A new national collaboration among funders is taking shape to strengthen our collective response to one of the most pressing challenges of our time — ensuring long-term water security in Canada.

The initiative brings together funders from across the country that are committed to advancing the protection, stewardship, and sustainable management of freshwater in Canada. It reflects a growing recognition that water security — sustainable access to clean water for people, ecosystems, and economies — is essential to Canada’s environmental, social, and economic resilience.

Currently co-chaired by the Metcalf Foundation and the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation, this initiative represents a timely national effort to mobilize significant new resources toward Canada’s long-term water security. It builds on a long history of funder support for regional and community-based freshwater efforts across the country.

Through regular convenings and strategy sessions, participating funders will pursue opportunities to grow and align investments in water security, share knowledge and expertise, and support collaborative and coordinated action across different regions and sectors. Near-term priorities include mobilizing resources to catalyze and design new national water security funds and helping to inform a new national water security strategy. The initiative will work closely with the new Canada Water Agency.

For Metcalf, this initiative aligns closely with the Foundation’s 10-year Environment program strategy and its goal of safeguarding lands and waters across Canada for generations to come.

If you are a funder and interested in learning more or getting engaged, please contact Metcalf’s Environment Program Director, Andre Vallillee.