Creating Our Future: Convening for Action on Vancouver Island

Year One Program Comprised Three Building Blocks

Launched in conjunction with the Water in the City Conference in September 2006, Convening for Action on Vancouver Island (CAVI) undertook three major initiatives in 2007 (Year One):

1. June 2007: The Creating Our Future Workshop was a consultation opportunity for Vancouver Island local governments that are interested in implementing infrastructure practices and regulation that result in green value – that is, use and conservation of land and real estate that achieves social and economic goals while minimizing harmful effects on ecological assets.
2. September/October 2007: The Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series comprised three one-day events, with each co-hosted by a regional district and one or more member municipalities. The goal was to celebrate successes, promote networking, build regional capacity, and move from awareness to action in designing with nature.
3. December 2007: The Green Infrastructure Leadership Forum was undertaken in partnership with the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities. The objective was to start a conversation that would lead to an Island-wide dialogue about achieving settlement change in balance with ecology.

“The CAVI vision is that water sustainability will be achieved through implementation of green infrastructure policies and practices,” stated John Finnie, CAVI Chair. “The CAVI role is to provide venues which create opportunities to start conversations that will ultimately lead to action. CAVI is facilitating the move from awareness (interest) to action(practice) in changing where and how land is developed, how water is used, and how water runs off the land.”