Convening for Action in British Columbia

“In this issue, authors Derek Richmond and Kim Stephens begin by saying that ‘networks are a way to get greater leverage on your scarce resources and move forward together with other likeminded, values-aligned colleagues.’ However, they fear that human to-human connection is being lost,” wrote Steve Davey in his editorial comment. “Recently, the Partnership hosted the Convening for Action Forum, as part of a strategy to help reverse this situation. Reading about this event brought back my early memories of face-to-face networking.”

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.

“If we can at least grow the literacy of the population, who can then confidently demand certain things from their councils, that is bottom-up and very organic. We are using the upcoming tour for World Green Roof Day as a way to test where Vancouver civic political parties stand on green roofs. World Green Roof Day is on June 6 every year. It is basically a social media wave that starts in Australia, with the hashtag #WGRD following the sun around the world, ending here, more or less! It is a great way for anyone to generate green roof pride in our region,” stated Christine Thuring.

“In this year of the election, I am particularly encouraged by the fact that the mayors in the Metro region have spoken out. The mayors are hearing it and their constituents are now hearing it because their constituents are in the neighbourhoods and they are affected by it. It is a unique opportunity because it hits everybody literally where they live, literally where they live! That creates a very dynamic crucible politically for us because livability is on the table, definitely on the table. Everybody is thinking about this now. So everybody is going to be interested,” stated Patrick Condon.

“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.

How would the Metro Vancouver region absorb another one million people and remain livable? That was the defining question in the 2000s. The Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation brings to life an exciting period in local government “convening for action” history. There was critical mass to implement changes in development practices. “We must all be leaders who selflessly have a vision, and we must then act to make the vision a reality. The Board approved realigning the goals, strategies and actions in the updated Liquid Waste Management Plan with policies and positions in Living Water Smart,” stated Lois Jackson.

“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.”

“Decision makers need to have a picture of what regional government and regional planning have been able to achieve. We should expect that changes would be made with an understanding of what the current system would be capable of achieving. Since the creation of the Livable Region Strategic Plan, the focus and content of regional planning have evolved in response to change. This is a beneficial process that has brought new ideas and new participants. It has strengthened the impact and permanence of the regional planning process,” stated Ken Cameron.

“Ken Cameron is giving back. He is putting the story behind the story of regional planning on the record. He is passing on knowledge through op-eds, conference presentations, and university lectures. He explains that in 1996 Municipal Affairs Minister Darlene Marzari deemed that the Livable Region Strategic Plan for Metro Vancouver had been prepared and adopted under the provisions of the Province’s growth strategies legislation. Unlike Ontario and other provinces, he adds, BC does not have an approval role with respect to local government plans,” stated Kim Stephens.