Come back often and see what WaterCan is up to!

• 
  March 18, 2008 – WaterCan to mark World Water Day with launch of “End Poverty at the Source!” video contest!
  Make a video about the need for clean water and sanitation and you could win a trip to Africa with WaterCan! To learn more, visit our contest site here. Read the press release here.
  
  
• The Global Sanitation Fund: It’s time for Canada to act
  Around the world, 2.6 billion people – 42 per cent of the global population – have nowhere to go. They lack access to basic sanitation like toilets or safe latrines, and are locked in a cycle of poverty, disease and despair.
  Lack of sanitation is one of the world’s most lethal humanitarian crises – yet only a small amount of Canada’s foreign aid is focused on this critical area.
  By supporting the new Global Sanitation Fund, Canada can take the lead in ending the sanitation crisis and turn the tide in the fight against global poverty.
  Read more here.
  
  
• WaterCan in the news
  WaterCan Program Director George Yap talks to Andy Riga of the Montreal
  Gazette about "flying toilets" and the desperate need for sanitation in the
  developing world. Read the article here.
  
  
• WaterCan's George Yap talks toilets with the Ottawa Citizen
  In this feature article, writer Chris Cobb looks at the global sanitation
  crisis and asks the experts what can be done to address it. Read the article.
  
  
• WaterCan is a finalist for Citizens Bank’s 2007 Shared Interest™ awards
  
• Every year the Shared Interest™ awards program provides grants to organizations that serve communities large and small in Canada and around the world.
  
  Attention Citizens Bank clients! Let Citizens Bank know that you would like to support WaterCan – your votes get pooled and based on the percentage of votes each finalist receives, Citizens Bank divides the pot. For example, if one organization gets 22 per cent of the vote, they get 22 per cent of the fund.
  Voting for 2007 begins December 15th and runs through January 31st, 2008.
  Learn more about Citizens Bank, its Shared Interest Program, and how to vote for WaterCan!
  
  
• WaterCan's George Yap featured in the Toronto Star
  In an interview with the Star’s Olivia Ward, WaterCan’s Program Director, George Yap, discusses the dirty truth about the sanitation crisis, and how it is inextricably linked to global poverty. See the article.
  
  
• November 21: United Nations launches International Year of Sanitation 2008
  In an effort to highlight the critical role that sanitation plays in the
  fight against global poverty, the United Nations will officially launch
  the "International Year of Sanitation 2008" on November 21, 2007 at UN
  Headquarters in New York at 11:00 am EST.
  
  At the launch event, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to call for increased global support to combat one of the most lethal and least
  reported humanitarian crises on the planet - the global sanitation crisis. more...
  
  
• SWAN Canada calls on PM to help end Global Sanitation Crisis
  Read the letter
  

• SWAN Canada highlights the global sanitation crisis in Weekly Hill Times (Nov. 19, 2007) and Embassy Weekly (Nov. 21, 2007)
  See the ad
  
  
• November 19: World Toilet Day
  OTTAWA, ON - World Toilet Day takes place each year on November 19th, and
  each year, it unfailingly evokes the same response - just what the heck is
  World Toilet Day?

  Started by the World Toilet Organization in 2001, World Toilet Day is an
  internationally recognized occasion to celebrate the humble yet critical
  role toilets play in our daily lives. For some, it is an opportunity to
  unveil the latest in toilet technology; for others, it is a great excuse
  to air one's best potty humour in public.

  Increasingly though, World Toilet Day has become a call to action for one
  of the most lethal and least reported humanitarian crises on the planet:
  the global sanitation crisis: more...

• LUSH Cosmetics launches WaterCan "Charity Pot"
  LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, manufacturer of natural body products, supports WaterCan's project work in Africa by launching the "Charity Pot". All proceeds from every pot of hand and body lotion sold go into the LUSH Charity Pot Fund, which then goes towards six charitable groups, one of which is WaterCan. An instant success in the UK, the "Charity Pot" is now being launched in North America. Pots are available in all LUSH stores, across North America - in plenty of time for the holidays! WaterCan thanks LUSH for their support and is thrilled to welcome them to our family of supporters! Click to read the press release.

• Bridgehead coffeehouses launch "WaterCan Blend"
  Bridgehead coffeehouses, Ottawa-based retailer of fairly-traded, organic and shade-grown coffees from small-scale farmers, supports WaterCan's project work in Africa by launching the "WaterCan Blend". Two dollars from every pound sold of this Ethiopian coffee will be directed to a community-based project in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, where all of Bridgehead's African coffees are grown. The blend is currently available for purchase at Bridgehead coffeehouses city-wide and in the online store at www.bridgehead.ca. WaterCan thanks Bridgehead for their support and is thrilled to welcome them to our family of supporters! Click to read the press release.

• September 13: Inaugural WaterCan Awards Ceremony
  In celebration of 20 years of bringing clean water to developing countries, WaterCan publicly recognized and thanked those who have made vital contributions to the field of clean water and sanitation as well as to our organization and its current efforts in eastern Africa. Award recipients included Officer of the Order of Canada and current Chair of the Global Water Partnership, Margaret Catley-Carlson.
  Click here to view the photo gallery.
  
  
• "Lost Treasures - Found Hope" charity garage sale - a success!
  Ottawa, Saturday, August 25th - Thank you to Moms Making It Happen for making WaterCan their 2007 event charity of choice. Over $1000 in proceeds will go a long way towards our vision of Clean Water for All! www.momsmakingithappen.com
  
  
• August 2007: March Networks new corporate supporter           
  Ottawa-based provider of intelligent IP video and business analysis applications, March Networks, signs on as a new corporate supporter of WaterCan's project work overseas. Providing direct funding to a community-based project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,  March Networks will help provide access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education to still more needy children and their families in Africa. WaterCan is thrilled to welcome March Networks to its family of sponsors!
  Click to read the press release
  
  
• July 6: 2007: Short-term contract opportunity: Policy Officer. For full details, please click here.
  
  
• June 28: Beauty product manufacturer Collega International donates an extraordinary $35,381.47 to WaterCan! Walks were held across the country in celebration of Collega's "Earth Month"; the focus of which, this year, was making clean water a human right. All funds raised were generously donated to WaterCan and will be put directly towards WaterCan's clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education efforts in eastern Africa. A huge thank you goes out to all participants!
  
  
• June 21: University chapters raise $44,480. WaterCan's 2006-2007 university chapter program met with amazing success, raising $44,480 to provide clean water, sanitation facilities and better health to people living in Meskan District, central Ethiopia (to learn more about the project visit: http://www.watercan.com/university/challenge.shtml).
  Thank you to everyone who was involved with this tremendous achievement. To learn more about the chapter program and how you can start one at your school, visit: http://www.watercan.com/university/index.shtml
  
  
• June 12: NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that an Annual General Meeting of the WaterCan/EauVive Corporation will be held at Volunteer Place, 330 Gilmour Street, Ottawa, on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 5:00p.m.
  
  
• June 7: PEI teen auctions TV to raise money for clean water in Africa
  After seeing the CTV documentary, "A Window Opens: Margaret and Sophie in Ethiopia", and in an effort to raise money for WaterCan's projects in Africa, 14 year old PEI resident, Star Koleszar, has decided to put her family's only TV up for auction on e-bay. For more information on Star's story or to make a donation, please visit her website at: www.notvforwater.com
  
  
• June 6:  Trudeau named one of Ottawa's top 50
  Ottawa Life Magazine named WaterCan's Honorary President Margaret Trudeau one of Ottawa's top 50 people for 2007.  The annual edition features those individuals who made a difference in the evolution of the national capital.  Visit www.ottawalife.com for more information.
  
  
• June 5:  WaterCan supports "End Water Poverty" campaign.
   
  WaterCan has joined as an official supporter of the international advocacy campaign "End Water Poverty" that aims to bring an end to the global water and sanitation crisis.  The coalition is formed of like-minded organizations from around the world who are demanding urgent action and leadership from donors and governments alike. To learn more or to join the EWP campaign, visit:  www.endwaterpoverty.org.
  
  
• May 21:  Margaret Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire in CTV documentary "A Window Opens:  Margaret and Sophie in Ethiopia".  Air Date:  Sat, May 12, 7:00pm ET on CTV. They are also featured in Hello! Magazine, hitting stands on May 4th.
  
  
• May 15:  2007 Embassy Dinner Results
  
  
• May 11:  15% of proceeds of the sale of Ed Lawrence’s gardening book “Gardening Grief and Glory” to go to WaterCan.

  We are pleased to announce that friends of WaterCan can purchase Ed Lawrence’s gardening book “Gardening Grief and Glory” at Chapters/Indigo locations across Canada, with 15% of the proceeds going to support WaterCan.  We are thrilled with this new initiative and encourage you to look for “Gardening Grief and Glory” at your local Chapters/Indigo location. 

  Ed Lawrence is the retired gardener to six Canadian Governors General and Prime Ministers, and for more than two decades was known as the phone-in "gardening guru" for CBC Radio’s "Ontario Today".  Ed Lawrence has provided practical, down-to-earth advice that has become the final word in gardening for more than half a million loyal listeners and fans. Now for the first time in print, Ed’s encyclopedic knowledge of the gardening world, including the many uses of his famous "40-parts water to 1-part soap" solution, are yours.

  For more information on Ed Lawrence and Gardening Grief and Glory please visit Eds website at: http://www.gardeningwithed.com
  
  

• May 11: Be sure to check out suite101 (www.suite101.com) an online forum in which over 700 writers speak their minds and ask what's on yours. Sandra Williams is a writer in the Social Issues category, specifically about issues related to poverty. Her article, entitled "Campaign for Clean Water in Africa" profiles WaterCan, the CTV documentary on Margaret Trudeau, and calls Canadians to take action on the issue of clean water for all. To read her article click here.
  
  
• April 26:  Margaret Trudeau and Sophie Grégoire travel to Ethiopia and visit WaterCan projects in the CTV documentary "A Window Opens:  Margaret and Sophie in Ethiopia".  Air Date:  Sat, May 12, 7:00pm ET on CTV.  The dynamic duo is also featured in Hello! Magazine's May edition, hitting stands in May 4th.View images of of the trip
  
  
• Rogers Television creates TV promo for the Embassy Dinner Click here to view
  
  
• March 29:  Margaret Trudeau appears on Gill Deacon show http://www.cbc.ca/gill/2007/03/thursday_march_29th.html
  
  
• March 22:  WaterCan's Board Chair writes letter to the editor of the Citizen on the subject of World Water Day.  Click here to read it!
  
  
• March 22: Gary Pluim, WaterCan’s Executive Director, discusses the importance of water and sanitation with Rogers Television “Daytime” hosts Derick Fage and TL Rader. Airing on channel 22 at 3, 5 and 11 pm, Gary will “officially” launch WaterCan’s “Case for Support: Why invest in water and sanitation in the developing world?” This document and accompanying series of educational posters (bilingual) provides information on the global water and sanitation crisis and how the provision of these basic services is critical to supporting poverty alleviation efforts in developing countries.
  

  To learn more click here

  
  
• March 30, 2007:Toronto group holds fashion show to raise funds for WaterCan:   Join us on Friday March 30th, 2007 for a night like no other. Celebrate with us for a great cause! HELM Event is a fundraiser for WaterCan, a Canadian non-governmental organization dedicated to providing clean water, basic sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest communities. Come dressed in fashionable elegance for the Red Carpet Affair.
  
  The 3rd Annual HELM Event promises to be a music and fashion extravaganza, followed by a dance-driven after party. Our special guest host and hostess for the evening include Agile , Eman Redwan& JDiggz. The show brings together upcoming designers KAVIKAVI, Ashley Zaba, PDRC, Chine Design, along with our title sponsors: Cut & Sew (Marc Ecko), Ecko Red, Lacoste, Roos, and Big it Up! dressing the sexiest models in the hottest spring/summer 2007 ready-to-wear. For the post-show dance party, music will be provided by Agile (Brass Munk & Big Black Lincoln). 
  To learn more or purchase tickets visit:  http://www.helmfashionshow.com/index.php
  
  
• March 22: World Water Day - WaterCan Walks for Water
  
  
• Feb 19, 2007: An Evening with Angela Hewitt – a concert to benefit WaterCan – a success! Click here to learn more and view pictures of the event.
  
  
• Jan 1, 2007:  Happy 20th Birthday WaterCan/EauVive.  Learn about the exciting activities planned for our 20th year. 
  
  
• Dec 20, 2006:  Short-term contract opportunity with WaterCan - Water and
  Sanitation Capacity Building Coordinator.  Application deadline:  January 15,
  2007.
  Download position description
  
  
• Dec 7 2006:  Fall edition of WaterDrops, WaterCan's National Newsletter is now available for download.
  
  
• Dec 6, 2006:  Margaret Trudeau and WaterCan covered in ViaRail Destinations! magazine.  Read "For the Joy of Giving".
  
  
• Dec 6, 2006:  The United Nations, MTV and Jay-Z team up to raise attention of the world water crisis: "The Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life".  In partnership with the United Nations and MTV, Jay-Z shares his experiences in the documentary "The Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life". The film will be aired worldwide, starting on November 24 at MTV USA and will be available at MTV’s website. It is a joint effort to get young people involved in the world's water crisis. Struck by the sight of children playing near open sewers in an Angolan slum, rap star Jay-Z thought back to life in the "hood" — the poor neighborhood where he grew up – exclaiming: "In my business, we like to say we're from the hood, we're not in the hood. By no means. Not even close."
  www.waterforlife.mtv.com http://www.waterforlife.mtv.com/
  WaterCan is listed as one of the charities active on this issue, see:  http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/features/global/water_for_life/
  
  
• Nov 27, 2006:  WaterCan launches “Walk for Water” initiative.  Click to learn about the initiative, how you can plan a walk in your community, or how to join an existing walk.
  
  
• Nov 21, 2006:  Tickets now on sale for “An evening with Angela Hewitt” – A concert to benefit WaterCan:  Calgary - Monday, February 19th, 2007. 
  
  
• Nov 17, 2006:  View images of Margaret Trudeau’s recent trip to Ethiopia.
  Margaret Trudeau and daughter-in-law Sophie Grégoire visit WaterCan’s Ethiopian projects.
  
  
• Nov 9, 2006: UN urges end to 'water apartheid'
  A further $4bn is needed to combat water-borne diseases, one of the worst
  killers for the world's poor, says the UNDP.  Read the story
  
  Download the Human Development Report 2006: Beyond scarcity
  
  
• October 26, 2006:  Margaret Trudeau appears on CBC's The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.  Click here to watch the interview.
  
  
• October 24, 2006:  Ottawa citizen article about Margaret Trudeau and WaterCan

  THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
  PAGE: A4 (NEWS)
  Water 'is a basic human right,' Canadian charity leader tells MPs
  Canada is urged to live up to $8B pledge for international aid
  Kate Jaimet, The Ottawa Citizen

     When, as Margaret Trudeau, she travelled the world as the wife of the prime minister, she saw only the glitz and glamour that foreign leaders wanted her to see. Now, as the honorary president of a charity that digs clean drinking-wells in small African villages, Margaret Kemper has just returned from an 11-day tour of some of the poorest places on Earth.

     What shocked her most were the children dying from drinking contaminated water.

     Next to that came the drudge-ry of women and young girls, walking 10 kilometres or more from their villages to reach the nearest watering hole.

     "Animals would be in it. The women would do their washing in it. Children would play in it, defecate in it, and then the women would collect the water and then walk back 10 kilometres with the water strapped on their backs," said Ms. Kemper, honorary president of WaterCan. "What happens, once we put water in, is that that drudgery is at an end. ... What we are doing is providing them with what I think should be a basic human right: clean, safe, accessible water."

     Yesterday, at a breakfast meeting of parliamentarians and journalists, Ms. Kemper urged the Canadian government to live up to its longstanding promise to increase aid to developing countries, to 0.7 per cent of GDP, or about $8 billion annually.

     Currently, Canada's annual foreign aid budget stands at $3.4 billion, which the government has promised to increase to $4.1 billion by 2011. Included in the foreign aid budget is the $500-million Canada Fund for Africa, which has $50 million earmarked for water and sanitation.

     Ms. Kemper said it costs between $14,000 and $20,000 to dig a well that will provide water for a village of 200 to 500 people.

     "They can start irrigating the land that they have, they can grow crops, they can sell them in the villages," she said. "The children start to thrive: they can go to school, they can start to learn, it's the most basic first step, I think, in alleviating poverty."

     According to the World Health Organization, nearly two million people die every year from diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, transmitted through unclean drinking water.

     WaterCan aims to prevent those unnecessary deaths by funding non-governmental organizations to build sanitary latrines, protect freshwater springs, and dig clean wells.

     The wells are typically dug a short distance from the village, which gives women the opportunity to do their washing -- and their talking -- away from the prying ears of village men, Ms. Kemper said.

     As well, WaterCan provides funds for each village to set up a water committee, composed of women, that takes care of various aspects of water provision, such as keeping the well clean and in good repair, and collecting a small fee for each container of water dispersed.

     "It's the first time that the women have been given any power, usually, in these villages," Ms. Kemper said. She said the men often try to take away the committee positions from the women, but WaterCan stands firm in insisting that the women, who do the work, must also have the authority over the water.

     "Even nine months pregnant, their loving husband will not carry the water. It's very, very male-dominated, although the women do everything," she said.

  INFO: Editorial: Wells not a cure-all, but give women freedom , page A14
  ILLUS: Photo: Rod MacIvor, The Ottawa Citizen / Margaret Kemper, former wife of Pierre Trudeau, was stunned to see children dying from contaminated water during a recent trip to Africa. She says 'clean, safe, accessible water' is a basic human right.

• October 23, 2006:  Margaret Trudeau visits Ethiopia; speaks to MPs and Senators upon her return.

  During the 7th to the 14th of October, WaterCan's Honorary President Margaret Trudeau and her daughter-in-law Sophie Grégoire visited several projects in Ethiopia with WaterCan's annual study tour.  After covering the Trudeau family in their premiere issue, the newly launched Hello! magazine in Canada sent renown photo editor Peter Bregg along to shoot the trip.  In addition, CTV sent a film crew for a documentary that will air sometime in early 2007. 

  Bright and early on Monday, October 23rd, Margaret addressed a group of MPs, Senators, hill staff, WaterCan board members and media at a breakfast session: Why invest in water and sanitation in the developing world? 

  Using powerful imagery from our overseas projects, WaterCan presented a compelling case for increasing the amount of foreign aid designated for the water and sanitation sector in developing countries.

  When leaving, guests were given a copy of WaterCan’s Case for Support – a document that outlines the importance, effectiveness and high return on investment of water and sanitation schemes and what they can do to help improve the lives of people in developing countries. 

  Margaret gave an eloquent address, stating that WaterCan’s work to provide clean water, sanitation and better health to people living in eastern Africa is, in fact, not charity!  It is justice!

  Invitees were encouraged to sign WaterCan’s advocacy postcard, which asks the government to increase the amount of foreign aid dedicated to the water and sanitation sector.  To learn more about this Water for Life campaign click here. 

  Thank you to MP Pierre Poilievre for sponsoring the event.

  Thank you to the CBWA for helping provide the breakfast buffet. 

  Download WaterCan’s Case for Support
  English
  French

• September 29, 2006
  MDS Nordion supports WaterCan through workplace charitable giving campaign.
  
  

  

  WaterCan is thrilled to announce that MDS Nordion has made WaterCan a charity of choice for their 2006-2007 Give 2 charitable giving campaign.  Through this campaign, MDS Nordion employees can select to give a one time gift to WaterCan, or can have a requested amount deducted from paychecks.  The campaign aims to raise $10,000 to support our clean water and sanitation projects in eastern Africa.

  MDS Nordion has been a great supporter of WaterCan for several years. Having twice been Presenting Sponsor for our annual Embassy Dinner and MDS Nordion recently signed up for a third year!  

  MDS Nordion is truly taking action to achieve its goal - "to make a distinctive contribution to the health and well-being of people around the world".

  Thank you MDS NORDION!
  www.mds.nordion.com

• September 21, 2006
  Margaret Trudeau interview with Report on Business Television
  
  Margaret Trudeau gave a great interview Thursday, Sept 21, on Report on Business Television's Squeeze Play with Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary.  Discussing her passion for WaterCan, Margaret touched on the benefits that access to clean water and sanitation facilities means for children in developing countries, WaterCan's adminsitrative expenses, her family and other philanthropic endeavours. 
  
  You can view the 8 minute interview online: http://www.robtv.com/shows/past_archive.tv?day=thur. 
  Scroll down to 5:00 PM ET SqueezePlay with Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary
  Ms. Trudeau's interview is at the 45 minute mark.

• September 9, 2006:  Hello! Magazine covers Margaret Trudeau and daughter-in-law Sophie's visit to Ethiopia!
  
  
  During the 7th to the 14th of October, WaterCan's Honorary President Margaret Trudeau and her daughter-in-law Sophie Grégoire will visit several projects in Ethiopia with WaterCan's annual Study Tour.  After covering the Trudeau family in their premiere issue, the newly launched Hello! magazine in Canada will be sending their photo editor Peter Bregg on WaterCan's Study Tour.  Previously Peter Bregg was with Macleans magazine for fourteen years.  WaterCan is pleased to have Peter travel to Ethiopia with our group. 
  http://www.hellomagazine.com/
  
  
• August 18:  Volunteer Appreciation BBQ
   
  WaterCan’s Volunteer Appreciation BBQ was pleasant evening spent in Vincent Massey Park. About 35 hard working volunteers from various WaterCan activities indulged in hamburgers and veggie dogs cooked by our very own grill master Gary Pluim. A special thanks goes to Matt Knight, our summer co-op student for organizing the event, Dave Smith of Nate's Deli for donating the food, and to Vaughn McKinney of The Parliament Cleaning Group for his wit :) and for picking up and delivering the BBQ.  Thank you to all those volunteers who were unable to make it. We couldn't do it without you!
  
  picture 1 - picture 2
  
  
• August 2006:  WaterCan releases 2005-2006 annual report. 

  Report highlights include:

  •  a 25% increase in donations
  • an overall growth of 18.2% including income received from CIDA
  • a positive change in the lives of 20,000 people in Eastern Africa
  • an increased awareness among Canadians about WaterCan and its vision of "Clean Water for All"

  To learn more, please download the report or call WaterCan to receive a hard copy by mail.

• July 2006: Advanced Business Interiors upgrades WaterCan office
  "Thanks to the very generous donation of Advanced Business Interiors, WaterCan was able to upgrade the Canadian office facilities, and make it more efficient and friendly workspace. All of the staff now have proper work area and we can accommodate several more volunteers from our growing supporters.
  Please join us in thanking Advanced Business Interiors for their generosity and sharing our vision of Clean Water for All.
  
  
  
• June 19, 2006:  Michael Coo Completes Tour d’Afrique
  Michael Coo completes his 20,000 kilometre trek down Africa and raises $6,500 for WaterCan.  Click here to read his final update.
  
  
• June 10, 2006:  Embassy Dinner Raises $132,000!
  The results are in and WaterCan is proud to announce that an amazing $132,000 was raised to help fund our clean water projects in Eastern Afica. Click here to learn more.
  
  
• new Spring Issue of Waterdrops now available

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