Western Canada Water Environment Association
Our Mission
Is to connect water professionals and harness their collective knowledge, creating a powerful force for enhancing the water environment in Western Canada.
Together, we’re making a difference, one drop at a time.
WEF Webcasts
Featuring a range of timely topics, WEF monthly webcasts are made possible at no cost through the financial support of industry organizations and companies. Traditionally hosting between two and four webcasts per month, WEF has historically charged for these events on a fee per site basis, generally $195 per site with unlimited attendees per site.
WEFTEC
2025
98th Annual Technical Exhibition & Conference
McCormick Place | Chicago, Illinois USA
Conference: September 27 – October 1, 2025
Exhibition: September 29 – October 1, 2025
2026
99th Annual Technical Exhibition & Conference
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center | New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Conference: September 26-30, 2026
Exhibition: September 28-30, 2026
WCWEA Membership
WEF Membership
Join WEF or Renew Your Membership
Professional Member
Any individual, working or interested in water quality, may join WEF as a Professional Member.
Executive Membership
The Executive package provides access to a comprehensive suite of WEF member benefits, designed to supply senior level professionals with access to water knowledge, the ability to stay current in the field, and the tools needed to make sound decisions.
PWO Member
Operators and technicians directly involved in water reuse, wastewater treatment, collection systems, or laboratory operations may join as Professional Wastewater Operator Members. Utility managers, engineers, consultants, manufacturer representatives, attorneys, academics, etc., do not qualify for this category.
Student Member
Students who are enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credit hours at an accredited college or university and provide written documentation, verifying their student status, may join as a Student Member. A faculty or advisor must provide signed verification of the member’s student status on official school letterhead, within 30 days of joining.
Young Professional
Emerging leaders within the water quality profession who are either new to WEF membership or making a transition from being a student member to a Professional member, may become Young Professional Members. Eligibility requires up to five years work experience in the industry and less than 35 years old. Valid for the first three years of WEF membership.
If you live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northern Territories or Nunavut and join WEF, you will belong to Western Canada Water Environment Association as well.
WCWEA Membership Referral Program
Share the benefits of membership,
earn rewards
Within WEF and WCWEA, members work to help each other develop and grow professionally, while building valuable relationships with industry partners and prospects. Joint WEF/WCWEA membership ensures your access to professional resources at global and regional levels.
Refer a colleague and get rewarded for each person that joins. More members mean more connections and resources for you!
How the rewards program works
To be eligible for rewards, make sure your name and email address are included on the WEF membership applications of everyone you refer. WCWEA will reward you with a $10 coffee card for each member you refer.
Volunteer
Click Here for more information on Awards and Board nominations
Board & Committee Positions and Job Descriptions
If you are interested in getting involved please download the Volunteer Profile and return to aarisman@wcwwa.ca
WCWEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair – Samantha Whettell
AECOM Canada Ltd
Vice Chair – Pat Fisher
Town of Peace River
Treasurer – Soubhagya Pattanayak
Associated Engineering
Saskatchewan Trustee – Shauna Karakochuk
EPCOR Water Services
Alberta Trustee – Roya Pishgar
Jacobs
Manitoba Trustee – Lin Watt
Tetra Tech
WEF Delegate – Natalie Wilson
AECOM Canada Ltd
Technical Committee Chair – Alec Mackenzie
EPCOR Water Services
Executive Director – Audrey Arisman
p: 1.877.283.2003
AWARDS
Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award
The WEF Board of Directors established this award in 1993 to recognize individuals for outstanding performance, professionalism, and contributions to the water quality analysis profession.
| 2001 Glen Brown |
| 2004 Jan Oleszkiewicz |
| 2007 Edith Phillips |
| 2010 Mei Chen |
| 2011 Lori Splett |
| 2014 Brenda Stanek |
| 2015 Dr Qiuyan Yuan PhD |
| 2018 Victor Wei |
| 2022 Rasha Maal-Bared |
| 2019 Colleen Mitchell |
Arthur Sidney Bedell Award
The Arthur Sidney Bedell Award was established to acknowledge extraordinary personal service to a Member Association. The award is named for Arthur Sidney Bedell, the second president of the Federation who exemplified its purpose by his long devotion and service to the New York Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association. He was Chief of the Bureau of Sewage and Waste Disposal of the New York State Department of Health.
| 1974 W. Les Wardrop |
| 1977 Murray Prescott |
| 1980 Harvey Hogge |
| 1983 Clarence Forsber |
| 1988 William McKay |
| 1991 James Warrener |
| 1994 George Balacko |
| 1997 Terry Higo |
| 2007 2000 Gerald Samuel |
| 2003 Bill Borlase |
| 2006 Chris Ward |
| 2009 Mike Van Den Bosch |
| 2010 Garry Mak |
| 2012 Brian Station |
| 2013 Dan Smith |
| 2014 Rodger McDonald |
| 2015 Ross Webster |
| 2016 George Bontus |
| 2017 Jeffrey Halliday |
| 2018 Barry MacBride |
| 2019 Alec Mackenzie |
| 2020 Natalie Wilson |
| 2021 Daniel Du Toit; |
| 2022 Audrey Arisman |
| 2023 Timo Jansen |
William D. Hatfield Award
The William D. Hatfield Award is presented to a wastewater treatment plant operator for outstanding performance and professionalism. The award was established in honour of Dr. William D. Hatfield, Superintendent of the Decatour, Illinois Sanitary District, who was President of the Central States Sewage Works Association in 1944-45 and served as President of the Federation in 1958-59.
| 1958 Clarence Forsbert |
| 1978 Kenneth Elstone |
| 1983 Michael Cassiram |
| 1989 Doug Moisuk |
| 1995 Gene Emanuel |
| 1998 Wolf Keller |
| 2001 Cheng-Ping Hwang |
| 2004 Frank Wetsch |
| 2007 Wayne Wall |
| 2010 George Kewley |
| 2011 Brian Miller |
| 2012 Ian Christiansen |
| 2014 Rynette Moore-Guillaume |
| 2015 Ted Snure |
| 2016 Dwayne Cikaluk |
| 2017 Vince Corkery |
| 2018 Jan Oleszkiewicz |
| 2019 Davey Robertson |
| 2020 Karly Friesen |
| 2021 Joe Zimmer |
| 2022 Sean Killoran |
| 2023 Mike Sadowski |
George W. Burke, Jr. Award
This award was established in 1982 in honor of George W. Burke, Jr., for his many years of service to both the water environment field and the Federation as staff manager of technical services. Mr. Burke was instrumental in developing the Federation’s annual safety survey and assisting in the production of several safety training aids and promotional packets. The purpose of this award is to encourage an active and effective safety program in municipal and industrial wastewater facilities.
| 2014 City of Swift Current |
| 2019 EPCOR Gold Bar WWTP |
| 2021 Regina WWTP |
| 2022 Fort McMurray WWTP |
MONTHLY E-NEWS
Update your WCW profile to get our Enews. If you are not in the WCW system as a current member, you can create a profile as a Non-Member.
Contact Us
1-877-283-2003 / 403-709-0064
Electronic Mail
Information: aarisman @ wcwwa.ca
Postal Address
WCWEA
Box 1708
Cochrane AB T4C 1B6