Convening for Action in British Columbia

The Partnership for Water Sustainability originated as a network in the 2000s as an outcome of the provincial “convening for action” initiative. This multi-year program demonstrated the power of peer-based learning, collaboration and partnerships in combination with a regional team approach that spans jurisdictional boundaries. “When you bring the appropriate people together in constructive ways with good information, you look to them to create authentic visions and strategies for addressing the shared concerns of their organizations and community,” stated Derek Richmond.

In his 1969 book, Design With Nature, Ian McHarg pioneered the concept of environmental planning: “So, I commend Design with Nature to your sympathetic consideration. The title contains a gradient of meaning. It can be interpreted as simply descriptive of a planning method, deferential to places and peoples, it can invoke the Grand Design, it can emphasize the conjunction with and, finally it can be read as an imperative. DESIGN WITH NATURE!.” His philosophy was rooted in an ecological sensibility that accepted the interwoven worlds of the human and the natural.

“Change in standard practices does not happen overnight. It takes time. Therefore, it is important to manage expectations when embarking on this journey towards water sustainability. Getting there is Mission Possible and is a top-down and bottom-up strategy. First comes the vision. Then community involvement. Support from municipal decision makers follows next. Finally, communities must apply ‘Design with Nature’ as a consistent future approach to development. Everyone needs to agree on expectations and how all the players will work together,” stated Eric Bonham.

“The vision of green infrastructure in Metro Vancouver is a beautiful one. With this nature-based approach to managing rainwater fully realized, the region is bejewelled with the greens and blues of lush tree canopies and thriving wetlands. The roofs of city buildings flourish with flowering plants and trees, forming a vast rain-capture network. Gaps between vision and reality are, of course, standard in politics. What makes this one frustrating to water-sustainability experts is how close to success the green infrastructure push came before it got derailed,” stated Pamela Swanigan.

“Incorporation of the Partnership for Water Sustainability as an independent legal entity was a transformative decision in 2010. It ensured the legacy and sustainability of tools, resources and programs developed under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia; and delivered through inter-governmental partnerships. A decade later, the document titled ‘Celebration of Our Story’ is a short history of the Partnership. A set of nine articles weave a compelling storyline to describe defining moments over a three-decade period,” stated Tim Pringle.

“In celebrating the first decade of the Partnership legal entity, we paint a picture of the journey that began in the 1990s. The strokes are broad-brush. When reading Our Story, the reader will learn that the combination of a guiding philosophy, committed team members and timely actions built the foundation for the Partnership’s record of success. The BC culture is that we choose to work together. In the mid-2000s, the Partnership pioneered a peer-based educational process for building local government capacity to achieve a consistent regional approach,” stated Kim Stephens.

“Incorporation of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia as a not-for-profit society on November 19th 2010 was a milestone moment. Incorporation culminated a multi-year effort; and signified a bold leap forward. The Partnership has not looked back. Now, our journey stretches over three decades,” stated Mike Tanner. “Premier Gordon Campbell was set to make the public announcement at the 2010 BC Land Champion Awards Gala hosted by the Real Estate Foundation. However, the Premier’s surprise resignation two weeks earlier changed everything.”

“I dream of a culture change in climate/conservation or the social impact field more broadly so that people, relationships and community come first even before strategy, linear solutions and institutional self-interest. I am always working toward that and seeking partners to do this work. The big idea is to try and seed a culture change and shift in climate-conservation work to one that really values the power of relationships and networks. It is about getting the flywheel going,” stated Dr. Jane Wei-Skillern. She is a thought leader in the field of network leadership.

“The focus of the Water Sustainability Action Plan is on the framework for building partnerships, and that is the tag-line. The document is a communication tool – that is, it articulates the vision and the desired outcomes for a water-centric approach to development. The water-centric approach recognizes that the greatest impact on water occurs through our individual values, choices and behavior – that is, our land ethic. This approach also enables consideration and application of an ecosystem perspective that links physical, biological and human perspectives,” stated Erik Karlsen.

“British Columbia’s water sustainability journey currently stretches over five decades – from the 1980s through the 2020s – and has five distinct eras. The 1987 drought resulted in an unprecedented test of water supply sources throughout BC to provide for existing populations, raising concerns regarding the consequences of continued growth. A legacy of the 1987 drought were two landmark studies for Metro Vancouver and the Okanagan, respectively. Both were influential in shaping water supply and water conservation planning for decades to come,” stated Ted van der Gulik.

“The National Action Plan provided us with a focus and a raison d’être for influencing water policy in British Columbia. The National Action Plan opened the door for our committee to carve out a leadership role vis-à-vis provincial water stewardship. It was a defining moment. During this foundational era, the committee was a committee of water utility managers – with regional representation from the southern half of the province. Years later, the experience gained would prove essential and invaluable for implementation of the Water Sustainability Action Plan,” stated Kim Stephens.