Environment researchers named Canada Research Chairs

The proposed CRC program is a direct extension of Clarke’s ongoing leadership of the Municipal Net-Zero Action Research Partnership (N-ZAP), which she co-leads with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and ICLEI Canada. The main goal of this project is to support Canadian municipalities to monitor, measure and achieve their greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation goals. The partnership currently involves experts from 15 other universities, nine national organizations and 15 Canadian municipalities. The project aims to:

1. Track trends on municipal climate action in Canada over time, assess what leads to progress or inertia, and determine future capacity development needs.
2. Advance the standardization and adoption of practices for climate-related measurement, budgeting and financial disclosure.
3. Further knowledge and adoption of practices for community climate action collaborations, including on equitable, diverse and inclusive engagement.
4. Build a robust evidence base on what works, for whom, and under what conditions for mobilizing knowledge and building capacity for Canadian municipal climate practitioners.
5. Advance a common understanding of sustainability management and facilitate global efforts to further the field.

By integrating the highest quality research with actionable guidance, the program will address critical research gaps, advance the field of sustainability management and strengthen Canada’s capacity to meet its municipal and national climate goals.

Jarvie’s CRC research will focus on the biogeochemical processes by which rivers naturally retain, transform and remove pollutants, and on how unlocking the natural self-cleansing capacity of rivers can support healthier, more resilient freshwater ecosystems.

Water quality is fundamental to human health, recreation, sustainable economies, and the ecological health of rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Yet freshwater systems are under increasing pressure from agricultural intensification, urbanization, climate change and nutrient pollution. Excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) from agriculture and wastewater are driving harmful algal blooms across Canada and around the world, threatening freshwater ecosystems, drinking water supplies and local economies.

While rivers are often viewed simply as conduits that transport water and pollutants, they are also dynamic ecosystems that can retain, transform and remove nutrients before they reach downstream lakes and coastal waters. This natural self-cleansing function can play a critical role in regulating water quality and ecosystem health.

Jarvie and her team will investigate the biogeochemical processes that control river self-cleansing, how these processes vary across landscapes and seasons, and how they respond to environmental change. Working with watershed organizations, community partners, and decision-makers, they will develop stewardship strategies that help enhance the natural self-cleansing capacity of rivers, improving water quality, ecosystem resilience, and the sustainable management of Canada's freshwater resources.

Dr. Leonard’s research focuses on Indigenous water governance, climate resilience and sustainability. Through community-engaged research, she advances Indigenous-led approaches to water stewardship and environmental decision-making.

Clarke, Jarvie and Leonard are among seven current chairholders in the Faculty of Environment. Listed in alphabetical order by last name, they are: 

• Sarah Burch - Transformative Climate Change and Governance
• Jennifer Clapp - Global Food Security and Sustainability
• Christine Dow - Glacier Hydrology and Ice Dynamics
• Chantel Markle - Wildlife Ecohydrology and Global Change
• Juan Moreno-Cruz - Energy Transitions
• Michelle Rutty - Tourism, Environment, and Sustainability
• Maria Strack - Ecosystems and Climate