Events
A Closer Look - Streamlined Approach for Implementing Decentralized Solutions in First Nations and Rural Communities Enhancing Rural Water-Health Innovation in Canada
An invention can become an innovation based on the community's adoption, not implementation. With around one in five Canadians living in Canada's rural regions, it is critical to better understand how to promote broader notions of innovation for rural communities and increase well-being standards. The impacts that may drive or be driven by decentralization and localization are up for exploration, evaluation, consideration, and application. These impacts manifest across various domains, including technological, political, economic, social/cultural, trust/ethics, regulatory/legal, and environmental. Government and industry leaders face the imperative of understanding the direct and indirect impacts of decentralized solutions for water-health within their organizations and communities. They must also assess the implications for future investment in water-health solutions. Much of the investments in centralized solutions have not fully and desirably addressed the challenges faced in Indigenous and rural communities. Insufficient reporting can undermine the progress made through decentralized solution options. The Community Circle and its partners invite you to examine the key challenges affecting decentralization and localization more closely to holistically identify the path and extent of the impacts on Indigenous and rural water health. Ambitious rural water-health improvement goals need to be met with equally ambitious innovation and sustainability actions. The main goal is for 20-25 community leaders and international experts to participate in the 1.5-day small group to exchange insights and practices, explore proven solutions, broaden their perspectives, and uncover ways to solve real-life water-health challenges in Indigenous and Rural communities alongside peers. The group meeting will be facilitated using Research-based Theatre (RbT) methodology. After this event, one or more ideas chosen from among participants' input and agreed-upon principles will become pilot projects in 2025. The Open Circle TM Series is designed by Community Circle on Scaling Business Innovation for Humanity to help innovators develop broader, richer, and more refined lines of inquiry. Mobilizing innovation in a culturally responsive and ethical manner resides at the intersection of art, folklore, and engineering. It demands learning through stories and conversations, applying creativity and heuristics derived from spillover experiences, and navigating unpredictable possibilities.
A Closer Look: Applying Al in Rural Infrastructure Domains Toward a Framework for First Nations
The global race to scale up and adopt Al is on, and Canada is at the forefront of this technology. Canada was the first country to introduce a national Al strategy and has invested over $2 billion since 2017 to support Al and digital research and innovation. Al is already unlocking massive growth in industries across the economy. Many people already feel the benefits of incredible innovations and job opportunities across all facets of the Canadian economy, from drug discovery to energy efficiency and housing. To capitalize on these opportunities in 2024, the Government of Canada seeks to invest $2 billion to boost Al data processing capacity and access to advanced and high-performing computing power. Much of this spending and opportunity is missing the First Nations and rural communities in Canada. To make sure rural and Indigenous communities, along with the urban population, can seize every opportunity in the economy of the future and set every generation up for success, we need to scale up our innovation ambitions. Ambitious Al Goals need to be met with equally ambitious sustainability actions. The Community Circle and its partners invite you to examine the key challenges affecting digitalization more closely to identify the path and extent of Al's impacts on Indigenous and rural water-health across various dimensions, including technological, political, economic, social/cultural, trust/ethics, regulatory/legal, and environmental. Our main goal is for 20-25 community leaders and international experts to participate in the 1.5-day small group to exchange insights and practices, explore proven solutions, broaden their perspectives, and uncover ways to use Al to help solve real-life water-health challenges in Indigenous and rural communities alongside peers. The group meeting will be facilitated using Research-based Theatre (RbT) methodology. After this event, one or more ideas chosen from among participants' input and agreed-upon principles will become pilot projects in 2025. The Open Circle™ Series is designed by Community Circle on Scaling Business Innovation for Humanity to help innovators develop broader, richer, and more refined lines of inquiry. Mobilizing innovation in a culturally responsive and ethical manner resides at the intersection of art, folklore, and engineering. It demands learning through stories and conversations, applying creativity and heuristics derived from spillover experiences, and navigating unpredictable possibilities.
Mobilizing Clean Water - Canadore Innovation Challenge
The Community Circle on Scaling Business Innovation for Humanity is pleased to announce its participation in Canadore College's Innovation Challenge. We are thrilled to introduce a new stream: Mobilizing Clean Water!. Community Circle's participation in the Canadore Innovation Challenge is the first activity to arise from a newly inked five-year collaboration agreement between the two organizations, designed to foster new opportunities for joint community-driven infrastructure projects in water, sanitation, food, health, and education.
Navigating Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) Infrastructure Programs
We are pleased to announce that Community Circle was invited to participate in the Navigating ISC Infrastructure Programs: Building Communities for Future Generations forum held in October 2024. At the event, we had the opportunity to present our success stories and best practices to an audience of BC First Nations and government agencies. Participating in this forum provided a platform to showcase our achievements and foster collaboration with other First Nation communities. It was an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and learn from the experiences of other nations, contributing to the overall goal of building capacity Nation-to-Nation.
Transforming Our Water Future, AWWA'S 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPO (ACE24)
Water is the world’s most vital resource. There is no replacement. At ACE, we come together to discuss and plan for the serious issues that will transform the future of water. Together, we will make an impact that will determine the trajectory of our planet. Attend ACE and collectively, we will transform the future of water.
Assembly of First Nations, National Operators Forum
The AFN is hosting a one-day National Operators Forum, specifically for Water Operators and Water Operator in Training. This will be held on April 15, 2024, prior to the start of the Water Symposium. The National Operators Forum on April 15, 2024, is taking place at the same venue, and will include an important discussion on key topics of interest to First Nations Water and Wastewater Operators. Topics will include: funding and financing; issues and challenges in water and wastewater management; and, a national water and wastewater association. When you sign up to attend the National Operators Forum and stay for the 7th Annual Water Symposium your symposium registration fee will be waived. Note that your registration for the Symposium is complimentary only when signing up also for the April 15th National Operators Forum. See the check box on the online registration page or on the registration form to sign up for this one-day event specifically for you. Please contact Alexandra Whiteduck if you have any questions: water-eau@afn.ca
7th Annual Water Symposium and Trade Show: Bridging the Gap: First Nations Water and Wastewater Equity
Building upon the dialogue from the 6th Annual Water Symposium, “Securing Safe Water for All First Nations,” the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is hosting an in-person Water Symposium and Trade Show focused on addressing important water-related issues facing First Nations. Access to safe, clean water and sanitation is more important than ever given the uncertainty facing First Nations with respect to water and wastewater. Legislation, questions around sustainable funding, long-term transfer of care and control, and the implications of a new national water agency continue to be important issues to First Nations. In comparison to most Canadians, access to water and sanitation is a human right that too many First Nations still don’t have. The AFN’s 7th Annual Water Symposium’s theme is Bridging the Gap: First Nations Water and Wastewater Equity.
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