Convening for Action in British Columbia

“The District of Summerland OCP example illustrates how a community can benefit from successful implementation of a ‘regional team approach’. The Real Estate Foundation is pleased to be a partner in this process,” observes,” stated Karin Kilpatrick. “The Summerland example demonstrates that the land ethic in the South Okanagan is changing for the better.”

“The bylaw recognizes that settlement change and ecology are equal values and they must be as much in balance as possible for the wellbeing of human and natural systems.” states Tom Szalay.

“The South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy provided the first opportunity to test the ‘convening for action’ approach. That experience has been adapted in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. The cross-fertilization process has now come full circle,” stated Tim Pringle.

“In 2005, the Action Plan partners launched a ‘made in BC’ process known as Convening for Action. When we gather, it is for a purpose. There must be an action item or an outcome,” stated Kim Stephens. “The partners envisioned a series of pilot programs and case studies, with outcomes synthesized as chapters in Water-Centric Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia.”

“The REFBC has had a longstanding interest and involvement in water sustainability. We have provided core funding for the Water Sustainability Action Plan since 2005. In addition to our funding role, we have played an active part in programs implemented under the Action Plan umbrella, notably Convening for Action on Vancouver Island. So, a logical next step for the Foundation was to establish a Water Sustainability Endowment Fund in support of non-profit initiatives related to water stewardship. The income generated from this fund will support non-profit activities in water sustainability in the province of BC. This endowment will support projects which demonstrate the values of the REFBC’s Land Award,”stated Karin Kirkpatrick.

Recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on the intricate links between nature, technology and society, Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon challenged delegates to consider how they, and the organizations they work for, may better adapt and prosper in a world of ever-greater complexity and rapid change.

“The lecture was an opportunity to provide students with a window into the local goverment setting; and elaborate on what it takes to build consensus and create lasting change on the ground. I wanted to impart is what it takes to get buy-in from local government and the community for an outcome-oriented vision,” stated Kim Stephens.

“One reaches a point in one’s career and one’s life when talk is not enough… it is the action, the outcome (that is important). Convening for action is our branding. Convening for action as a provincial initiative has evolved over the last five years. We started in the South Okanagan. By 2006, we were ready to go a bigger scale. We said let’s take on a whole region. That became Convening for Action on Vancouver Island. We applied the lessons that we learned in the South Okanagan. We asked the question: what do we want this place to look like in 50 years?”, stated Kim Stephens.

Bringing passion and energy to everything he does, the ability of Kim Stephens to build relationships and partnerships with broad water stakeholders has resulted in a positive change to how practitioners understand the relationship between land-use and the true value of water. He specializes in public policy and integration of perspectives as they relate to urban watershed planning and application of decision support systems, and has had a leadership role in a series of Provincial initiatives in British Columbia related to water sustainability, rainwater management, green infrastructure, and smart development.

“The WAM Discussion Paper appears to miss the opportunity for an integrated watershed management approach, rather focusing on water management and allocation. CAVI’s experience suggests that the integration of land use and water management at the regional or local level is germane to successfully reforming the Water Act,’ wrote John Finnie.