Released in February 2004, the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia provides a partnership umbrella for aligning efforts and implementing on-the-ground initiatives in the local government setting. Throughout 2014, the Partnership for Water Sustainability will be celebrating 10 years of successful Action Plan program implementation. This is the first in a series of flashbacks featuring those who have played leadership roles in delivering the Action Plan.

2003 – A Teachable Year

“The drought, forest fires and floods that British Columbia experienced in 2003 created a teachable moment for change in the way we view water in this province,” recalls Raymond Fung. He is Director, Engineering & Transportation for the District of West Vancouver. During the period 2003 through 2008, he served as Chair of the original Water Sustainability Committee (WSC) of the BC Water & Waste Association. He then served as Chair of the Green Infrastructure Partnership from 2008 through 2012.

“Capitalizing on the opportunity this teachable moment provided, the WSC partnered with the Province to develop and then deliver the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia. By 2010, the aspirations of the group were exceeding the support that BCWWA was able to provide.  So by mutual consent, the Committee transformed itself into an independent, non-profit organization known as the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC.”  Raymond Fung is a member of the Partnership’s Leadership Team.

“This provincial initiative promoted and facilitated sustainable approaches to water use and water resource management. The Action Plan would turn ideas into action by building capacity and understanding. Over the past decade, we have showcased innovation, developed tools and provided training, and collaborated with local governments to develop talent and build capacity in the Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland regions.”

To Learn More:

To read the reflections by Raymond Fung as posted on waterbucket.ca, click on BC Partnership celebrates 10th anniversary of Water Sustainability Action Plan.

Water sustainability in the local government setting will be achieved by implementing green infrastructure policies and practices. How communities get there relies on a change in mind-set and “land ethic”. The role of the Partnership for Water Sustainability is to facilitate that change in British Columbia.

The Partnership is the hub for a “convening for action” network in the local government setting.    To learn more, click on Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia.