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“Knowledge-sharing stories tend to be about problems and have a different pattern from the traditional well-told story. They are told with context, and have something traditional stories lack: an explanation,” wrote Stephen Denning, author of The Springboard: How Storytelling Ignites Action in Knowledge-Era Organizations. “Telling stories that build on real knowledge sharing situations, enables individuals to gather in some of the understanding of the storyteller as well as recast the story into their own contextual work environment; hence adding their own understanding to the process”.

“The Partnership mission is to build a network that fosters support in developing solutions to today’s water sustainability challenges. These range from sharing accurate, scientifically grounded knowledge to weeding through political agendas and misinformation; and from the status quo to embracing a wholistic, environmentally sound wisdom. The takeaway message is that we can support each other to make everyone’s work easier by creating a knowledge network. In these busy times, there is tremendous value in networks to help solve problems together,” stated Remi Dube.

“Lead with Civility is a phoenix-like rising from the ashes of toxic culture. Diane Kalen-Sukra brilliantly threads together time-tested civic wisdom with hard-won insights from years in the fray,” stated Professor Emeritus Ron Dart. The phoenix does not rise on rhetoric. It rises on embers tended: memory restored, standards reset, trust rebuilt, truth told, compassion enacted, responsibility shared. That is the work before us. That is why this book matters. It is a book to be studied, applied, and returned to often. Renewal is a craft, learned by doing again and again.”

“The asset management process does not include futures. Only when an asset is newly constructed is it added to the register. That disconnect got me thinking. Infrastructure must one day be replaced. In the meantime, what do we do with the futures stuff? Where does the process and plan fit into the big picture for municipal councils? Councils have dealt with the futures stuff and the need for master plans for decades. But what is missing from the futures agenda is an equal master plan dealing with the future condition of existing infrastructure,” stated Wally Wells.

The Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation brings to life an exciting period in local government “convening for action” history. The Chronicle weaves quotable quotes by those who were in the frontlines of the green infrastructure movement to tell their story. “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. By 2012, we had good reasons for optimism when we looked ahead,” stated Richard Boase.

“As individuals, under deadlines and demands for expediency, we can easily forget to look beyond local resources. Accepting and sharing concepts and points of view becomes part of a synergistic process that promotes others above self and focuses on the mission at hand. Constructive collaboration with others creates a powerful tool that is far greater than the sum of its parts. Because of transformational events, such as COVID, we have rapidly shifted to an era where trusted knowledge sharing has become more important than ever,” stated Derek Richmond.

Maureen Connelly founded and led the Centre for Architectural Ecology at the BC Institute of Technology from inception. She recruited a team of engineers, architects, and researchers to establish a world-class research facility. The Centre addressed the lack of performance data for green roofs in the Pacific Northwest. BCIT became an important hub for green roof research, education, and policy development, as the movement grew and evolved across North America. When the Centre suspended operation, out of the ashes emerged GRIN to provide a voice for green roofs.

“Regional livability is definitely on the table again. So, I am reviving with Derek Lee the idea of a regional charrette prompted by a lot of the same kinds of housing, transportation, and ecological issues that informed the original Sustainability by Design series. Metro Vancouver faces increasing resistance to provincially mandated Transit-Oriented Area (TOA) development amid concerns over the impacts of rapid densification. Without coordinated planning, this growth risks producing fragmented, unaffordable, and poorly serviced communities,” stated Patrick Condon.

“Maybe saying you do not have all the answers and asking for help, or saying that you have made mistakes, is a greater sign of strength than suggesting you are infallible. You build the relationships and the relationships then give you the strength and confidence to open up about the challenges. We got to where we needed to go (in holding the forum). We are not celebrating our mistakes. But we are celebrating the successes that come out of understanding that, sharing where you feel there are shortcomings, is a sign of strength as a local government leader,” stated Mike Matejka.

“Collaboration is essential. We also have to bring people together. If we find a common purpose that we are pursuing together, there really is nothing that we cannot accomplish,” stated former BC Premier Campbell in 2010. “Look long term. Think about what is best for the future. Not for you, but for those who will follow you. Think about how we can create a better environment that others can live in and benefit from. We get to make our own choices. We get to make our own future. We just have to have the vision to imagine, and the tenacity to pursue it.”