2014 Managing Water Workshop: Strong technical program plus tradeshow attract large crowd to Victoria venue
Partnership for Water Sustainability joined forces with Irrigation Industry Association to co-host flagship workshops in 2013 and 2014
In December 2013 and again in December 2014, the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia (PWSBC) and the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia (IIABC) have partnered to co-host and jointly organize a workshop. These two events were built around the Annual General Meeting of each organization.
Tradeshow Adds Value to Workshop
“The first joint workshop held in Richmond in 2013 attracted registration of 80-plus. In 2014, registration increased to 105 when we held the workshop in Victoria,” reports Karen van der Gulik, IIABC Executive Administrator and the individual most responsible for the organizational details behind the scenes that ensured a seamless and successful workshop day.
“The turnout from the irrigation industry in providing a strong tradeshow component is a clear indicator of the value that they saw in supporting the workshop. The strength of the technical program attracted an attendance from up and down the east coast of Vancouver Island, as well as from the mainland.”
An Integrated Program
“The workshop brought together folks from two worlds, local government and the irrigation industry, and we designed the workshop program in a way that bridged the two groups. Audience feedback confirmed that we succeeded in our objective of opening minds by showcasing the scope of each world,” explains Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director.
“The integrated program was cascading and comprised four modules [refer to image below]. Module A was a high-level call to action. Successive modules then drilled down into on-the-ground applications that encompassed both the urban and agricultural sectors. We concluded the day with a module that was geared to the hands-on interests and information needs of the landscape irrigation contractors.”
“The focus of the integrated program was on HOW to do things. In the process, the irrigation folks gained an appreciation for the big picture issues that local government folks are addressing vis-à-vis water and watershed resource management. Similarly, water supply managers in local government realized the impact that irrigation practices and designer certification can have on municipal water use, and the implications when our climate is changing.”
Cascading Modules / Learning Outcomes
To Learn More:
To download a copy of the Program Overview, click on Convening for Action on Vancouver Island: How Managing Water Now….Will Shape the Future.
Click on the links below to download PDF copies of the presentation slides for Modules A through D.
Module A: VI 2065: The Vision for Vancouver Island in 50 Years (3.2 MB pdf)
Module B: Water and the Urban Environment – Adapting to a Changing Climate (13.0 MB pdf)
Module C: Agriculture and Water – How Will Climate Change Impact the Future? (10.4 MB pdf)
Module D: Landscape Irrigation – How Efficiency Can Be Improved (5.0 MB pdf)
