FLASHBACK TO 2009: Water Balance Model won a "Premier's Award for Innovation and Excellence" (video)
The Story of the Water Balance Model
The Lower Mainland’s exceptional B.C. public service employees were the focus of a ceremony in February 2009 hosted by then Premier Gordon Campbell, where the recipients of regional Premier’s Innovation and Excellence Awards acknowledging their creativity and dedication were announced. The Water Balance Model for British Columbia was one of the award winners.
Award finalists told their stories in a series of professionally made videos. The Water Balance Model video features Ted van der Gulik, Chair of the Inter-Governmental Partnership that developed the web-based tool; and Kim Stephens, Program Coordinator for the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia. He created the vision for the tool in 2000.
Creating Our Future
At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, the Premier sought out Ted van der Gulik. This created an opportunity for an extended conversation. “As we talked, it became clear to me that WATER is high on the Premier’s agenda. He has a strong grasp of water-related issues and the long-term implications if we do not start doing business differently in BC,” stated Ted van der Gulik.
“The Water Balance Model is a means to an end. The challenge that we have been posing since 2002 is this:What do we want this province to look like in 50 years and beyond?“
“The Water Balance Model is a tool that will help us create our future,” added Kim Stephens. “To get to the big picture, it starts with the smallest pieces. The Water Balance Model links the site to the stream to the watershed.”
“The tool can help planners and engineers create liveable communities, reduce rainwater runoff, reduce flooding of agricultural land and improve the health of streams. It is unique as it bridges engineering and planning, and enables science-based runoff performance targets to be established.”
To Learn More:
To read the complete story posted elsewhere on Water Bucket, click on Premier Gordon Campbell recognizes the Water Balance Model for its innovation and excellence.
