WHEREAS the National Organizing Partners for Canada Water Week - The Gordon Foundation, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Living Lakes Network Canada and Canadian Freshwater Alliance - have identified the third week in March as Canada Water Week;

WHEREAS Canada is home to some of the largest, most beautiful and most economically important rivers and lakes in the world; and

WHEREAS residents in our communities have an important and celebrated connection to rivers, lakes and waterways; and

WHEREAS a week profiling the importance of clean water would increase public awareness that we need to take care of, protect and restore freshwater ecosystems in and near our communities; and

WHEREAS public opinion surveys continue to reveal that a clear majority of Canadians consider fresh water to be the nation’s most important natural resource; and

WHEREAS March 22 is recognized as World Water Day;

NOW THEREFORE I, Mayor Roxanne Carr, do hereby proclaim March 20 to 27, 2017 as ‘Water Week’ in Strathcona County.

DATED this 14^th day of March, 2017.

Roxanne Carr, MAYOR

STRATHCONA COUNTY