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“A mandate of the BC Ministry of Community & Rural Development is to foster partnerships, collaboration, innovation and integration. The goal is to build capacity that will result in sustainable, healthy and vibrant communities. There is a greater incentive for local governments to demonstrate how their innovation and integration will be effective in meeting the goals of both the Green Communities Initiative and Living Water Smart,” stated Glen Brown.

A regional team approach is founded on partnerships and collaboration; and seeks to align actions at three scales – provincial, regional and local.

Local priorities and local leadership will determine the path each community takes to shape our common future.

Because the focus is on how to implement the “regional team approach”, the series is for implementers. This article is introductory, provides context only, and links to a set of downloadable documents that comprise the series curriculum.

“The Ministry is fostering partnerships, collaboration, innovation and integration through the Green Communities Initiative. Ultimately it is grant programs that provide the incentives that influence behaviour; and reward those who meet program objectives for doing business differently on-the-ground,” states Glen Brown.

“The Province is using the Green Communities Initiative to advance green infrastructure province-wide. We are slowly raising the bar for local government. For example, we are saying ‘show us what you are doing to protect stream health’,” stated Karen Rothe.

The Province enacted legislation (Bill 27) that will help municipalities and regional districts create more compact, sustainable and greener communities. The legislation came into force in June 2008. “The Province is leveraging its grants programs to influence changes on the ground. British Columbia is in transtion. Today, assessment criteria are based on a philosophy of ‘the greener the better’ Tomorrow, all projects must meet a green standard,” stated Catriona Weidman.

In 2008, the Ministry of Community Development developed A Guide to Green Choices to help local governments continue the extensive work they were already doing in fostering green communities. “We have a series of initiatives within the Ministry that are integrated with other broader provincial initiatives. These are seeking to help us build green communities in our province. We all benefit from having attractive, liveable communities…with a healthy natural environment,” stated Dr. Laura Tate.

“A key theme in A Guide to Green Choices is the notion of integration. It stems from a belief that the solid efforts already being made could be even stronger if they work together in the right direction — not at cross-purposes,” stated Laura Tate. This Guide is expected to work in tandem with many other programs and projects already underway, including Living Water Smart and the BC Climate Action Plan. Many of the ideas proposed in this Guide are eligible for funding through various provincial government programs

The Forum showcased three regions where communities are ‘convening for action' and developing a vision and road map to change the way that land is developed and water is used.