The Green Infrastructure Leadership Forum is the next flagship event for Convening for Action on Vancouver Island
December 2007 Forum will focus on what “A Positive Settlement Strategy for Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities” might look like
Convening for Action on Vancouver Island (CAVI) and the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities (AVICC) have announced that they are partnering to co-host a Green Infrastructure Leadership Forum on December 3, 2007 in Nanaimo. This event will be designed for elected representatives and senior managers in local government. The Leadership Forum is viewed as a first step to enabling Vancouver Island municipalities and regional districts to align their regional growth strategies and official community plans to achieve A Positive Settlement Strategy for Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities.
The Partners
AVICC is the longest established area association under the umbrella of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. The association was established in 1950. It now has a membership of 49 municipalities and regional districts which stretch from the Central Coast Regional District down to the tip of Vancouver Island and include Powell River and the Sunshine Coast. The association deals with issues and concerns that affect large urban areas to small rural communities.
Launched in 2006, CAVI is led by a team that represents both the government and private sectors. The supporting ‘CAVI Partnership’ comprises four organizations:
- British Columbia Water & Waste Association (BCWWA)
- Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia (REFBC)
- BC Ministry of Environment
- BC Ministry of Community Services
CAVI is an inclusive and expanding partnership, and is also supported by the Green Infrastructure Partnership. CAVI falls under a broader partnership umbrella that is provided by the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia, and is a regional pilot program for the Convening for Action process. The Action Plan gives local governments and practitioners the tools and experience to better manage land and water resources.
The partnership between AVICC and CAVI was facilitated by Barry Avis, Qualicum Beach Councillor and AVICC Director. “As an outcome of the highly successful Creating Our Future Consultation Workshop that CAVI held in June, the CAVI leadership asked me if I would be their AVICC Liaison. The Green Infrastructure Leadership Forum is a concept that resonated. The rest is history, as they say.”
Desired Outcomes
The CAVI focus is on the issue of how to achieve water sustainability in the context of continued growth and a potential doubling of the population of Vancouver Island. The CAVI vision is that water sustainability will be achieved through implementation of green infrastructure policies, practices and standards.
CAVI aims to bring together those who plan and regulate land use (local government), those who build (developers), and those who provide the legislative framework and system support (the Province).
According to John Finnie (Regional District of Nanaimo), CAVI Chair, “The operative words are vision, partnerships, communication, ecological integrity, human well-being, sustainability, water-centric…and simply put…a desire to work together for Vancouver Island.”
The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia is funding the Green Infrastructure Leadership Forum. “The Leadership Forum is a stepping stone along a pathway,” notes Tim Pringle (Executive Director), “It will build on the awareness and momentum generated initially by the Creating Our Future Consultation Workshop, and currently by Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation on Vancouver Island: The 2007 Series.”
A Look Ahead to 2008
According to Rod Sherrell, AVICC President and Area Director with the Mount Waddington Regional District, “We view the Green Infrastructure Leadership Forum as the prelude to a broader discussion that AVICC will organize in conjunction with our 2008 Annual Conference. It will allow us to build on the success of our 2007 Annual Conference.”
“Partnering with CAVI to deliver the Green Infrastructure Leadership Forum creates an opportunity to generate real interest that will be followed up at our 2008 Annual Convention”, added Barry Janyk, Mayor of Gibsons and AVICC 1st Vice President. “Our goal is to ensure next April’s presentation will be an invigorating and illuminating event that will result in practical applications for all AVICC members.”
“The question we will be asking our people to think about is this: What could our communities look like in 50 years with a new way-of-thinking?”, concludes Rod Sherrell.
For more information, contact:
- Eydie Fraser
AVICC Executive Coordinator
Tel: 250-356-5133
Email: efraser@civicnet.bc.ca - Kim A Stephens, M.Eng, P.Eng.
Program Coordinator
Water Sustainability Action Plan for BC
Email: kimastephens@shaw.ca