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A decade and a half of experience has enabled the City of Surrey to move beyond pilot projects to a broader watersheds objectives approach to implementing green infrastructure and capturing rain where it falls, to protect stream health. “The Surrey Sustainability Charter is about making the right choices and doing the right things. The Charter provides a comprehensive lens through which we will view all future initiatives, programs and plans,” stated Mayor Dianne Watts.

“Everyone is doing something different. But it all fits together into an overall picture. It is how they share and learn from each other – because the objective is to ensure that we are all moving in the right direction. And so, in terms of the outcome of this collaboration, it really is about how to align regional and local actions with the provincial policy, program and regulatory framework. Our focus is on what we call hydrologic integrity,” stated Kim Stephens.

“Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is the story of doing business differently in the local government setting, and connecting with the community. Government and large institutions, while needing to put in place broad policies and support systems, do not have enough influence by themselves to encourage individual behaviour change in support of conservation, at the level that is needed to maintain to adequately conserve out natural systems,” stated Pia Nagpal.

Dr. John Wagner (photo) has been responsible for bringing life to the World Water Day celebrations at UBC-Okanagan University. “2006 was our first WWD at UBCO and Kim Stephens was the first in what became a long line of distinguished speakers! In his presentation, Kim focused on the integrating role that the Water Sustainability Action Plan plays in implementing the Convening for Action initiative through regional partnerships,” states John Wagner.

For British Columbians, 2015 was the year of the great drought, dwindling snow packs, melting glaciers, beleaguered salmon runs and a costly forest fire season, followed by windstorms and heavy rains. This provided context for an article written by veteran reporter Kent Spencer that speculated as to whether there is a connection with “the Blob”. He incorporated insights that he gleaned from his background interview of Kim Stephens.

Communities can no longer count on a predictable snowpack and reliable precipitation to maintain a healthy water balance in their watersheds. In April 2016, the Environmental Managers Association of BC hosted a session about the 2015 Drought. “Three speakers presented on different aspects of water scarcity and connected the dots to the Water Sustainability Act. Kim Stephens explained what needs to be done to restore the water balance in urban areas,” stated Stephanie Voysey.

Kirk LaPointe, host of the “Our City” morning show on Roundhouse Radio, interviewed Kim Stephens about the local implications of the drought that extended from Vancouver Island to Manitoba and from Mexico to the Yukon in 2015. Kim Stephens elaborated on how he believes 2015 ranks with 2003 as a defining ‘teachable year’ for facilitating a paradigm-shift in the water ethic of British Columbians.

Delta is a leader in implementing green infrastructure practices that will ultimately protect stream health. “It is evident that there are many champions in local government; and it is important that we recognize and celebrate what they are doing. This is all part of creating our future. And when we ask ‘what will this community look like in 50 years’, we can point to the green infrastructure examples and then we will know what it will look like in 50 years,” stated Mayor Lois Jackson.

Media attention initially resulted from coverage of the Feast AND Famine Workshop. This coverage was followed by 6 newspaper, radio and television interviews featuring Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director. “In all 6 interviews, I emphasized that the ‘new normal’ in BC is drought and flooding,” says Kim Stephens. “Southwest BC dodged a bullet this past summer.”

“The experience of the Greater Vancouver region shows how important it is to build a network that can make things happen. Looking back, much of what we have collectively accomplished in recent years in the field of rainwater management can be traced back to relationships,” stated Laura Maclean. “We now see a comparable relationship-building process taking shape on Vancouver Island.”