2007 BCWWA Annual Conference provided a provincial forum for the Water Sustainabllity Action Plan
“The British Columbia landscape is being transformed by settlement and economic growth. While the province has been experiencing enhanced social and economic well-being, the need to mitigate pressures on land and water resources has provided a driver for a ‘green infrastructure’ movement that is water-centric,” stated Paul Ham.
Working Towards Sustainable Communities: Green Infrastructure Partnership and Water Sustainability Committee Collaborate at 2007 BCWWA Annual Conference
“Infrastructure design is changing. Desired outcomes for water sustainability and green infrastructure are common to both, and can be achieved through infrastructure standards that reflect a full and proper understanding of the relationship between land and water”, noted Kim Stephens.
‘Creating Our Future’ Workshop Attracts Vancouver Island Local Governments
“We had a good mix of elected officials, chief administrative officers, and senior managers. Because people gave up their Sunday to attend, we believe this reflects the credibility that CAVI is establishing with local governments on Vancouver Island. Participants travelled from as far away as Tofino and Courtenay,” stated John Finnie.
“Convening for Action in British Columbia” session captures attention at BCWWA Conference in Penticton
The session comprised five cascading presentations and attracted an audience totaling 130. “The objective when ‘convening for action’ is to influence practitioners to learn about and use practices that better balance the necessary relationships of settlement activity and ecological assets in local and regional landscapes,” stated Tim Pringle.
Green Infrastructure Partnership and Water Sustainability Committee Convene for Action at BCWWA Annual Conference
“The Water Sustainability Committee and Green Infrastructure Partnership collaborated to organize the Action Plan session because desired outcomes for water sustainability and green infrastructure are common to both, and can be achieved through infrastructure standards that reflect a full and proper understanding of the relationship between land and water”, stated Kim Stephens
Province implementing ‘Water Stewardship Outreach Strategy’ through partnerships
At the 2007 Annual BCWWA Conference, Lynn Kriwoken emphasized that the Ministry of Environment views its partnership with the Water Sustainability Committee as an essential element in implementing the Ministry's Water Stewardship Outreach Strategy. “Water is the piece that integrates everything that we care about. You will note that we are using the phrase water stewardship, not water management. Stewardship is about replacing self interest, dependency and control with service, responsibility and partnership.”
Green Infrastructure Partnership champions ‘design with nature’ infrastructure policies and practices
“Infrastructure design is changing. Cumulative benefits are achievable, one property at a time, through changes in the policies, programs, practices and standards that determine how land is developed and water is used. By implementing design with nature infrastructure practices and regulation, the ‘convening for action’ vision is that British Columbia will be well on the way to achieving water sustainability by 2010,” stated Kim Stephens.
Water Sustainability Committee has Role to Play in Implementing Province’s Water Stewardship Outreach Strategy: Lynn Kriwoken and Ray Fung provide update at BCWWA Annunal Conference
“Water is the piece that integrates everything that we care about. You will note that we are using the phrase water stewardship, not water management. Stewardship is about replacing self interest, dependency and control with service, responsibility and partnership,” stated Lynn Kriwoken. She concluded her presentation by presenting the Province’s vision for water. She stated that: “We can only attain the vision through shared stewardship.
Convening for Action in the South Okanagan: Water for Life and Livelihoods
“Everything is connected, and how we develop land determines how water is used and how water runs off the land. Because water has been identified as the #1 concern of the public, the South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy is a provincial pilot for advancing the water balance way-of-thinking and acting”, stated Ted van der Gulik.
2007 BCWWA Annual Conference Theme: Working Towards Sustainable Communities
Environment Minister Barry Penner singled out the accomplishments of the BCWWA Water Sustainability Committee in delivering the Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia through partnerships with his Ministry and others. The Minister’s recognition of the WSC set the stage for a half-day Action Plan session within the main conference program, organized by the WSC in collaboration with the Green Infrastructure Partnership.