DOWNLOAD A COPY OF: “Living Water Smart in British Columbia: City of Coquitlam is a Beacon of Stability” – released by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in May 2022
Note to Reader:
Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Storylines accommodate a range of reader attention spans. Read the headline and move on, or take the time to delve deeper – it is your choice! Downloadable versions are available at Living Water Smart in British Columbia: The Series.
The edition published on May 31, 2022 featured a conversational interview with Mayor Richard Stewart and City Manager Peter Steblin of the City of Coquitlam. With their clear vision of how to inspire and lead, they form an impressive political / administrative duo. Their sustained commitment has resulted in a “culture of appreciation” that aligns Council and Staff and keeps all eyes on the prize.
Balance, alignment, and appreciation – three words describe why Coquitlam is a “beacon of stability”
“The Partnership for Water Sustainability mission is to tell the stories about the good things that are happening in the local government setting. Our definition of ‘local government setting’ encompasses the stream stewardship sector because those folks are the ‘boots on the ground’,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.
“The local government setting is populated with unsung and unappreciated heroes, both inside and outside government. Through Waterbucket eNews, the Partnership strives to give them a voice.”
Right People Plus Hard Work
“Changing an organizational culture for the better takes hard work and time. By showcasing and celebrating the Coquitlam story, the Partnership hopes that other local governments will be inspired to reach out to Richard and Peter, learn from their Coquitlam experience, and ultimately emulate this success story. The following Peter Steblin quote describes what is at stake:
“It takes a decade to create a good culture in an organization. But you can destroy it in a year with the wrong political leadership. To keep it going, you must continue to do good things. Instill a culture of continuous improvement and giving back to the community so that the community elects good, well-meaning people. It is a cycle.”
Council Runs the Show; Staff Gives Good Advice
“With their clear vision of how to inspire and lead, Richard Stewart and Peter Steblin form an impressive political / administrative duo. In the interview, it was evident they genuinely like and respect each other.”
“They share a guiding philosophy that exemplifies doing good work, having fun doing it, and doing with it the goal of making a difference for the greater community good.
In the ‘story behind the Coquitlam story’, Richard Stewart and Peter Steblin reflect on their commitment, sustained over more than a decade, to create a ‘culture of appreciation’ in Coquitlam. A guiding principle is that you fix things one piece at a time.”
TO LEARN MORE:
To read the complete story published on May 31st 2022, download a PDF copy of “Living Water Smart in British Columbia: City of Coquitlam is a Beacon of Stability”.
DOWNLOAD A PDF COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/05/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_beacon-of-stability_2022.pdf