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“As we move forward with the Action Plan, it is making sure that we provide the people on the ground with the tools and resources that they need to help support action at the local level. A top-down approach does not work. When a community shows interest or a desire to move something forward, that is when we mobilize. The Action Plan purpose is to engage, listen, understand and support the local interests in moving forward. That is where we have been successful,” stated Glen Brown.

“Whistler, BC. is a place that is synonymous with high-level achievement. Now is the time to apply the momentum of these gold medal achievements to local governments success. The spirit of collaboration and newfound bonds that we have fostered in 2010 are undeniably valuable. Without action, we cannot move our communities forward. This year’s Convention will offer an opportunity to take our goals, and forge them into tangible outcomes and continue to build gold medal standard communities,” stated Harry Nyce.

Three provincial initiatives profiled: BC’s Water Act Modernization Process, Provincial Drought Response Plan, and the Water Sustainability Action Plan. “With local governments increasingly adopting integrated sustainability planning approaches, there is a greater need to develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships amongst all orders of government in environmental management,” stated John Slater. Living Water Smart is an idea that people are embracing. The solutions and commitments go beyond what government does. Living Water Smart is a plan that is as much about land as water….because only with healthy water can we enjoy all the values that we take for granted.

Beyond the Guidebook 2010 synthesized a set of ten guiding principles that provide a framework for a successful local government implementation process. Ray Fung spoke to these principles. “So, what we mean by shared responsibility is that everyone has a role, and everyone can act…. all levels of government, developers, regulators, bureaucrats, consultants, planners, engineers…. we all have a role.”

The 2003 Annual Convention of the Union of BC Municipalities initiated an Outreach and Continuing Education Program (OCEP) that promotes a water-centric approach to community planning and development. “Because our vision is to advance water-centric green infrastructure, it was essential that we have high-level political endorsement. UBCM provided us with high-profile platforms in 2003 and again in 2010. UBCM annual conventions allowed us to showcase we what have accomplished on the ground,” stated Ted van der Gulik.

“Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is the story of what has been accomplished on the ground since 2004, through partnerships and collaboration, under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is about implementing a new culture for urban watershed protection and restoration. It speaks to the convention theme, Forging Gold Medal Standards, because 2010 is a year that will not soon be forgotten in British Columbia. This is the perfect time to capitalize on forward momentum in our communities,” stated Kim Stephens.

Historically, the Province has enabled local government by providing policy and legal tools in response to requests from local government. Local government can choose to act, or not. A ‘design with nature’ policy framework enables local governments to build and/or rebuild communities in balance with ecology. “Major breakthroughs happen when decision makers in government work with grass-roots visionaries in the community to create desired outcomes. Everyone needs to agree on expectations and how they will work together, and after that each community can reach its goals in its own way,” stated Eric Bonham.

“So many in local government are searching for the magical ‘silver bullet’to resolve watershed issues and challenges. Yet soil, vegetation and trees can do more for our watersheds than decades of planning, consulting and complicated engineering design will ever achieve,” stated Richard Boase. “Our challenge has always been how do we implement this kind of basic change in land development practice. Landscape-based measures using rejuvenated soil, vegetation and urban forest for ‘rainfall capture’ are typically low risk, comparatively low cost, and result in nicer looking and functioning communities.”