With a little luck, the 2022 Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) annual conference will be unencumbered by COVID restrictions this time around.
In 2020, like most other conferences held in that calendar year, MAW’s conference was a strictly virtual event. However, in 2021, MAW hosted their festival in a brief window during last year’s conference season when restrictions were lowered. That allowed them to deliver their programming in person, says Lynda Nicol, MAW’s executive director.
“We were very lucky with our timing last year,” says Nicol.
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But despite that luck, organizing it was immensely challenging.
“Planning an event through that process was unlike any other event I’ve ever planned,” she says. “There were a lot of backup plans involved.”
This year’s conference is being held in Winnipeg at CanadaInns Polo Park from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7, and Nicol says she’s hoping for a less complicated, less restricted and more traditional environment than they had in 2021. However, there are contingency plans should another wave hit.
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“Our conference committee has learned a lot of the ins-and-outs by going through the planning process for last year,” says Nicol. “So we have some of those backups in place. But we’re very optimistic that we will be able to run the event as it’s intended to be.”
The theme for this year’s conference is Building Resilient Watersheds, and focuses on climate resiliency at the watershed level. For Nicol, it’s hard to pick out what she’s looking forward to most about the upcoming event.
“I’m excited about the whole thing, to be honest. We’re really thrilled with the program coming together the way that it has,” she says.
The keynote speaker for the conference is Amanda Fitzsimmons, the president of Régénération Canada, an advocacy-based non-profit group that promotes regenerative agriculture.
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“She really understands and speaks so eloquently about the water cycles and the impact that it has on overall watershed health,” Nicol says. “We’re really using that as an opening conversation for the entirety of our program, which, as always, is about focusing on the work that the watershed districts do.”
There are a couple of panels that are highlighting specific projects, like the prairie watersheds climate program and the Living Labs Eastern Prairies project, which is in its final year.
“We’re really excited to share more details, not just of what those programs are, but of the relevancy behind the specific work that’s been done within them.” Nicol notes.
Peppered throughout the program are sessions focusing on the individual watershed districts. Nicol says these sessions were a highlight for her during last year’s conference.
“Giving the stage over to the watershed district members allows them to really demonstrate the specifics of programming that they’ve offered and success stories from within their region. So I’m really looking forward to participating in those sessions with them.” she says.
On the lighter side, Nicol says she’s excited to bring back their icebreaker event again. “Last year, we had to cancel our icebreaker because of COVID. And so the idea of having that more relaxed and casual opportunity for everyone to gather together, share a bite to eat, and get to know one another as the event starts, is something I’m really excited to have the opportunity to participate in this year.”
The icebreaker event runs from 6-9 p.m. on the Monday of the conference and includes appetizers and a cash bar.
But the high point for the conference will be the Tuesday night awards banquet.
“It’s a tremendous opportunity to highlight specific individuals within the watershed districts who have just done incredible work,” Nicol says. “We have the opportunity to really celebrate their accomplishments and contributions to the program.”
Comedian Big Daddy Tazz will be providing after-dinner entertainment.
MAW’s Annual General Meeting will close out the conference activities from 11:00 a.m. till noon on Dec. 7.
