Celebrating Women Making a Difference
Today, March 8th, 2025, we’re joining the global celebration of International Women’s Day! It’s a day to recognize the contributions women make to our world in all aspects of society.
In the water world, women are at the forefront as powerful advocates, leaders, and protectors of water. We’re excited to champion and celebrate the women who so often get overlooked but are making real and meaningful contributions when it comes to protecting water as a vital resource. While there are countless women to highlight, today, we are shining a light on four women in particular—Dr. Susan Chiblow, Autumn Peltier, Maude Barlow, and Catherine McKenna—who continue to lead the way in protecting this vital resource.
Susan Chiblow, as featured on the International Joint Commission (IJC) website.
Dr. Susan Chiblow: Indigenous Knowledge Keeper on the IJC
Dr. Susan Chiblow is a leading voice in the fight for water justice. As the first Indigenous woman to serve on the International Joint Commission (IJC), she brings critical perspectives to water governance. Holding a PhD in Environmental Science with a focus on N’bi Kendaaswin (Water Knowledge), she bridges the gap between Western scientific approaches and Indigenous ways of knowing. Her work emphasizes that water is not merely a resource but a living entity with inherent rights and responsibilities that must be respected.
Maude Barlow, as featured in Water Canada
Maude Barlow: A Lifelong Advocate for the Human Right to Water
Maude Barlow is one of Canada’s most influential water activists. As the Honorary Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, she has been instrumental in pushing for water justice on a national and international scale. She has served on the executive board of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and worked as a Senior Advisor on Water to the 63rd President of the United Nations General Assembly. Barlow was a key leader in the campaign to have water recognized as a human right by the UN. Her books, including Blue Future and Boiling Point, expose government neglect and corporate threats to Canada’s water supply.
Catherine McKenna: Champion of Water and Climate Action
As Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna played a key role in shaping national environmental policies. A longtime supporter of Swim Drink Fish, McKenna has used her platform to advocate for water protection and climate resilience. As an open-water swimmer, she personally understands the importance of clean water, and she continues to push for stronger policies that safeguard Canada’s lakes, rivers, and oceans.
Autumn Peltier, as featured by Government of Canada Indigenous via Instagram
Autumn Peltier: The Next Generation of Water Protectors
Born on the shores of the world’s largest freshwater island (Manitoulin Island), Autumn Peltier has become a global advocate for water protection at just 20 years old. A member of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation, she has addressed world leaders at the United Nations and the Assembly of First Nations, calling for clean drinking water in Indigenous communities. Peltier is following in the footsteps of her great-aunt, Josephine Mandamin, a renowned water walker, who once completed a walk around the shores of the the entire Great Lakes, carrying water. Representing the next generation of Indigenous leadership and inspiring young people to stand up for their right to clean water, Peltier is a champion of for woman and water across the globe
When women lead, we all benefit. So as we honour the incredible women making a difference, let’s also commit to supporting their efforts, amplifying their voices, and working together to ensure a swimmable, drinkable, fishable future for all.
