Spring 2026 Updates
It’s hard to believe that 2026 is already approaching the halfway point. We’ve had an incredibly busy year-to-date and are long overdue to provide some substantial updates on the projects we’re coordinating, leading, and developing.
In the photo: In May, the LOWWSF team visited Pegamigaabo School in Big Grassy First Nation to speak with students about phosphorus management and restoring and protecting water quality. Pictured here are Meg Mills (left), Julianna Wanke (centre left), elder Roy Tom (centre right) and Teika Newton (right).
LOWWSF Awarded 2026 Youth in Philanthropy Recognition
On May 27, 2026, the Youth in Philanthropy group at Beaver Brae Secondary School (Kenora, ON) recognized four local charities, including the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, whose work and mandates align with the school program’s core values of Excellence, Community, and Integrity.
The photo to the left, from the Kenora Miner and News, is of the 2026 Youth in Philanthropy Program students, along with Kenora & Lake of the Woods Community Foundation Executive Director Lynn McAughey (far left), as well as fellow foundation members Laura Wheatley and Liana Berezowski.
2026 Kallemeyn Award – Cary Hernandez
This year, on behalf of the community of scientists and resource managers from the United States and Canada working in our watershed, the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation presented Cary […]
Welcome Julianna Wanke, Communications & Information Management Specialist!
We are very happy to announce a new member of the LOWWSF team!
Julianna Wanke joined the Foundation in January 2026 as the first Communications and Information Management Specialist.
Julianna looks forward to bringing her creativity towards collaboratively working with the team to develop communications materials for the Foundation and ultimately, increase the environmental network within the watershed. Julianna can be reached at juliannawanke@lowwsf.com.
Teika Newton Receives 2026 Clean50 Honour
LOWWSF is pleased to announce that our Executive Director, Teika Newton, has been named as one of the 2026 Clean50 Honourees, joining an esteemed cohort of Canada’s environmental and clean economy leaders. Teika received the award as an Environmental NGO Advocate, alongside five other peers, during a ceremony in Toronto in mid-October.
2025 Ask An Expert Full Series Lineup
The 2025 series of free “Ask An Expert” webinars returns this fall! Please register for sessions of your choice using the links below.
Welcome, Meghan Mills as the International Watershed Coordinator!
Meghan Mills (she/her) joined the team to take over the International Watershed Coordinator role in January 2025.
Meg lives on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and cherishes time spent off-grid at Pelicanpouch Lake, located on Treaty 3 Territory near Minaki, Ontario. She is thrilled to step into the role, joining others dedicated to protecting our shared waters.
2025 Forum Presentation Recordings Available Now!
Over the two days of the 2025 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, we heard from nearly two dozen presenters. Missed the event or want to refresh your memory on these presentations? Now you can take in most of the talks as video recordings, available on our website at the link below!
2026 Forum Proceedings Report and Presentations Available Now!
Over the two days of the 2026 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, we heard from more than 30 speakers. Missed the event or want to refresh your memory on these presentations? Download your copy of the 2026 Proceedings Report now, or view the videos.
Proceedings of past Forum events are available at the Proceedings Archive: https://lowwsf.com/forum-proceedings
Videos from past Forum events can be found here: https://lowwsf.com/forum-video
Subscribe now to receive all future updates about Forum events: https://lowwsf.com/subscribehttps://lowwsf.com/subscribe
Big Announcements to Start 2025: New Faces, Same Priorities
For 20 years the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation has brought together citizens, dozens of municipalities and Indigenous nations and state, provincial and federal governments in Canada and the USA to amass the scientific, technical and community knowledge needed to inform an international water quality plan while building the trust and capacity to implement it.
With the arrival of the new year, the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation has some important announcements to share in our endeavour.