Mayfair Theatre

Blue Drinks Ottawa and the Canadian Water Resources Association Ontario branch are thrilled to be hosting their fifth annual World Water Day event in Ottawa, at the Mayfair Theatre. World Water Day, which dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, is a day when we recognize the importance of bringing attention to water issues.

This year’s event will feature screenings of multiple short films, illustrating some of the different water-related issues faced by local communities. The films will include:

Wetsuits for Hire (8min – 2019), by Gatineau filmmaker Alex Guimont, documents the helping hands provided by surfers during the Ottawa/Gatineau floods of 2019.

Water Warriors (22min – 2017), by filmmaker Michael Premo, is the story of a community’s successful resistance against the oil and gas industry. When an energy company begins searching for natural gas in New Brunswick, Canada, Indigenous and non-indigenous families unite to drive out the company in a campaign to protect their water and way of life.

The Story of Stuff – Bottled Water (8 min – 2010), was co-created and released by The Story of Stuff Project and a coalition of partners, including Corporate Accountability International, Food & Water Watch, Polaris Institute, Pacific Institute and Environmental Working Group. The film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising.

Interspersed with the films, you will also hear from local water leaders, including:

Shirly Caibaiosai, an Ojibway Elder from Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. A Water Walker since the fall of 2018, this year will be her third Water Walk for the ‘All Nations Grand River Water Walk.’
Trevor Cunningham, the president of the Ottawa-Gatineau River Surfing Association, and one of the subjects of the film Wetsuits for Hire.

The film screenings will begin promptly at 3:30pm, doors will open at 3pm. A minimum donation of $5 is suggested to attend this event. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Water First, which is a charity that works to help address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration. You can learn more at: https://waterfirst.ngo/

*This screening is a rental. Normal Mayfair ticket prices do not apply. Box office will be cash only for this event.