FLASHBACK TO 2004: Developed through a precedent-setting partnership, the “Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia” launched a fresh approach for turning ideas into action
Note to Reader:
In 2003, the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (WALP) provided the Water Sustainability Committee (WSC) of the BC Water & Waste Association with core funding so that the WSC could spearhead development of the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia in partnership with the Province.
The WSC had an integrating role in collaborating with other organizations to create a lasting legacy. By drawing its members from a diverse range of disciplines and organizations, including a number of provincial government Ministries, the WSC functioned across the ‘boundaries’ and beyond the historical ‘limits’ or ‘constraints’ of the mandates, knowledge and expertise found in specific organizations.
Framework for Building Partnerships
In February 2004, the WSC and Province jointly released Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia: Framework for Building Partnerships.
“The action plan’s goal is to encourage implementation of integrated water sustainability policies, plans and programs across the province. The action plan builds on the foundation provided by ‘A Water Conservation Strategy for British Columbia’, a previous partnership development. The ‘WaterBucket’ website is the key communication strategy for the action plan,” stated the Hon. Bill Barisoff. He was the Minister of Water, Land & Air Protection when the Water Sustainability Action Plan was released in February 2004.
To Learn More:
To download a copy of the Action Plan plus supporting appendices, click on the links below:
- Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia, February 2004
- Appendix B – Provincial Focus Group Findings, December 2003
- Appendix C – A Watershed/Landscape-Based Approach to Community Planning, March 2002
Build on the Past & Look to Future
“Back in 2003, a group of practitioners were thinking of reviving the Water Use Efficiency Committee within the BC Water and Waste Association. But efficiency was really only one piece of the water puzzle. And so, the Water Sustainability Committee (WSC) was born,” recalled Ray Fung in 2014 when he reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Action Plan.
He is Director, Engineering & Transportation for the District of West Vancouver. He served as the WSC Chair from 2003 – 2008.
Historical Context
“I still recall Ted Vander Gulik approaching me to be the Chair of this new Committee. I could have sworn he said to me, ‘Ray, this commitment will only take two to four hours a week.’ Little did I know he really meant twenty-four hours a week outside my day job!,” Raymond Fung added with a chuckle.
(NOTE: Before retiring from government, Ted van der Gulik was the Senior Engineer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Chair of the Water Balance Model initiative, and the leader of the Province’s Agricultural Water Demand Model program. Currently, he is President of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC)
“Well, I ended up remaining in the role of the Chair for five years before passing the torch to Glen Brown. By 2010, the aspirations of the group were exceeding the support that BCWWA was able to provide. So by mutual consent, the original Water Sustainability Committee transformed itself into an independent, non-profit organization under the Societies Act and is now known as the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia.”
(NOTE: At the time, Glen Brown was the Executive Director of the Local Government Infrastructure & Finance Division, Ministry of Community, Sport & Cultural Development; and is Deputy Inspector of Municipalities. Currently, his is the General Manager (Victoria Operations, Union of BC Municipalities)
“Tim Pringle (on left), who had recently retired from his role as Executive Director of the Real Estate Foundation of BC became the Partnership’s inaugural President. Kim Stephens (on right) evolved his role from WSC Coordinator to the Partnership’s Executive Director.”
Turning Ideas Into Action in BC
“Over the first 10 years, the WSC/Partnership accomplished much. Through a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Environment, we developed the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia, which provided the framework for our work,” continued Ray Fung.
“As a result, the Waterbucket.ca website portal was initiated. The Water Balance Model was developed. The Water$ave Toolkit was completed. The Green Infrastructure Partnership was launched. And on Vancouver Island in particular, the Convening for Action initiative has inspired a whole grassroots collective to visualize what achieving water sustainability might look like on Vancouver Island in 50 years.”