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Convening for Action in British Columbia

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Convening for Action in British Columbia: ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2010’ connects the dots between South Okanagan and Vancouver Island


The South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy provided the first opportunity to test the ‘convening for action’ approach. That experience has been adapted in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. The cross-fertilization process has now come full circle. “Convening for Action’s influence was apparent in documentation (including graphics) and corporate knowledge used in producing the Regional Growth Strategy plan,” reported Bryn White.

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Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Forging Gold Medal Standards for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia


Beyond the Guidebook 2010 synthesized a set of ten guiding principles that provide a framework for a successful local government implementation process. Ray Fung spoke to these principles. “So, what we mean by shared responsibility is that everyone has a role, and everyone can act…. all levels of government, developers, regulators, bureaucrats, consultants, planners, engineers…. we all have a role.”

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FROM RAIN TO RESOURCE: Brock Dolman of the California-based WATER Institute will be keynote speaker at Okanagan Rainwater Workshop (October 2010)


“The WATER Institute promotes understanding of the importance of healthy watersheds to healthy communities. It is emphasizes that land-use management strategies must thoroughly analyze the impact of human activities on the hydrologic cycle, and how these activities affect species, community and ecosystem dynamics,” explains Brock Dolman. Asserting that it is “better to be safe than thirsty,” the WATER Institute advocates the use of the Precautionary Principle in decisions about water-use policy.

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BEYOND THE GUIDEBOOK 2010: Okanagan Rainwater Workshop provides forum for ‘convening for action’ to advance a new culture for watershed protection and restoration


“There is now clear guidance in BC for aligning local actions with provincial and regional goals to ‘design with nature’; so that we can create greener communities, live water smart and prepare for climate change. BC is now at a tipping point. Implementation of a new culture for urban watershed protection and restoration is within our grasp. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 sets the stage for settlement change that is in balance with ecology,” stated Kim Stephens.

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Water Bucket provides ‘home’ for telling the story of the Okanagan Rainwater Workshop


“The Okanagan Rainwater Workshop is important. It was one of three regional events that served as high-profile platforms for rollout of Beyond the Guidebook 2010: Implementing a New Culture for Urban Watershed Protection and Restoration in British Columbia,” stated Mike Tanner. “As the series unfolds, Water Bucket stories will be placing particular emphasis on those members of the ‘convening for action team’ who are contributing program content at the Okanagan Rainwater Workshop.”

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How the Tree Canopy Protects Urban Stream Health: “The right trees in the right places intercept rainfall”, says IGP Co-Chair Richard Boase


Trees can intercept upwards of 50% of the rain that falls each year on a watershed. Removing the tree cover means that more and more rainfall is converted into runoff volume. “One of our research interests was to determine the effectiveness of a single taken at premiers awards dinnertree versus that for a cluster of trees,” explained Richard Boase.

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Okanagan Basin Water Board and BC Water & Waste Association present…. “From Rain to Resource: Managing Stormwater in a Changing Climate”


“We anticipate that this workshop will be of interest to people who put rainwater management techniques and products into practice, such as planners, engineers, and landscape architects from government and private industry, and to those that develop policy around rainwater management, such as elected officials and municipal senior staff,” stated Nelson Jatel.

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2010 UBCM Annual Convention provides forum for reporting out on implementation success of Water Sustainability Action Plan


The 2003 Annual Convention of the Union of BC Municipalities initiated an Outreach and Continuing Education Program (OCEP) that promotes a water-centric approach to community planning and development. “Because our vision is to advance water-centric green infrastructure, it was essential that we have high-level political endorsement. UBCM provided us with high-profile platforms in 2003 and again in 2010. UBCM annual conventions allowed us to showcase we what have accomplished on the ground,” stated Ted van der Gulik.

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CAVI Chair John Finnie announced launch of ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2010’ at the ‘Dialogue in Nanaimo’ on June 11, 2010


“Beyond the Guidebook 2010 describes how water sustainability can and will be achieved through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices. Getting there relies on a change in mind-set,” stated John Finnie. “When the right people with the right knowledge are involved at the right time to apply informed judgment in a collaborative process, the outcome-oriented approach saves time and money.”

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Rollout of ‘Beyond the Guidebook 2010’ will commence at UBCM Annual Convention on September 27


“Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is the story of what has been accomplished on the ground since 2004, through partnerships and collaboration, under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is about implementing a new culture for urban watershed protection and restoration. It speaks to the convention theme, Forging Gold Medal Standards, because 2010 is a year that will not soon be forgotten in British Columbia. This is the perfect time to capitalize on forward momentum in our communities,” stated Kim Stephens.

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