Convening for Action in British Columbia

“The Partnership for Water Sustainability values our long-term relationship with IIABC. We especially appreciate that IIABC provided annual funding for the waterbucket.ca website in 2007, 2008 and 2009. And when the Partnership for Water Sustainability was incorporated as a not-for-profit society in 2010, the IIABC again stepped forward to provide the Partnership with seed funding. By jointly organizing the Rainwater Harvesting Workshop, we are taking our partnering to the next level,” stated Tim Pringle,

“This one day workshop will provide information on how with the right controls in place, harvested rainwater can be used for irrigation, outdoor cleaning, flushing toilets, washing clothes and even drinking water. In conjunction with the workshop, we will also be holding a mini-tradeshow,” states Mike Tanner. “The workshop is open to a wide variety of affiliate industry groups, including architects, builders, plumbers, engineers, landscapers, gardeners, do-it-yourselfers, water conservation leaders, and policy officials.”

““With the evolving changes and concerns around water use; the IIABC has partnered with the Partnership for Water Sustainability. The IIABC is collaborating to build a foundation for future change in order to help us align our industry education and certification offerings that include efficient irrigation systems. This will assist us in supporting our membership with sustainable irrigation practices. We all need to be accountable for our water resource. With shared tools and programs; we can collaborate to make a difference,” states Keesha Rosario.

“The legislative authority for integration of land use planning and asset management, including financial management, already exists. Local governments can develop a truly integrated Asset Management Strategy that views the watershed though an environmental lens,” states Glen Brown. “The Province’s Living Water Smart and Green Communities initiatives are catalysts for ‘designing with nature’.”

“Do you wonder what “sustainable rainwater management in a watershed context” looks like on the ground? Then register now to participate in a seminar where you can learn from the proven experience of two municipalities that are leading change in the Metro Vancouver region, namely: District of North Vancouver and City of Coquitlam,” urges Tim Pringle.

“The seminar is an opportunity to share lessons learned by the City of Coquitlam over the past decade. Changing the way we do things means taking on new challenges and not always getting it right the first time. Securing political support for a watershed-based approach to community planning paved the way for development and implementation of rainwater management applications that mimic the Water Balance,” states Melony Burton.

Their complementary perspectives provide a complete picture of sustainable rainwater management in a watershed context.

“We always look for ways to do a better job, apply technology effectively and efficiently, and save the District money. This is the philosophy that we have brought to the Hastings Creek Blueprint. Our watershed-based approach captures the stewardship ethic which is deeply rooted in the North Vancouver community,” states Richard Boase.

“Everything the Partnership does is founded on the proven experience of local government champions who are leading change in BC. Inter-regional collaboration will help everyone go farther, more efficiently and effectively, to achieve these three objectives: design with nature, implement green infrastructure and mimic the Water Balance,” states Kim Stephens.

“The approach of focussing on water quality is short-sighted and will prove to be only a part of the solution. It seems that everyone has forgotten the pioneering work of Richard Horner and Chris May in the late 1990s in Washington State,” states Jim Dumont. “It is critical to look at the stream to see its condition and its needs, rather than assuming that one solution from another region is the only solution.”