The Grand River Conservation Authority, which is headquartered in Cambridge, recently wrapped up its annual event aimed at teaching local youth about the importance of our waterways. The 2026 Brantford-Brant Children’s Water Festival took place from May 12 to May 14 at Mohawk Park in Brantford, welcoming 1,400 Grade 4 students to learn about the health of the Grand River watershed.
During the three-day festival, students from communities including Brantford, Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Mississaugas of the Credit participated in more than 30 interactive activities. These hands-on lessons focused on topics such as water science, technology, environmental protection, and conservation efforts.
The event was offered free of charge to all attending students. This was made possible through the support of several community partners, including the Brant Community Foundation, the Brant Waterways Foundation, the Grand River Conservation Foundation, the City of Brantford, the County of Brant, Grand Erie Public Health, the Ontario Clean Water Agency, and MRC Wireless.
The Grand River Conservation Authority plays a critical role in managing the river as it flows 310 kilometres from its source in Dufferin County to Lake Erie, passing through Cambridge and other communities along the way. Earlier this spring, the organization highlighted the importance of water management when it issued flood warnings for Cambridge and Six Nations in March 2026. Those warnings were prompted by a combination of rain, warm weather, snowmelt, and ice jams that caused river levels to rise significantly.
Maria Ramirez Giraldo, a conservation specialist with the authority, served as the coordinator for this year’s festival. The organization remains the oldest water management agency in Canada, having been established in 1932 to oversee the watershed on behalf of nearly one million residents across 38 municipalities.
