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WATER STORY
LASTING IMPACT
C
ANADA RECENTLY LOST one of its national champions of freshwater. The water policy community was
deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Erika
Bruce. Through the establishment of the Geoffrey F.
Bruce Fellowships in Canadian Freshwater Policy at
Toronto Metropolitan University in 2017, Erika Bruce honoured
her husband’s public service leadership, diplomatic career, and
concern about Canada’s lack of policy attention for one of its
most precious resources.
Dr. Bruce recognized that despite Canada’s perceived abundance of freshwater, next generation leadership on emerging
water issues was lacking. Her financial support through the
Bruce Fellowships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
has inspired many young professionals to focus their research
and careers on the stewardship of Canada’s water. Her vision has
been a catalyst for a new generation of researchers focused on
the importance of academic research focuses on public policy
recommendations and action.
Led by Dr. Carolyn Johns, chair of the Bruce Fellowships and
Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at
TMU, Bruce Fellows conduct research, make policy recommendations and build relationships with policy practitioners at all levels of
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WATER C AN ADA • M AY/JUNE 2026
government on a wide range of water policy topics. “Erika had a clear vision that she wanted to support
research focused on water issues and public policy,” says
Johns. “The faith she placed in me to attract, mentor
and support the next generation of Canada’s water
policy leaders and build her and her husband’s legacy
through the Bruce Fellowships has been an incredible
honour. She was a passionate visionary who personally
touched the lives of Bruce Fellows, the many students
she met over the years, and the water policy community in Canada.”
Since 2017, Erika Bruce has supported 18 Bruce
Fellows to focus their Masters and PhD research
projects on a wide range of topics related to freshwater
policy in Canada. In 2022, the Bruce Postdoctoral
Fellowship was established to focus on water data and
emerging water policy challenges; in 2024 Bruce Water
Policy Fellow and Executive in Residence Mike Goffin
joined TMU to share his 40 years of federal water policy expertise and help mentor the next generation; and
most recently she supported a new postdoctoral fellow
position focused on water politics, political economy,
sovereignty and water security.
Bruce Fellows engage in applied research to generate
evidence-based policy recommendations on issues like Indigenous water rights, transboundary water governance, surface and
groundwater use, chemical pollutants, road salt, climate-water
challenges, and urban infrastructure. They participate in water
policy seminars, network with water policy leaders, make policy
submissions, attend conferences, and enhance their studies
through internships and Coop placements. This year Bruce
Fellows participated in a new mentorship initiative with the
Canada Water Agency and led a national e-petition for the House
of Commons to establish Canada Water Week during the week
in which World Water Day falls. The impact of Erika’s support
has had ‘ripple effects’ with Fellows now holding positions with
federal, provincial and municipal governments, non-government
and private sector organizations working on environment and
freshwater policy issues.
Erika Bruce demonstrated the importance of investing in
the next generation. Her spirit and legacy live on through her
inspirational goals for the Bruce Fellowships and all the lives
she touched. Her leadership and generosity have made a lasting impact on past, present and future generations of students
looking to transform freshwater policy and protect Canada’s
most precious resource.
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
TMU
Dr. Erika Bruce had an immeasurable e昀昀ect on Canada’s next
Generation of water policy leaders
