Press Release - Allenford student awarded 2025 Walkerton Clean Water Legacy Award

Brockton, ON, August 12, 2025 – This year’s winner of the Walkerton Clean Water Legacy Award is Chloe Rands of Allenford, who is currently studying Environmental Technology at Centennial College in Toronto.

Rands offered her heartfelt thanks to the awards committee at a recent presentation at the Heritage Water Garden in Walkerton, saying the $1,500 award will help offset the cost of her education pathway. Rands’ program balances theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in biology, chemistry and civil engineering. Her goal after graduation is to join a government agency, non-profit or consulting firm focused on sustainable development. Down the road she would like to contribute to international water projects in developing nations.

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.

Rands is one of those students. Raised in Chesley, her proximity to the 2000 water crisis felt personal.

“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.

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.

“I’m putting my academic knowledge to use in real-world situations by helping with system maintenance, sampling and monitoring tasks. I’m getting the opportunity to gain knowledge about how municipal water systems function, the difficulties in preserving water quality, and the significance of preventative maintenance and legal compliance,” 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.”

Brockton Mayor Chris Peabody congratulated Rands on her achievement and wished her well in her studies and future endeavors.

“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,” he said.

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.

For more information please contact:

Christine Brandt, Community Development Coordinator
Municipality of Brockton
519-881-2223 Ext. 131 or Email the Community Development Coordinator
Brockton.ca