WC143 JulyAug 2025 - Magazine - Page 6
FIRST DROPS
Water related news,
events, and trends
from Canada and
around the world
Monica Bramley, Carl Yates and Lou Di Gironimo pose with their awards at Blue Cities 2025.
Honouring Water’s Future
BLUE CITIES 2025, hosted by Canadian Water Network (CWN),
took place in Mississauga, ON on May 14th and 15th. The
exciting event brought together municipal, private, and
non-profit leaders from across the country for two days of
solution-focused dialogue.
This year’s theme, Navigating the waves: Strategic management of risk in uncertain times, tackled some of the most pressing issues faced in the water sector, such as workforce capacity,
climate impacts, infrastructure investment, and affordability.
A highlight of the event was the launch of the inaugural
Canadian Water Network Awards, honouring individuals
whose work is shaping the future of water in Canada. These
awards recognized outstanding contributions to water management, innovation, and leadership.
Three professionals were honoured for their exceptional
contributions to Canada’s water sector:
Monica Bramley of the City of Calgary received the Rising
Wave Award for her leadership and dedication as a next-gener-
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WATER C AN ADA • JULY/AUGUS T 2025
ation water professional. Her passion and innovative approach
are helping to shape the sector’s future.
Lou Di Gironimo, General Manager of Toronto Water, was
awarded the Blue Impact Award in recognition of his decades-long commitment to transforming municipal water
systems through visionary leadership.
Carl Yates, who stepped down from the CWN Board in
June, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring
impact on collaboration and innovation across the industry.
The CWN Awards mark the beginning of a new tradition
honoring excellence, leadership, and dedication within Canada’s water community.
As Blue Cities 2025 wrapped up with powerful insights,
meaningful dialogue, and well-deserved recognition, the momentum for innovation and collaboration in Canada’s water
sector continues to build. With the success of this year’s event
and the launch of the CWN Awards, anticipation is already
growing for what’s next.
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
Blue Cities
Blue Cities’ inaugural awards and bold conversations highlight two-day event BY CHARLIE EVANS
