PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATES 5-YR ANNIVERSARY: “The vision for the website was, and is to provide a resource rich, highly interactive ‘destination location’ website,” says Mike Tanner, a founding Director
“The vision for the website was, and is to provide a resource rich, highly interactive ‘destination location’ website for information and communication related to water sustainability in the Province of BC. To date, over a quarter million visitors have viewed and used the information and tools contained on the waterbucket.ca website. While this may not seem to be a large number compared to YouTube hits, over 90% of our visitors are using our site to access information that directly assist them in planning and facilitating change within their communities,” states Mike Tanner.
PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATES 5-YR ANNIVERSARY: “The core strength of the Partnership for Water Sustainability, as the name suggests, has been the development of creative partnerships,” states Eric Bonham
“Over the last five years water issues have become increasingly prominent within BC and beyond. The Partnership has been at the forefront of this understanding and has, through workshops, partnerships and through the development of educational material, provided practical information, shared with others, to address this concerning trend,” states Eric Bonham. “Climate change demands practical solutions at both the local and national level. The Partnership has established creative partnerships over the last five years with local governments to address this issue.”
PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATES 5-YR ANNIVERSARY: “We are creating a ‘sharing of experience’ about land development practices and stream health,” observes Peter Law, a founding Director
“The reason I joined the Partnership for Water Sustainability in the early days of ‘incorporation’ was to be an advocate for educating local communities, land decision makers and the stewardship communities about the need to move from awareness to action. We need to both reduce the demand for water and protect stream health from the adverse consequences of land development practices. It was through my work as a Provincial Fish Biologist that I became aware first-hand of the issue of water sustainability and watershed health,” stated Peter Law.
PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATES 5-YR ANNIVERSARY: “Never forget, it all started with a conversation,” says John Finnie, Past-Chair, CAVI-Convening for Action on Vancouver Island
“The principles of success for the CAVI initiative and the PWSBC organization are similar. Hard-working individuals with like interests and visions, communicating with each other in a positive, no-pressure, educational way. Sharing challenges and successes and understanding how to achieve those successes has demonstrated what can be accomplished through partnerships and collaboration. Many of our initiatives and success stories have stemmed from the realization that what happens on the land does indeed matter and that a systems approach to watershed health does work. Let’s continue along this path,” states John Finnie.
IMPACT OF A CHANGING CLIMATE: “2015 is a teachable year,” stated Kim Stephens in media interviews about curtailing of regional water use after storage in water reservoir dwindles
“The ‘new normal’ in British Columbia is drought and flooding. The summer dry season has extended on both ends and communities can no longer count on a predictable snowpack and reliable rain to maintain a healthy water balance in their watersheds. This is putting water supply systems and ecosystems under extreme stress. 2015 will change how we do business over the next few years,” stated Kim Stephens. “Our biggest impact in terms of water supply is in the summer months when water is being used outdoors. When you think about, historically we have used almost as much water for our lawns and gardens as we drink and consume.”
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE (2014): How Managing Water Now…Will Shape the Future
“The Partnership will continue to implement the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia in 2015; and will look for new opportunities and activities that can help us celebrate our successes. Success can only be accomplished through the integration of efforts of practitioners, including our many partners in the provincial government, local governments and non-profit societies,” stated Ted van der Gulik. “An initiative of the Partnership in the coming years is to integrate young, energetic professionals with a vision towards water sustainability.”
CHAMPION SUPPORTER: BC Ministry of Environment (October 2014)
“I really believe that the key to the success of the Ministry’s relationship with the Partnership and its evolution over the years has been our shared vision for water stewardship. Also, I have a really strong belief that senior governments can’t do it alone…can’t do it nor should senior governments do it alone…when there is such a wealth of knowledge and innovation and ideas at the local level,” stated Lynn Kriwoken.
2014 Annual Report for the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia
“The Partnership will continue to implement the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia in 2015; and will look for new opportunities and activities that can help us celebrate our successes. Success can only be accomplished through the integration of efforts of practitioners, including our many partners in the provincial government, local governments and non-profit societies,” stated Ted van der Gulik.
ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (2014): “The Partnership’s leadership team is committed to a bridging and mentoring role over the next decade. We are here to guide,” stated Kim Stephens
“In view of the demographic shift that is taking place in society, and that is characterized by a loss of institutional memory, the Partnership’s leadership team is committed to a bridging and mentoring role over the next decade. We are here to guide. Over the past year, we have been encouraged by the emergence of a generation that we anticipate will be the future leadership in local government,” stated Kim Stephens.
“Interest in the vision for moving towards settlement, economy and ecology in balance provides an incentive to attend our AGM,” says Tim Pringle, Past-President of the Partnership for Water Sustainability
“We continue to influence practitioners with thought provoking truths: use and conservation of land are equal values; healthy human settlement systems and ecological systems are inter-dependent; and, settlement in balance with ecology can lead to enduring prosperity. We make available tools and support services that enable practitioners to focus on water sustainability as an essential form maker of our communities,” states Tim Pringle.