Stakeholders interested in freshwater management issues in British Columbia will be interested to know about a new initiative launched on October 29, 2019. Students, technology leaders and others gathered in Kelowna, British Columbia for the launch of the B.C. AquaHacking Challenge 2020, organized by the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) and Aqua Forum.
AquaHacking was founded by the De Gaspe Beaubien Foundation in 2014 with the goal of connecting youth and young professionals with an interest in freshwater issues, clean-tech innovation and entrepreneurship, with mentors who could help them launch real-world solutions. Aqua Forum was established as a separate non-profit to oversee the initiative and the program initially had a five-year focus on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin (2015-2019). After five years, and with funding from RBC Foundation to bring the program coast-to-coast, and further funding from the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC), organizers expanded westward.
“As a member of the De Gaspe Beaubien family who is from B.C., it is really exciting to see a program like this come here, to harness the skills and talents of young British Columbians in having a positive impact on freshwater in the province,” said Aidan Mattrick. “We knew to expand we needed a great local partner like OBWB – a community leader with water management expertise, and a partner that would be enthusiastic and receptive to work on these issues. I can’t wait to see what develops over the next few months and beyond.”
The challenge is open to teams from across Canada and it’s anticipated that the new tech solutions could deliver national and international benefits.
The five water issues, selected by an advisory committee panel, include the following:
1) Contaminants in stormwater – How can we improve water quality in our lakes and streams by reducing stormwater contamination?
2) Residential/commercial outdoor water use – How can we reduce the amount of water used outdoors by B.C. homes and businesses?
3) Flood damage in communities and the need to communicate flood risk – How can we reduce damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure and better communicate the risk of flooding to communities?
4) Preventing and mitigating the effects of invasive zebra and quagga mussels – How can we prevent an infestation and potential damage from invasive mussels?
5) Access to potable water in Indigenous communities – How can we improve access to clean drinking water for Indigenous communities in B.C.?
This challenge will be one of three events being held across Canada in 2020. Separate events are being held in Winnipeg and Halifax. In each challenge, students and early-career professionals will receive mentorship and skills building workshops, while they compete for more than $50,000 in prizes and a secured spot in a start-up incubator.
Supporters and funders of the B.C. AquaHacking Challenge include: IBM, RBC Foundation, REFBC, Teck Resources and Mitacs.
Advisory committee partners are: Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, Okanagan Sustainability Leadership Council, Urban Systems, City of Kelowna, Purppl, Okanagan Nation Alliance, and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology – Cleantech Planning and Innovation Branch.
Academic partners are: UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, Okanagan College, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, Thompson Rivers University, and University of Northern B.C.
Implementation partners are: Hackworks, Waterlution and the OBWB’s Okanagan WaterWise education and outreach program.
For further information on the B.C. AquaHacking Challenge, click here
Featured image courtesy of unsplash.com Megan Johnston, @megancorkey
