Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson shows off the official proclamation for World Plumbing Day, which was celebrated this year with the first National Water Wise Award presented to Nicole Hurtubise, CEO of WaterAid Canada by Claude Des Rosiers on behalf of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, March 11, 2016-- To celebrate World Plumbing Day, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) has awarded WaterAid Canada with the inaugural National Water Wise Award. This marks the beginning of a new awards program developed to recognize outstanding efforts to improve our relationship with water.
WaterAid Canada was selected because of its work to improve access to safe water, hygiene and toilets in the world's poorest communities. The organization also stood out for its creative approach to raise awareness and connect with Canadians via traditional and social media.
"WaterAid Canada is making a huge difference in the lives of people in the developing world," says Ralph Suppa, President and General Manager at the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating. "This organization deserves the support of individuals and Corporate Canada. Safe water and sanitation should be a human right recognized by all, which sadly isn't the case for many of the poorest people in the world."
The numbers are staggering: 650 million people live without safe water; 2.3 billion don't have access to adequate sanitation, which represents one in three of the world's population; and tragically over 315,000 children die every year from diseases caused through unsafe water and poor sanitation. That's 860 children per day.
"In order to reach everyone, everywhere by 2030 with safe water, sanitation and hygiene, WaterAid must go beyond taps and toilets and look for support from those with the resources and expertise to create lasting change," says Nicole Hurtubise, CEO of WaterAid Canada. "On behalf of WaterAid, we are grateful to be recognized for our efforts by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating, as the representatives of such an important industry. It is with these sorts of collaborative relationships that we will continue to build momentum towards ending the water and sanitation crisis once and for all."
WaterAid Canada has the support of many prominent celebrity ambassadors including Margaret Trudeau, who was appointed as the charity's Honorary President in 2002. World-renowned photojournalist Peter Bregg, concert pianist Angela Hewitt and CTV personalities Jon Montgomery and Ben Mulroney also support WaterAid Canada.
About WaterAid
WaterAid is an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping the world's poorest people gain access to safe water and sanitation. WaterAid operates in 37 countries across Africa, Asia, Central America and the Pacific region. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 23 million people with safe water and, since 2004, 21 million people with toilets and sanitation. WaterAid was recently ranked by GuideStar's Philanthropedia as the number one international non-profit working in the water and sanitation sector.
About Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating
Founded in Montreal in 1933, the CIPH is a not -for-profit trade association that is committed to providing members with the tools for success in today's competitive environment. More than 260 companies are members of this influential Canadian industry association. They are the manufacturers, wholesaler distributors, master distributors, manufacturers' agents, and allied companies who manufacture and distribute plumbing, heating, hydronic, industrial, waterworks, and other mechanical products. CIPH wholesalers operate more than 700 warehouses and showrooms across Canada. Total industry sales exceed $6.5 billion annually and CIPH members have more than 20,000 employees from coast to coast.
About World Plumbing Day
Celebrated every year on March 11, World Plumbing Day is an international event initiated by the World Plumbing Council that recognizes the important role plumbing plays in our health and safety.
