Convening for Action in British Columbia

Ed von Euw (120p)
Metro Vancouver's 'Integrated Liquid Waste & Resource Management Plan' envisions outcome-oriented watershed plans that have clear linkages with land use planning and development approval processes.

“How to accommodate a doubling of the population in the high growth regions of British Columbia is the driver for implementing changes in the way we develop land and use water,” stated Kim Stephens. “Conversations with elected representatives have yielded insights that have shaped implementation of Convening for Action pilot programs.”

The Penticton Forum showcased how partnerships, collaboration, innovation and integration are helping local governments in three regions. “The Province’s Living Water Smart and Green Communities initiatives provide a framework and direction for convening for action in the Okanagan, on Vancouver Island and in Metro Vancouver. Each regional initiative is developing a vision and road map for achieving settlement in balance with ecology,” stated Glen Brown.

“The Province has enabled local government by providing law and policy tools to help achieve water sustainability and settlement change in balance with ecology,” stated Tim Pringle. “The program goals for Living Water Smart, BC’s Water Plan and the companion Green Communities Initiative constitute a ‘call to action’ on the part of British Columbians.”

“Co-sponsored by the Green Infrastructure Partnership and the Water Balance Partnership, the Forum was about moving beyond pilot projects to a watershed-based approach to achieving performance targets for rainwater management and green infrastructure,” explained John Sidnell, a member of the Green Infrastructure Partnership Steering Committee. “The Province’s Green Communities Initiative and Living Water Smart, BC’s Water Plan provided the backdrop for the Surrey Forum.”

Sustainability imperatives, the call for climate action, and the pressure for new approaches in almost every urban system have North American cities scrambling to manage the shift toward ecological practices and greater resilience. “BC is a living laboratory for many of the conference themes at Resilient Cities. This unique two-and-a-half day gathering addresses the challenges that all cities, whether large or small, urban or rural, are facing”, stated Glen Brown. “It includes a module that showcases the Water Sustainability Action Plan for a partnership delivery vehicle for the Living Water Smart and Green Communities initiatives.”

Hosted by the City of Surrey, and organized under the umbrella of the Water Sustainability Action Plan, the program was built around the HOW question as it pertains to green infrastructure: HOW will a consistent regional approach be achieved in Metro Vancouver? “We envisioned that the Surrey Forum would be a transformational event and a catalyst for action. One of our goals is to implement an educational program in Metro Vancouver that would be modelled on the Vancouver Island Learning Lunch Series,” stated Raymond Fung.

“The Penticton Forum showcased three regions where communities are ‘convening for action’ and embracing a ‘regional team approach’ to make a difference. Each regional initiative is developing a vision and road map to change the way that land is developed and water is used. The Penticton Forum also showcased web-based provincial tools that have been developed to help communities achieve water sustainability through truly green development,” reports Kim Stephens.

“We would like to shift the paradigm from boundaries to areas of commonality. The desired outcomes will include inter-departmental collaboration, inter-municipal sharing, and regional alignment. A key message is to view ‘planning’ not as land-zoning function but as a multi-faceted and iterative process that embraces the concept of truly integrated water-centric planning,” states Derek Richmond. “The essence of the regional team approach is that all the players will set their sights on the common good and challenge the old barriers of jurisdictional interests.”

“The spotlight is on how to implement the regional team approach – that is, a unified approach from all levels of government. At the end of the day, water is the underpinning of the community, and an integrated watershed approach to settlement is essential,” states Kevin Lorette. “The Comox Valley is demonstrating a ‘regional team approach’ because a convergence of interests has created an opportunity for all the players to set their sights on the common good.”