POLIS Project on Ecological Governance

💧We are excited to share the launch of Working for Watersheds' first Economic Case Study: Watershed Technology in BC!

Released on World Water Day 2026, this report highlights BC's 90 water technology companies, a $508B global market opportunity, and the workforce investments needed to grow the sector.

Read the full report at https://www.workingforwatersheds.ca/post/economic-case-study-watershed-technology and share it with your
network!

The Economic Case for Watershed Technology in BC Launching on World Water Day, this first Economic Case Study from Working for Watersheds explores how Watershed Technology is driving jobs, investment, and innovation across the province.

Thank you to everyone for an incredible World Water Day celebration yesterday!

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for the screening of Nechako: It Will Be A Big River Again and for the strong turnout at our Water Sustainability Resource Fair.

From meaningful conversations to shared learning and connection, the evening reflected the importance of coming together around water- across communities, perspectives, and generations.

Thank you to Lyana and Adam, our partners, and all who attended and contributed to such an impactful and engaged space.

Find additional ways to get involved this WWD at nechakoriver.ca and 🩵💧

🌊 Today’s the day!! Join us at the Student Union Building for:

🍕 Water Sustainability Resource Fair (Michèle Pujol Room - 3 PM)
🎬 Nechako: It Will Be a Big River Again (Cinecenta - 5 PM)
💬 Dialogue with Lyana Patrick & SȾHENEP Adam Olsen (Cinecenta) moderated by POLIS’ Laura Brandes.

Water connects us across communities and generations. Can’t wait to see you there!

More updates from the International Elk-Kootenai/y Watershed Study Board! The Study Board, co-chaired by POLIS’ Oliver M. Brandes, has just released its March 2026 newsletter sharing updates on:

• Progress toward the Interim Status Report
• Indigenous engagement initiatives
• Technical working group activities
• Ongoing work to understand water pollution impacts across the watershed

The IEKWSB was established by the IJC - International Joint Commission to build a shared understanding of water pollution in the transboundary Elk-Kootenai/y watershed and identify possible solutions.

📬 Read the newsletter here:https://ijc.org/sites/default/files/EKSB%20Winter%20Newsletter%20March%209%202026.pdf

💧New resources on water pollution in the Elk-Kootenai/y watershed!

The International Elk-Kootenai/y Watershed Study Board (IEKWSB)- co-chaired by POLIS’ Oliver M. Brandes- has released four new fact sheets examining water pollution and its impacts across the transboundary watershed.

The fact sheets explore:
• Water quality status and trends
• Impacts to human health and well-being
• Impacts to ecosystem health and cumulative effects
• Mitigation

Established by the IJC - International Joint Commission the Study Board is working to build a shared understanding of water pollution challenges affecting people, communities, and species in the Elk-Kootenai/y watershed.

📄 Download the fact sheets here:https://ijc.org/sites/default/files/V.4_%20Elk-Kootenaiy%20TWG%20Factsheets%202026.pdf

Learn more about the Study Board:
https://ijc.org/en/ekwsb

International Elk-Kootenai/y Watershed Study Board | International Joint Commission The Elk-Kootenai/y Watershed Study Board has released its interim status study report, covering the first year of its activities. 

🎬 Stories of resistance, renewal, and relationships. Following our World Water Day screening of Nechako: It Will Be a Big River Again, join us for engaging dialogue with:

✨ Lyana Patrick: award-winning director from Stellat’en First Nation +
✨ SȾHENEP Adam Olsen: former MLA, Tsartlip First Nation

Together, they’ll explore water and watershed governance, restoration, responsibility, and what it means to protect rivers and the land for future generations.

📍 March 19 | 5 PM | Cinecenta / Michèle Pujol Room
🎟 Free: Visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/world-water-day-celebration-film-screening-expert-dialogue-tickets-1982836359929?aff=oddtdtcreator to RSVP.

🍕🌊 Come network with local water leaders and champions in celebration World Water Day! Before the free film screening of Nechako, we’d love for you to join us for our Water Sustainability Resource Fair featuring:

• Community organizations
• Campus research labs
• Local government
• Environmental consultants
• Student groups & more

This is a space to build relationships, spark ideas, and strengthen watershed collaboration across sectors.

🗓 March 19 | 3:30–4:30 PM
📍 Michèle Pujol Room, SUB
🎟 Free

Watershed security starts with relationships. See you there!

Join us for a special World Water Day film screening of Nechako. After seven decades, two Indigenous nations reach a turning point in their historic legal fight to reclaim the Nechako River and the way of life it once sustained.

Nechako is a powerful chronicle of resistance and renewal, reminding us that survival must serve everyone and the health of our lands and waters is inseparable from our own.

March 19th, 2026 | 5 PM | Cinecenta Theatre - University of Victoria | Free Admission | Expert dialogue panel to follow

Nechako | Excerpt 1 This is "Nechako | Excerpt 1" by NFB/marketing on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

🌊 Join us for our 19th Annual World Water Day Celebration at the University of Victoria!

This March 19th, we’re bringing together students, community members, Indigenous leaders, researchers, and local water champions again for a wonderful evening of connection, learning, and dialogue.

Details:

✨ Water Sustainability Resource Fair + free pizza (3:30-4:30pm - Michele Pujol Room, Student Union Building/ SUB)
🎬 Film screening: Nechako: It Will Be a Big River Again (5pm - Cinecenta/ SUB)
💬 Expert dialogue & Q&A (Cinecenta)
📍 Student Union Building, University of Victoria
🗓 March 19, 2026
🎟 Free event: Register through the link in bio or https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/world-water-day-celebration-film-screening-expert-dialogue-tickets-1982836359929?aff=oddtdtcreator

Co-hosted with BC Watershed Security Coalition Borders in Globalization (BIG_Lab) Indigenous Internationalisms

In December, Forests Minister Ravi Parmer hosted the high-profile first National Wildfire Symposium in Vancouver and, in January, wildfire risk featured prominently at the 23rd B.C. Natural Resources Forum in Prince George.

POLIS’ Doug Donaldson participated at both these events, sharing recent and forthcoming research from the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project on challenges and opportunities for achieving wildfire resilience in B.C.

Read more:

POLIS Offers Solutions to the National Wildfire Priority - The POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project In a recent article in the Vancouver Sun, the POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project team noted that, even though it is winter, wildfires are still on the minds of many wildfire managers and community members across B.C. and Canada. In early December, Forests Minister Ravi Parmer hosted the high-profile....