Following COVID disruption to the planned WCC schedule, there was no in-person conference in 2023. In its place, IWI hosted a series of webinars covering important waterways issues presented by experts from all over the world.
The topics covered included working with partners (including volunteer organisations) to manage canals, what makes China’s Lingqu Canal unique, different approaches to regenerating canals, how inland waterways boating can have less environmental impact, and urban regeneration associated with canal restoration. The webinars attracted a wide international audience.
The first two have been edited and are posted on IWI’s YouTube channel. The others will follow shortly. Please visit this channel, which we hope to use again in the future, to share valuable experiences.
Managing canals: working with partners, including volunteer organisations
Éanna Rowe, Waterways Ireland (Ireland)
What makes China’s Lingqu Canal unique?
Zhang Chuhan, a professor at Tsinghua University, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an expert in hydraulic engineering, Jiang Tingyu, a former Director of the Museum of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, conducted archaeological excavations along the Lingqu Canal Event coordinated by the Lingqu Canal Museum and its curator, Lijing Tang.
The well-attended hybrid presentation, with 100 participants in the meeting room in Guilin and online participants worldwide, is posted on IWI’s YouTube channel.
Different approaches to regenerating canals
Joe Reed, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (USA)
Mike Palmer, Waterway Recovery Group, Inland Waterways Association (UK)
The series of WCC online presentations (or ‘webinars’) gives valuable insights into a wide range of subjects. IWI is grateful to corporate members the Inland Waterways Association (UK), Waterways Ireland, the National Park Service, Parks Canada and Les Canalous for their collaboration.
We also thank the Michigan Institute of Technology for technical support in setting up the series and registration through Zoom Events, based on their experience in providing the same to the Society for Industrial Archeology and the International Committee for the Conservation of Industrial Heritage (TICCIH).
‘Greening’ inland cruising vessels
Simon Boyde, IWI Low Impact Navigation Working Group (UK)
Alfred Carignant, Les Canalous (France)
Canal restoration and urban regeneration.
John Festarini, Lachine Canal, Parks Canada (Canada)
Jean-François Antoine, Canal de Roubaix, Lille Métropole (France)
