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ALUS receives grant to
support watershed health in
communities across Canada
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ALUS, A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION supporting
nature-based solutions in local communities, has
announced a $162,500 grant from The Coca-Cola
Company in Canada to bolster community-based
efforts around nature-based solutions for water in
the regions in which the company operates. This
funding is critical to helping farmers and ranchers
carry out projects to improve watershed health,
supporting Canadian water systems.
“ALUS is thrilled to receive this support from
The Coca-Cola Company,” says Jill Weaver, Director of Partnerships, ALUS. “Stakeholder engagement and shared governance are central to the
ALUS program. The community-led activities and
the network of farmers and ranchers that benefit
from the ALUS program are an excellent fit with
The Coca Cola Company’s approach to initiatives
that help contribute to watershed health.”
The funding will support three ALUS communities where Coca-Cola operates; ALUS Rocky
View, Alberta, ALUS Peel, Ontario, ALUS Laurentides, Quebec.
The funding will help these communities extend their reach and
help continue to provide environmental benefits, such as clean
water, to neighbouring municipalities.
“Water is a priority for our company because it is essential to
the communities we serve and helps create the iconic brands we
know and love,” said Avi Yufest, Senior Director of Public Affairs,
Communications, and Sustainability, The Coca-Cola Company
in Canada. “Canada has one of the largest reserves of freshwater
in the world and it’s important we are responsible stewards of this
critical resource. We’re proud to support Canadian farmers that
protect local watersheds through our investment in ALUS.”
Farmers and ranchers participating in ALUS manage nearly
42,000 acres of wetland ecosystems in Canada and the United
States. Local partnership advisory committees (PACs) ensure that
local ecological and economic priorities are of foremost concern
during project implementation. Communities and corporations
alike depend on the health and availability of water resources.
Since 2020, as a non-profit member of the CEO Water Mandate and the Alliance for Water Stewardship, ALUS has focused on
demonstrating how valuable farmers, ranchers and ALUS Partnership Advisory Committees are in achieving water replenishment,
restoration and community engagement on water issues.
ALUS is a leader in activating rural communities to address
local environmental challenges. To that end, ALUS and its communities have undertaken innovative projects to understand the
impacts of community-led, nature-based solutions to watershed
health.
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WATER C AN ADA • NOV EMBER/ DECEMBER 2024
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