DOWNLOAD A COPY OF: “Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Open Minds, Overcome Inertia, Implement Effective Standards of Practice for Urban Watershed Health in British Columbia” – released by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in April 2026
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway (reproduced below), Editor’s Perspective, and the Story Behind the Story.
The edition published on April 21, 2026 featured the fifth installment of the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver. Part E covers the period 2012 through 2017. This sweeping narrative weaves quotable quotes to provide the reader with a perspective on Metro Vancouver collaboration with four other regional districts bordering the Salish Sea.
While it was a defining period for inter-regional collaboration, something happened in Metro Vancouver to change the trajectory. After 2017, the gap between understanding and implementation widened rather than being bridged.
ONE MINUTE TAKEAWAY for the extremely busy reader
The Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation brings to life an exciting period in local government “convening for action” history. The storyline weaves quotable quotes by those who were in the frontlines of the green infrastructure movement, and reveals their stories behind the story.
How do you overcome inertia? Peer-based learning plus collaboration across boundaries!
“Creating change is not easy. We talk a lot about barriers that must be overcome. But the real issue is inertia. It takes effort and energy to get everyone moving in the right direction. And it requires a willingness to take calculated risks,” emphasizes Richard Boase.
“By 2012, we had good reasons for optimism when we looked ahead. A network of champions in local government was in play. The design with nature message was sinking in. The Province had the Partnership’s back. We had political support in five regions. Overcoming inertia seemed just around the corner.”
Then what happened?
In the moment, the period 2012 through 2017 was defined by “hope and optimism.” With the perspective of time, however, the period is more appropriately characterized as one of “unfulfilled promise.” After 2017, a series of events changed the trajectory for overcoming inertia. But that is the story for another day. In the meantime…
To Learn More:
Waterbucket eNews stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective and Context for Busy Reader, and the Story Behind the Story. To read the complete 3-part storyline, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Open Minds, Overcome Inertia, Implement Effective Standards of Practice for Urban Watershed Health in British Columbia.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/gi/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/04/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Kim-Stephens-on-Overcoming-Inertia_2026_with-Part-E.pdf