AquaAction to take part in Americana!
Discover six AquaEntrepreneurs who are changing the world, one innovation at a time.
March 12 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm in the 'Water' hall
ABOUT THIS EVENT
AquaAction is proud to be the Grand Partner of the upcoming edition of Americana, an environmental forum and international environmental technology trade show organised by Réseau Environnement. This 16th edition will take place on March 12 and 13 at the Grand Quai of the Port of Montreal under the theme L’urgence d’innover (Urgency to Innovate). With up to 3,000 participants expected, the event promises to be a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas and advancing environmental innovation.
As part of the event, AquaAction will present a conference titled “AquaHeroes: Entrepreneurs Changing the World, One Innovation at a Time.” This session marks the culmination of the AquaEntrepreneur program, a three-year initiative supported by the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie (MEIE). The conference will spotlight the remarkable achievements of the water-tech companies nurtured through the program, celebrating their success and the transformative impact of their innovative solutions on the planet.
We are honored to welcome Mr. Luc Sirois, Chief Innovator of Quebec, as the conference moderator. Renowned for his expertise and forward-thinking approach to innovation, Mr. Sirois will guide the discussions, inspire attendees, and underscore Quebec’s leadership in fostering a sustainable, resilient, and innovative economy.
Meet our AquaHeroes
Water Rangers
Experience the convenience of our user-friendly, portable water testing kit designed for effortlessly gathering water quality data from local water bodies. This data is seamlessly collected and instantly shared on a dynamic, interactive online platform.
Water Rangers are now the stewards of WWF's Watershed Reports platform.
Kat Kavanagh
Executive Director | Water Rangers
Biocene Solutions’ mission is to clean up bodies of water while promoting a circular economy. The first product, Algo, is based on the idea of remedying algae blooms caused by current agricultural and industrial practices. Algo removes excess algae from water bodies, returning levels to their natural equilibrium, improving water quality and providing a long-term, sustainable and equitable solution to water management. The collected biomass is converted into a number of value-added products for the energy, metallurgy and agricultural sectors, to encourage sustainable consumption.
The environmental impact is based on ISO carbon standards: over the next 3 years: 134 tonnes of carbon will be saved, the equivalent of planting 2,230 trees.
Kimia Shafighi
Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder | Biocene Solutions
Ceresco Nutrition develops informed quartz silica for application in wastewater treatment to reduce ammonia levels and stimulate the nitrification process. Informed silica increases the efficiency of wastewater treatment by accelerating biological degradation. Using this technology saves energy and increases the capacity of wastewater treatment plants while complying with environmental standards.
Enza Verrelli
Co-Owner, Director of Sales and Business Development | Ceresco Nutrition
RHST Industries introduces Waterpearls, the ultimate “drop it and forget it” solution for water conservation. Inspired by nature, Waterpearls are a revolutionary technology designed to dramatically reduce water evaporation without constant monitoring. With Waterpearls, simply deploy and let nature take its course. Say goodbye to worries about water loss and hello to sustainable water management. RHST Industries paves the way for a future where water conservation is effortless and efficient.
The environmental impact is based on ISO carbon standards: over the next 3 years: 93, 991, 616.00 m3 of water or 37, 596 Olympic swimming pools.
Thomas Gradek
President, CEO and Founder | RHST Industries
The environmental impact is based on ISO standards for avoided water consumption: over the next 3 years: 123,391 m3 of water, or 50 Olympic swimming pools.
Eddy Dureuil
Co-fondateur - VP Développement stratégique des affaires | Ecotime
Phaneuf International: The snow melter solution developed by Phaneuf offers an innovative approach to the challenges facing arenas and municipalities. By focusing on improving energy efficiency, sustainable water management, reducing operating costs and improving ice quality, their solution provides a comprehensive and sustainable response to their customers’ needs. Their solution is an attractive choice for those seeking efficient, environmentally friendly solutions for their facilities.
The calculation of the environmental impact of this solution based on ISO standards relating to avoided water consumption is in progress.
Alain Phaneuf
PDG et Capitaine | Phaneuf International
Presentation by Mr. Luc Sirois, Moderator of the conference
Luc Sirois is Quebec’s Chief Innovator, Executive Director of the Quebec Innovation Council, and founding president of the board of directors at Axelys, the organization dedicated to advancing public research in Quebec.
An engineer by training and a Harvard MBA graduate, he has been a technological and social entrepreneur in the healthcare sector, held key positions in various organizations worldwide, and has always been committed to numerous social causes.
Luc is renowned for his creative approach to innovation and his desire to contribute to Quebec’s future prosperity. In his daily work, he strives to mobilize existing ecosystems, with a particular focus on empowering youth to be dynamic and visionary. His goal is to inspire every player in the innovation ecosystem to surpass themselves and become agents of change, so that Quebec can innovate more and better.
We are extremely privileged to have him on board to host our Americana ceremony.
News in brief
AquaHeroes: Entrepreneurs Changing the World, One Innovation at a Time
Date: March 12, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Quai, 200 R. de la Commune O, Montreal, QC H2Y 4B2
How to participate: Register
Come visit our booth
In addition to the conference, AquaAction will have a booth at the Americana exhibition hall on March 12 and 13. The companies present at the booth will be:
- Structures SBB, represented by Mohammad Ait Fateh
- Hoola one, represented by Jean-Félix Tremblay
- Exo-tactic, represented by Carole Riopel
- Planteva, represented by Robert Hecht
- Chembrains, represented by Aziz Gherrou
- Technologie Ecofixe, represented by Cédric Charbonneau
- Watershed Monitoring, represented by Karine Mailhot-Sarrasin
- EMO3, represented by Dave Gilbert
- Circulus Agtech, represented by David Leroux
- Regeneau, represented by Michael Pelletier
About AquaAction
Building a Water-Secure Future with AquaAction
AquaAction is a registered non-profit in Canada and the United States, established in 2015 with a mission to build a water-secure future by restoring and protecting freshwater health in North America. We empower the next generation of water leaders to develop, scale and pivot to innovative solutions in water-technologies, driving our economy, energy and public health security for a more resilient water future.
We achieve this through three core programs:
💧 AquaHacking Challenge: This program ignites entrepreneurial spirit and cultivates sustainable leadership skills, empowering young people to launch their first water startups and contribute to a water-secure future.
💧 AquaEntrepreneur: Leveraging a network of specialized coaches, this scale-up program helps entrepreneurs implement and adapt their existing solutions to address the most pressing water challenges facing municipal and private sectors, accelerating progress towards water security.
💧 AquaNation Community: This vibrant community fosters collaboration and maximizes impact among young water innovators, creating a powerful network dedicated to building a water-secure future.
With the support of valued partners such as the Fondation Gaspé Beaubien, RBC Tech for Nature, Ovivo, Glencore, Osler, Xerxes, La Vie en Rose, Lavery, and the McGill Dobson Centre, AquaAction is driving the advancement of freshwater innovation and building a water-secure future for all.
About Americana
Americana 2025, recognized as North America's largest multi-sector environmental event, will be held on March 12 and 13, 2025, at the Grand Quai of the Port of Montreal.
This international forum and technology showcase will feature nearly 100 conferences in both French and English, including panels, workshops, round tables, and training sessions. With over 100 exhibitors and an expected attendance of 3,000 visitors from approximately 20 countries, Americana 2025 is a premier platform for technical, scientific, and commercial exchanges on major environmental issues.