The Brace Centre for Water Resources Management brings together staff from several McGill faculties, to undertake research, teaching, specialized training, and policy and strategic studies in water resources management, both in Canada and internationally.
McGill is one of Canada's most comprehensive and research intensive universities. It is a leading university with an excellent international reputation. Due to McGill's comprehensive programs, the Brace Centre for Water Resources Management can draw on the wide range of expertise and facilities available within the University. Researchers currently affiliated with the Centre are drawn from the following McGill Faculties: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Science, Law, Management.
The Centre's administrative operations are funded in part through the generosity of a bequest to McGill University by Major James Henry Brace. A Civil Engineer, Major Brace devoted much of his career to water and construction projects in the US and Canada. He dreamed that through research, a way might be found to bring large quantities of water to arid lands for food production and rural development. He was also very interested in desalination. The Centre is therefore named in honour of James Henry Brace, to recognize his generosity to McGill, and his vision for a better quality of life by providing water and food in rural communities.
The Brace Centre for Water Resources Management is located on the Macdonald Campus of McGill University, on the western tip of the island of Montreal, at Ste. Anne de Bellevue. The Campus is bordered by the Ottawa and St. Lawrence river systems, and comprises 800 hectares of farm and forested lands, and modern farm, field, laboratory, computer, library, athletic and student facilities. It is 30 km from the City of Montreal and the main McGill campus. The Macdonald Campus is easily accessible by public transport and the International Airport at Dorval. The Campus also has modern residences, and major hotels are located at short distance from the Campus.
