Atlantic Canada 2022-23

AquaHacking Challenge

ATLANTIC CANADA 2022-23

We are so happy to be coming back

to Canada’s Atlantic Region!

Hosted By

Meet The Finalists!

Sense H2O

A cloud-based platform that delivers real-time water quality data for watershed organizations and open databases.

SU

The team is using phragmites, an invasive plant in Canadian wetlands, as natural and reusable straws.

Kamino

A program/app that uses stormwater databases and GIS maps to determine potential green infrastructure benefits for the intended area.

TechStar Digital

Labs

GREENHUT, is an intensive green roofing solution for households, providing a natural form of vegetation to reduce stormwater runoff from buildings.

Seacycle

Seacycle has developed an innovative water filtration system that filters out plastic waste ranging from water bottles to microplastics using a gravity filter while also providing automated water quality reports.

About the Challenge

Atlantic Canada is home to a spectacular system of dynamic freshwater and marine environments. Water is core to ecosystems and communities across the region; from Indigenous, to rural, to urban. Water is the life-giving force that unites all beings within this vast geography.

This program is focused on solutions. We engage talented young innovators from across Canada to put their skills to work for freshwater.

We need solutions now and we need everyone engaged! If you care about water and are solutions-minded, this is the program for you!

Streams of water

 

Water has no substitute.

The time is now for solutions and change.

The Water issues

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SALT WATER
INTRUSION

How can we provide well water users cost-effective solutions for salt water intrusion?

Water Issue Leaders

Logan Horrocks, GIS Specialist and Charlynne Robertson, Senior Manager - Clean Coasts at Clean Foundation

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AQUATIC
INVASIVE SPECIES

How can we improve the control and management of aquatic invasive species?

Water Issue Leaders

Kaylee MacLeod, Senior Field Technician - Species at Risk and Biodiversity at Coastal Action and Erin Francheville, MSc App Sci (2024) at SMU

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AUTOMATED
WATER QUALITY MONITORING

How can we provide automated and cost-effective solutions to monitor water
quality?

Water Issue Leaders

Curtis Forbes, Project Biologist and Kalen Mawer, Aquatic Science Program Manager at Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc.

stormwater_blue

stormwater
and green infrastructure

How can we improve green infrastructure maintenance and care practices to ensure long term stormwater management?

Water Issue Leaders

Jamylynn McDonald, Climate Change Coordinator at ACAP Saint John

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Innovations for
water alteration projects

How can we innovate to improve the alteration projects occurring in our lakes and rivers to mitigate environmental impacts?

Water Issue Leaders

Annamarie Burgess, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Water Resources Management Unit,
at Nova Scotia Department of Environment & Climate Change

List on a clipboard with water droplets next to it

WATER ISSUES
SUMMARY REPORT

Additional information, resources and data about the water issues.

The Prizes

Half-way through the program, all teams pitch their solution during the AquaHacking semi-final event. This is a huge feat, and we welcome all semi-finalists into the AquaHacking Alumni community!

From these pitches, the top 5 teams are selected to go onto Phase 2 of the program. These finalists receive $2,000 to support the continuation of their work as they refine their solution in preparation for their pitch at the AquaHacking Finale.
All 5 finalist teams are winners and receive kick-start business training, leadership training, a spot in a local incubator, Lavery Lawyers credits and seed funding.

 

$1,000
Public Choice Award
$20,000
First Place
$15,000
Second Place
$10,000
Third Place
$5,000
Fourth Place
$5,000
Fifth Place

Eligibility

Eligible participants in an AquaHacking Challenge are between 18-35 years of age, a resident of Canada and enrolled in a post-secondary institution or be a recent graduate. They are interested in freshwater and have skills in water science, engineering, programming, sustainable development, data, marketing or entrepreneurship. Most importantly, they believe ingenuity anchored in a respect for the natural world can make the difference we need in our climate impact world.

How To Participate

Register & create your water-hacker profile

Build your multi-disciplinary team

Choose a water issue & tackle it

Develop your solution & pitch it to the judges

Timeline

September 19, 2022

September 19, 2022

Kickoff

Water issues are announced and Challenge registration opens

Sept 2022 - Feb 2023

Sept 2022 - Feb 2023

Phase 1

Teams are established, meet water experts, develop their solutions and access on-demand workshops, and mentoring

March 4, 2023

March 4, 2023

Semi-Final (virtual)

Teams pitch their solution to a panel of judges, and 5 finalist teams are selected.

March -June 2023

March -June 2023

Phase 2

Finalist teams participate in leadership development workshop, access entrepreneurship training, and pitch training

June 16, 2023

June 16, 2023

AquaHacking Finale (hybrid)

TOP 5 Teams pitch their final solution and business plan to a panel of judges. Winners are chosen and awards given.

July 2023+

July 2023+

Incubation

Teams receive a spot in an incubator and teams join the AquaHacking Alumni Community

Advisory Committee

Emma Wattie

Director, Atlantic Water Network

Sheila Paterson

Chief Operating Officer, COVE

Elizabeth Hendriks

VP, Restoration and Regeneration, WWF Canada

Colleen McNeil

Analyst, Water and Ecosystem, Environement and Climate Change Canada

Anne-Marie Léger

Director Policy, ACOA

Gordon Check

Senior Hydrogeologist, Nova Scotia Environment

Amina Stoddart

Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University

Lorie MacCarthy

VP Relationship Management, RBCx

Matthew Mizzi

CEO, Drinkable (Alumni)

Dominique Monchamp

Executive Director, de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation

Gwen Klees

Senior VP, Business Support ESG, OVIVO

Cristina Cismasu

Data Specialist, The Gordon Foundation

JOIN THE RIPPLE EFFECT

Interested in bringing AquaHacking to a watershed near you and improving freshwater health? Let’s Connect, or follow us on social to be the first to know about our next Challenge.