Under Paul Ham’s leadership, the Green Infrastructure Partnership achieved a great deal – for example, the Showcasing Innovation Series helped local government practitioners immeasurably by creating forums for them to share their experiences and lessons learned. This created a ripple effect that spurred even more innovation.
A decade ago, Erik Karlsen crafted a series of ‘think-pieces’ that shone the spotlight on what it means to convene for action and move from awareness to practice. He has the ability to assess the situation as it is and develop a roadmap for going forward based upon realistic assumptions. The work he did in the area of leading and managing change is standing the test of time.
John’s experience covers the full range of engineering practice, from developing master plans and municipal design criteria to implementing both piped and natural drainage systems. He walks the talk. He re-landscaped his own property to restore the absorptive capacity of the ground.
“The Convening for Action in BC initiative continues to be the Partnership’s primary strategy to support the implementation of water sustainability strategies at the community level. The various tools – Water Balance Model, Waterbucket and Water Conservation Calculator – and action initiatives (Metro Vancouver, Kamloops and Vancouver Island) define Convening for Action,” stated Tim Pringle.
“With expected population growth and as our climate becomes more variable – with more frequent, heavier storms and longer, hotter drought, wise rainwater management becomes even more important. A well-designed landscape with healthy topsoil helps communities through both wet and dry times,” states Anna Warwick Sears.
“While its primary purpose is to provide province-wide guidelines, Develop with Care 2012 also emphasizes how environmental protection and stewardship can benefit the community, the property owner and the developer, as well as the natural environment,” states Marlene Caskey.
“A decade ago, the Province of British Columbia made a conscious decision to follow an educational rather than prescriptive path to change practices for the use and conservation of land and water. Practical research and new tools are now enabling engineers, planners and other disciplines to do business differently,” states Tim Pringle.
“VIEA collaboration with CAVI created an opportunity for early success in moving forward and the ‘CAVI Forum within the 2011 Summit’ provided a springboard to Island-wide action. Together we can achieve much…just imagine the strength of committed individuals all working towards a common focus,” stated Dave Willie.
“Effective change in the way we develop land and respect water will result from collaboration of business, local government and community. A desired outcome is that local governments will view watersheds through a ‘sustainable service delivery’ lens,” writes Kim Stephens.
“I have watched this initiative grow both in capacity and influential reach over the years. You are addressing the key elements that contribute to societal and cultural change, which in this case, is leading the way to a more sustainable future,” writes Dianne Ramage.
