Join the Acadia University School of Music, and the Acadia University community in an interdisciplinary celebration of water in our environment and our world. This four-day long celebration will include special guest Dr. T. Patrick Carrabré, a film screening, as well as concerts and talks by AUSOM students and faculty, the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, and guests.

Events will take place from March 20 - 23, 2025, click on individual calendar events for details. All events are open to the community, please join us in this celebration.

This series of events also recognizes World Water Day. World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance – held on 22 March. World Water Day celebrates water and inspires action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

On Thursday, March 20, the Acadia School of Music Concert & Lecture Series presents the keynote address for the "Teachings of the Water Festival" by special guest T. Patrick Carrabré.

An award-winning Métis composer living in Vancouver, Dr. Carrabré is a professor of composition at the University of British Columbia and the director of the Chan Centre of the Performing Arts.  The creation of shared musical spaces with indigenous and non-western musicians is a significant theme of his work and since the dawn of the Truth and Reconciliation era, he has created a number of musical works confronting issues of decolonization.  

His recent choral work, "Teachings of the Water," will be performed by the Acadia University Singers at their concert on Sunday, March 23 at 3pm.  The Acadia University Orchestra and Acadia University Wind Ensemble will also perform Carrabré's music at the "From Canadian Shores" concert on Friday, March 21 at 7pm.

Dr. Carrabré's keynote address will begin at 1pm in the Festival Theatre.

All Concert & Lecture Series Events are free and open to members of the community - please join us!

On Thursday, March 20, the Acadia School of Music in association with the Department of Earth and Environmental Science and the School of Arts presents " Hell or Clean Water" - a film by Canadian director Cory Westman.

This documentary tells the story of Newfoundland diver, Shawn Bath, who is the driving force behind the “Clean Harbours Initiative” focused on cleaning up garbage on the ocean floor. The evening will include a discussion on local and regional water issues to highlight World Water Day 2025.

To celebrate World Water Day Dr. David Duke (Dean of Arts) and Dr. Deanne van Rooyen (Earth and Environmental Science) will present a short introduction to the evening discussing the geopolitics of water, and local geology and Nova Scotia's water. From geopolitical shadows stemming from Soviet-era river diversions and the North American Water and Power Alliance, to the gory details on how rocks in the Province influence every aspect of our water systems, we guarantee a stimulating evening of policy, science, and Newfoundland magic!

World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance – held on 22 March. World Water Day celebrates water and inspires action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

The film presentation begins at 7pm in the K.C. Irving Centre Auditorium.  Admission is free and open to members of the community - please join us!