A book!

As southern Alberta began the long process of healing from last summer's floods, the incredible Robert W. Sandford, Canmore-based water policy expert and communicator, kindly shared with me a first draft of his account of the first few days of emergency. Within mere days of the event, Bob's publisher, Rocky Mountain Books, had agreed to publish a new title on the subject.

A short few weeks later, Toronto experienced its own major storm event and Bob asked me to contribute a chapter to his book. He and RMB had broadened the mandate to cover flood risk and resiliency in Canada. Before I had a chance to respond, they decided Bob and I would co-author the book, each of us contributing an essay.

Flood Forecast: Climate Risk and Resiliency in Canada arrives this month! Our essays cover those significant extreme weather events, the damage they caused, and ideas for the way forward.

Alberta launch dates to follow.

Month of Free: A walk through the Palm House

Today's sanity break consisted of a walk through the Allan Gardens Conservatory, free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 365 days of the year. Plant moisture from towering palms to Christmas poinsettia to several moss varieties warmed my cold hands (it's -27 out there!) in no time. Lots of families spending their last days of vacation wandering through hanging vines and twisting paths of the six adjoined greenhouses.

Watermarked

“While water is forgiving and can rehabilitate, it’s not infinitely resilient.”

Hello! Been awhile. I interviewed Canadian photographer and filmmaker Edward Burtynsky about Watermark (the film), Water (the exhibition), and Water - Burtynsky (the book). Check it out. 

If you haven't seen Watermark, do yourself a favour and spend an hour or so in a dark cavernous theatre with the film. Poetry.

Totems

Norman's totems are disintegrating under a tarp in Bobcaygeon.  When we rolled the one on the left, piles of sawdust fell from tiny boreholes. Ants have made their home in his work. Life goes on.

Later, in the Curve Lake cemetery, we were too busy scanning the markers to notice the darkening sky. By chance, I looked up. Within seconds, branches had scattered across the graves and the wind was whipping sand into our eyes. We ran to the car. A sign?

Diminishing the demand

Alberta Views, July 2013. 

The demands on Alberta's water comes from many quarters. Put a few farmers, oil and gas executives and city mayors in a room to discuss the issues, and you'll soon realize their demands are not compatible. Can we agree on the definition of a "sustainable" economy?

My latest piece for not-Water Canada is a feature in Alberta Views magazine that explores the current state of the province's water conservation efforts. Given the recent disastrous floods in southern Alberta, the timing of the issue seems a little too perfect, but, if anything, it underscores the importance of planning for long-term integrated water management.

To support Alberta flood relief, visit the Canadian Red Cross.