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“This phrase captures a common element in our day-to-day work regardless of the kind of work we are engaged in. Fundamentally, most of what we do is tied to trying to overcome the challenges presented by our communities whether as a municipal employee, consultant or supplier. Events like this conference are opportunities to learn. It is the sharing of experience that moves us toward creating better and more sustainable communities,” stated Jim Levin.

“Elected political leadership throughout the Okanagan is now more engaged than it has ever been in history in water stewardship and water management planning. There is no doubt that this new approach to water stewardship and public engagement will bring many positive results, setting the course for change in the Okanagan, for decades to come,” stated Tom Siddon.

“Under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan, Convening for Action pilot programs in the South Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Greater Vancouver are promoting water-centric approaches to community planning and land development,” stated Barry Penner, BC Minister of the Environment.

“The British Columbia landscape is being transformed by settlement and economic growth. While the province has been experiencing enhanced social and economic well-being, the need to mitigate pressures on land and water resources has provided a driver for a ‘green infrastructure’ movement that is water-centric,” stated Paul Ham.

“Infrastructure design is changing. Desired outcomes for water sustainability and green infrastructure are common to both, and can be achieved through infrastructure standards that reflect a full and proper understanding of the relationship between land and water”, noted Kim Stephens.

The session comprised five cascading presentations and attracted an audience totaling 130. “The objective when ‘convening for action’ is to influence practitioners to learn about and use practices that better balance the necessary relationships of settlement activity and ecological assets in local and regional landscapes,” stated Tim Pringle.

“Water is the piece that integrates everything that we care about. You will note that we are using the phrase water stewardship, not water management. Stewardship is about replacing self interest, dependency and control with service, responsibility and partnership,” stated Lynn Kriwoken. She concluded her presentation by presenting the Province’s vision for water. She stated that: “We can only attain the vision through shared stewardship.

“Everything is connected, and how we develop land determines how water is used and how water runs off the land. Because water has been identified as the #1 concern of the public, the South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy is a provincial pilot for advancing the water balance way-of-thinking and acting”, stated Ted van der Gulik.