ANNUAL THEMES IN AN UNFOLDING STORYLINE POINT THE WAY FORWARD: “With the Ambassadors Program as the centrepiece, the Partnership embarked on a multi-year transition strategy in 2023. Our vision is intergenerational,” stated Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia
Note to Reader:
The Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia (the Partnership) is a unique organizational model. The Partnership has its roots in government and public service but is not government. Incorporated as a society, the Partnership is the engine that powers the Living Water Smart Network in the local government setting.
The Partnership creates a safe space for enabling collaborative leadership within the Living Water Smart Network
Growing the Living Water Smart Network as the Partnership is doing breaks all the rules of conventional thinking. We are not building an organization that has staff. And that mindset changes everything.
“Our modus operandi as a network that aligns individuals and organizations for a shared purpose is unencumbered by the cultural constraints and limitations usually associated with a conventional organization. We go where there is energy,” states Richard Boase, Partnership Vice-President and a career local government environmental champion.
Societies Act enables “mission focus”
“In November 2016, the new Societies Act provided clarity and options by defining different classifications of societies. This enabled the Partnership to redefine its identity and mission focus,” explains Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director.
Because the Partnership is funded by governments, governance is simplified. Only directors are “members” with voting rights. Any other category of membership established by Board policy is non-voting.
“The Partnership Leadership Team comprises directors plus ex officio members. When individuals are invited to join the Leadership Team, it is because there is ‘a job to be done’ – that is, provide energy and commitment to grow and sustain the Living Water Smart Network.”
Annual themes are building blocks in an unfolding storyline
“Since 2021, the Partnership has published an annual report that presents a big picture look at what the Partnership represents, what it does, and how it will continue to evolve. These are not conventional annual reports in the way people typically expect one to look like,” Kim Stephens emphasizes.
2021: Growing the Living Water Smart Network through the Power of Collaborative Leadership
2022: A 3-Year Transition Strategy for Ensuring Continuity of the Partnership Network
2023: What the Partnership and associated network look like after the Year 2025
2025: Who will lead the Partnership after the Year 2028
“Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication. People learn through stories. For this reason, the Partnership has adopted a storytelling approach to inform and engage readers about our mission. Accordingly, our annual reports present vignettes about an array of Partnership initiatives. In 2025, we switched from beginning of the year to mid-year for our annual publication.”
The Partnership delivers results across boundaries
“The Living Water Smart Network is the ultimate source of strength of the Partnership. It is how we build bridges of understanding and pass the baton from the past to the present and future. In this way, the network is a foundation piece for succession planning and thus continuity,” notes Eric Bonham, Partnership founding member and former director in two ministries – Environment and Municipal Affairs.
Partnership architecture for mission impact
“Three threads characterize the breadth of roles that the Partnership plays as the nucleus of Living Water Smart Network (and are defined below),” adds Kim Stephens. “The partnership architecture solidifies commitment to outcomes and allows the Partnership to fulfil its mission as an integrator.”
“Embracing collaborative leadership, growing a network based on shared aspirations, and delivering results across organizational boundaries differs in every way from building an organization in any conventional sense.”
Ambassadors Program is our hope for the future because it enables us to look back to see ahead
To achieve our intergenerational mission through the network, the Partnership launched the Ambassadors Program led by Derek Richmond in 2021. “It started simply; it has grown in value and is proving invaluable,” Derek says. “The Ambassadors Program is our hope for the Partnership’s future. We are adding value to our leadership team through the program. Ambassadors are our bridges across boundaries.”
