The IJC’s Canadian Section headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, is the site for our upcoming Fall Semi-Annual Meeting. It’s a special opportunity for commissioners to meet face-to-face with various boards and hear progress reports.
What progress has been made? Boards let commissioners know with reports that are presented and discussed at the meetings, which this year will be from Oct. 22-24.
Our board members are volunteers from various organizations and backgrounds. They spend considerable time in their capacities as board members, and deserve a pat on the back. They have our thanks, and their good work will be much of the focus of our Fall Semi-Annual Meeting.
Our last Semi-Annual was in the spring at our U.S. Section office in Washington, D.C. This one will include updates from international boards including the St. Lawrence River Board of Control, Niagara Board of Control, and Lake Superior Board of Control.
That’s day one, when commissioners also will hear from the Lake of the Woods Water Quality Plan of Study Task Team, Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board, Red River Board, Souris River Board, and the Lake Champlain-Richelieu River Work Group.
On day two, appearances are scheduled for the Health Professionals Advisory Board, Great Lakes Water Quality Board, two committees from the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board, Accredited Officers of the St. Mary and Milk Rivers, Osoyoos Lake Board of Control, and Kootenay Lake Board of Control.
Semi-Annual meetings are a chance for commissioners, IJC staff, and board members to receive updates on what’s been happening in watersheds along the Canada-U.S. boundary, along with recent outreach to the public and future work plans.
Commissioners will meet in executive sessions earlier in the week, to prepare for the board appearances, confer on other issues, and meet with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman. A meeting with governments is scheduled for day three, on Oct. 24.
Members of the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board brief commissioners during the IJC’s Spring Semi-Annual Meeting in April 2014. From left to right, Mike Hurst, Karen Cederwall, Gail Faveri, and Michael Goffin.
Many projects the IJC and its boards deal with are ongoing. The efforts may take years, but they’re all aimed at improving conditions in transboundary waters.
We’ll be sharing updates from the meeting, including copies of the progress reports, on our Twitter feed at @IJCSharedWaters. We’ll also be posting minutes after the meetings conclude. Check our Facebook page, too, for pictures and more information from the presentations.
You can expect another newsletter article following the meeting that highlights developments from some of our various boards.
