5 – LESSONS FROM THE PAST INFORM THE FUTURE IN METRO VANCOUVER: In the 2000s, there was consensus that development practices must change
Note to Reader:
In November 2024, the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia released THE SYNOPSIS for the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver. The Chronicle is a sweeping narrative of the 30-year period from 1994 through 2024. The Chronicle is a layered package comprising four documents: the Chronicle of the Journey, Stories Within the Story, Synopsis and Executive Summary. The target audience for each layer is different.
The Synopsis is the third layer in the cascade. It is oriented to senior managers who have limited time to absorb what they need to know to make informed decisions. The Synopsis is visual and so can easily be skimmed in 20 minutes or less! This extract is from page S6.
In the 2000s, there was consensus that development practices must change
“In the broad sweep of history, seven municipalities merit recognition as incubators for innovation over the past 30 years. The seven are Surrey, Township of Langley, Coquitlam, Delta, North Vancouver City, North Vancouver District, and Burnaby (as the home of UniverCity),” wrote Kim Stephens, Synopsis author and Partnership Executive Director.
“All seven have at various points made notable contributions to regional awareness, knowledge and comprehension of how green infrastructure captures rain where it falls, restores water balance pathways, and thus prevents degradation of stream systems.”
About Darrell Mussatto
Darrell Mussatto served on North Vancouver City Council for 25 years from 1993 through 2018, including 13 years as Mayor (2005 to 2018). His time in office coincides with the timeline for the early adopter and leading by example phases of the Metro Vancouver region’s green infrastructure journey. He views the journey through both the local and regional lenses.
As mayor, Darrell Mussatto was prominent at the regional level. Appointed to the Metro Vancouver Utilities Committee in 2009, for example, he served as chair from 2012 through 2018. The Utilities Committee provided political oversight for building of regional water supply and sewage treatment facilities. Oversight responsibilities also included the regional strategy for protecting stream systems
Political leadership matters!
“Surrey and Coquitlam were early adopters when each committed to a watershed-based approach to setting objectives. Surrey evolved an integrated process for developing Neighbor Concept Plans and servicing plans. Coquitlam’s Official Community Plan requires that watershed plans be developed first and neighbourhood plans second.”
“Circa 2000 Langley, North Vancouver City and Delta recognized the cumulative benefits of a landscape-based approach to rainwater management design. All three municipalities embraced a guiding philosophy for enhancing city streetscapes through integration of rain gardens as a matter of policy.”
“North Vancouver District could always be counted on to be a proving ground for the application of innovative tools and approaches. District leadership manifested itself in seven provincially significant initiatives.”
To Learn More:
Download a copy of the Synopsis of the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver from 1994 through 2024. released in November 2024. The Synopsis is structured as six sections.
