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Vancouver

    Mayor Darrell Mussatto, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Utilities Committee, provided the Partnership for Water Sustainability with a platform to report out regularly about the Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Educational Initiative


    The IREI is a major undertaking by the Partnership for Water Sustainability, and the support of Mayor Darrell Mussatto over the past decade ranks as a key ingredient in the success of the IREI program. The process of reporting out regularly to the Utilities Committee raised the profile of the IREI program, lending credibility to this over-arching educational goal: Build capacity within local government to implement a whole-system, water balance approach.

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    REGISTER NOW for an inspirational workshop on “Blue Ecology – interweaving First Nations cultural knowledge and Western science” (November 28, 2017 in Richmond)


    “For the fifth straight year, the Irrigation Industry Association of BC and the Partnership for Water Sustainability are partnering to co-host a workshop that will mainstream a ‘big idea’ and provide professional developmentabout water management in BC,” states Kim Schaefer. “This year the workshop moves back to the Lower Mainland after being held in the Okanagan (2016), Lower Mainland (2013, 2015) and on Vancouver Island (2014).”

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    BLUE ECOLOGY WORKSHOP – MODULE 2 (Nov 28, 2017): “Climate change may drastically impact the availability of fresh water for agriculture on Canada’s most productive agriculture land, the lower Fraser Valley,” stated Ted van der Gulik, President of the Partnership for Water Sustainability


    “The critical issue is the salt wedge and window of opportunity for pumping water from the Fraser River,” stated Ted van der Gulik. “An increase in sea levels combined with a drought flow on the Fraser River would allow salt water to move further up the river in the future. This would shut down water supply intakes for a longer period of time, and could make it challenging to extract good quality irrigation water for use in Richmond and Delta.”

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    “Cathedral thinking is about keeping the living generation tethered to the future,” said Rick Antonson


    Cathedral thinking aptly describes the philosophy that guides the work of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC. “Cathedral Thinking is so simple for people to understand. You can actually explain it in about 45 seconds, and people nod, ‘Oh yeah. If I was designing a cathedral, it was going to take 50 years to build. I wouldn’t be around so I need to have a design that somebody else can finish, and that somebody else after them has to be able to finish it. I get it. Done’,” said Rick Antonson.

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    BLUE ECOLOGY WORKSHOP – MODULE 1 (Nov 28, 2017): “The Fraser River’s diversity – including people and landscapes – inspires me. However, we need to apply ‘Watershed CPR’ to the Fraser to return it to health,” says Fin Donnelly – Member of Parliament, founder & Chair of the Rivershed Society of British Columbia


    “The Blue Ecology Workshop encourages you to look at water differently; to look at each other differently – in a new way.” states Fin Donnelly. “Seize the opportunity to share experiences, knowledge and learn from one another’s perspectives! In my judgment, the Blue Ecology Workshop has the potential to be a transformational event – especially if water professionals who participate see value in working with others.”

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    CREATING THE FUTURE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY: Moving ahead on a ‘green’ platform has gained positive momentum as Council has found it easy to support green infrastructure innovation that protects groundwater supply and fisheries habitat


    “The Township is a community of 113,000 of which 75% of the land area is within the Agricultural Land Reserve,” stated Councillor Charlie Fox. “This presents a delicate balance between the preservation of agricultural land and the continued pressure for urban development. It is within this context that the staff and Council champion the theme of harmony and integration as we endeavour to focus on ‘green’ initiatives and programs.”

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    CREATING THE FUTURE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY: “A presentation many years ago by Patrick Condon put me on the path to integration. Patrick’s storytelling made me realize that everything we do has an effect somewhere else,” says Ramin Seifi, the Township’s General Manager of Engineering & Community Development


    “When the previous General Manager of Engineering retired in 2011, our Chief Administrative Officer listened when I presented the case for doing both jobs – Engineering and Community Development,” stated Ramin Seifi. “The Township needed more integration to respond to the demands on infrastructure and the risks to the environment resulting from rapid population growth. Achieving integration depended on the Township having a better structure.”

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    CREATING THE FUTURE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY: “When we are in harmony with nature, things will go well,” stated Colin Wright, former General Manager of Engineering (2004-2011)


    “As municipalities, we are the focal point. We have to show leadership on-the-ground if our society is to achieve sustainability. In Langley, we believe there is a sea-change about to happen. The community is ready for green infrastructure,” stated Colin Wright in 2007. “When people ask what do I do, my answer is that I build cities. To do that, and do it well, we have to be in harmony with nature. This also applies to our corporate philosophy.”

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    CREATING THE FUTURE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY: “Integration allows us to cascade from watershed planning down to the site,” stated Stephen Richardson, the Township’s Director of Development Services


    “Integration leads to efficiencies,” stated Stephen Richardson. “The purpose in having the three groups within one section is to integrate the pieces of any development proposal. So, in terms of the three professional disciplines represented by the departments, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This synergy allows us to catch the pieces that might otherwise be missed.”

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    CREATING THE FUTURE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LANGLEY: “The Township is a living demonstration of adaptive management in action,” wrote Kim Stephens in the Watershed Case Profile released by Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia (October 2017)


    The phrase ‘Convening for Action’ means use what we have learned so that we can take action and make a difference in our professional lives to change the way we develop land. “The essence of the adaptive approach is to ‘learn by doing’ and to change direction when there is a better way,” explained Kim Stephens. “The Township has done that, and has gone full circle a number of times in adapting green infrastructure innovation in successive neighbourhoods.”

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