustainable society and environment.
As a pan-Canadian and global consortium involving over 60 institutions and 50 partners, the PEOPLE Network exemplifies leadership in water education through interdisciplinary research, training, and community engagement. The network secured the funding of the NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience program to support its training program (“PEOPLE CREATE”). During the 2019 to 2026 funding period, it has trained 106 highly qualified personnel (HQP) with ~60% female participation, despite the impact of the pandemic, who have produced over 300 knowledge outputs, including 125 peer-reviewed publications, 156 conference presentations, and 30 awards. These outputs are actively mobilized through conferences, workshops, stakeholder engagement, and technology transfers, ensuring that knowledge informs real-world decision-making. Many trainees have transitioned into professional roles in academia, government, and industry, especially in the water and environmental industries, directly contributing to water sustainability and management in Canada.
Celebrating a Collective Achievement
This award reflects the collective dedication of PEOPLE Network trainees, researchers, mentors, collaborators, and partners. It recognizes the importance of connecting scientific research with practical applications and equipping future professionals to address complex water-quality and environmental challenges.
The PEOPLE Network sincerely thanks Water Canada for this recognition and congratulates all the 2026 award recipients for their outstanding contributions to the water sector.
Read the official announcement: 2026 Water Canada Awards Winners