A student from Allenford has been awarded the 2025 Walkerton Clean Water Legacy Award.
This year's recipient is Chloe Rands, who is currently studying Environmental Technology at Centennial College in Toronto.
Rands was given her award at a recent ceremony at the Heritage Water Garden in Walkerton. She stated that the $1,500 award will help offset the cost of her schooling.
The award is offered through an education endowment administered by the Community Foundation Grey Bruce.
The Walkerton Clean Water Legacy Fund was created in 2020 to honour those affected by the E. coli outbreak in 2000 and to celebrate bright, enterprising students in Grey and Bruce counties entering the field of environmental studies or clean water management.
After graduation, Rands said she'd like to join a non-profit, government agency or consulting firm based in sustainable developments. She also has interest in contributing to clean water projects in developing countries.
So far, Rands has received in-depth instruction in microbiology, water quality analysis, and environmental legislation while attending Centennial College. She is completing a co-op placement this summer with the City of Cambridge, where she is collaborating with experts in municipal water systems and gaining practical experience.
Rands said the 2000 Walkerton water crisis felt personal, having grown up in nearby Chesley.
"Even as a child, I saw its impact on our community and heard conversations about municipal accountability and water safety. I remember school discussions about how it happened and how it could be prevented. Those early experiences helped shape my desire to make a difference and guided by academic path," she said.
"It is inspiring to hear about Chloe’s dedication to her studies in the field of water management," said Stuart Reid, executive director of Community Foundation Grey Bruce. “Community health and wellbeing are directly tied to healthy drinking water and Chloe will make a difference."
"I’m pleased to see so many students in our area committed to environmental issues and ensuring safe and sustainable drinking water for the future," added Brockton Mayor Chris Peabody.
Applications for the Legacy Award open each year in the spring. Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can call Community Foundation Grey Bruce at 519-371-7203. The money is invested in perpetuity, with earnings awarded to each year’s student recipient.