“Water Is…” was recently featured in a Rethink Sustainability Initiatives (RSI) silent auction at the Paintbox Bistro in Toronto. The Silent auction proceeds support several causes, including RSI’s capability building for delivering community programs and initiatives in 2017 and beyond. A portion also goes to Toronto charity Green Thumbs, whose mission is “To empower urban children, youth and their families to learn about, grow and prepare fresh foods, cultivated in an environmentally sustainable manner, in hands-on programs.”

RSI is an exchange for engaging and partnering with thought-leaders, innovators and organizations to advance the sustainability and resiliency of businesses, institutions and communities to thrive into the future. Their exchange, through formal and informal discussions, action-learning accelerators, publications, online and in print, provides access to progressive leaders and actionable insights for Canadians and their global partners.

Called Serious Fun for Serious Good, the silent auction was well attended by local leaders and visionaries: CEOs, presidents, managers of law firms, banks, development corporations, innovators & entrepreneurs, and architecture firms, including Sustainable TO.

Lyle Shipley, RSI advisor, gave “Water Is…” an eager and glowing introduction. Then, as the liquor flowed, bidding began for anything from prize artwork (e.g. “the Journey” by Pat Brennan, valued at $3500) and a performance by Juno winner Donne Roberts band (valued at $5000) to a Trail Estate Winery tour (valued at $250) and makeover & lesson with celebrity makeup artist Anita Belanger (valued at $250).

Mary Ellen, a school teacher in Toronto, won the water package, which included a signed copy of “Water Is…”, my fiction story “The Way of Water / La natura dell’acqua” (by Mincione Editioni, Rome; currently in “Cli-Fi: Canadian Climate Fiction” by Exile) and several water-form prints.

Water Is… combines my personal journey–as mother, limnologist and teacher–with scientific discovery to explore water’s many identities.

Pixl Press
ISBN: 978-0-9811012-4-8
584p + Photos, Index and Bibliography
Now Amazon #1 Bestseller and top recommended 2016 book by Margaret Atwood in New York Times

Nina Munteanu is an ecologist, limnologist and internationally published author of award-nominated speculative novels, short stories and non-fiction. She is co-editor of Europa SF and currently teaches writing courses at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for the latest on her books.