CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PERIOD FROM 1997 THRU 2005: How does one dance with the tiger? You do it carefully, skillfully, courageously, in tune to the same music,” wrote Brian Nattrass and Mary Altomare, authors of ‘Dancing with the Tiger: Learning Sustainability Step by Natural Step’, published in 2002
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. Stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective, and the Story Behind the Story.
The edition published on October 28, 2025 featured the third installment of the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver. Part C covers the period 1997 through 2005. It tells the story of what led up to publication of Stormwater Planning: A Guidebook for British Columbia in 2002, and the impact of what followed in the wake of publication.
Ninety-eight pages long, Part C is a sweeping narrative weaves quotable quote to bring to life an era. It is included as an attachment to of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Leaps of faith and calculated risks – convening for action in Metro Vancouver.
What the reader will learn about the period from 1997 thru 2005
“The spotlight in Part C shines brightly on the Water Balance Model Partnership and the Outreach and Continuing Education Program for green infrastructure. Inspired by Tim Pringle when he was with the Real Estate Foundation, OCEP was cascading in scope and reach,” wrote Kim Stephens, author of the Green Infrastructure Chronicle and Executive Director with the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC.
“Things happened because there was critical mass in the region to implement changes in practice. This released the energy that had been building since the early 1990s. But you need a flagship project to truly overcome inertia and show what is possible. Circa 2000, we had two…East Clayton in Surrey and UniverCity atop Burnaby Mountain.”
Once in a generation opportunities
“Opportunities such as East Clayton and UniverCity come along once in a generation. In the moment, they are galvanizing. And then people forget why they happened and the commitment and huge effort it took to bring them to fruition. Part C is a series of vignettes weaved in a way that I hope helps readers make sense of this past experience.”
“To provide the reader with relevant context, I turn to the book Dancing with the Tiger for quotes because the authors touched on my contribution to UniverCity. “These agents of change are striving to raise the consciousness of their organizations and to pioneer a new and fundamentally more sustainable way of doing business,” they wrote.”
Roadmap for Part C of the Chronicle
To guide the reader, 21 milestones during the period 1997-2005 are organized under theme areas. These are building blocks. Each is a section in Part C of the Chronicle as shown in the roadmap below.
To Learn More:
Waterbucket eNews stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective and Context for Busy Reader, and the Story Behind the Story. To read the complete 3-part storyline, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Leaps of faith and calculated risks – convening for action in Metro Vancouver.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/10/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Leaps-of-Faith-and-Calculated-Risks-Part-C_2025.pdf