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Erik Karlsen had a remarkable impact on the shape of BC communities. This came through his influence on BC planning law and policy, his even greater influence on adoption of new planning practices, and his role in building professional networks that shaped community planning. He was tireless at building networks and at mentoring professionals. He was always where the action was – where creative and innovative energies were flowing. His ability to gravitate to that action – and to ‘morph’ into whatever current political form it was taking – was a real feature of Erik’s career.

“Even before I started, I got a call from Don Stenson who was then Director of Planning at the City of Burnaby. He asked me to come to his office and said something that I have never forgotten. He said there is one thing that I want you to never forget… STORMWATER. Whatever you build on top of that mountain, the stormwater flows into Stoney Creek must be no worse than they are today. That is why Kim Stephens could do whatever he wanted because protecting Stoney Creek from stormwater impacts was THE most important thing that I could do,” recalled Michael Geller.

The context for the Partnership for Water Sustainability celebrating the life of Barry Janyk is the Smartstorm Forum Series. This transformational series fueled a movement and galvanized an ecosystem-based approach to rainwater management and green infrastructure within the Georgia Basin bioregion of southwestern British Columbia. Barry Janyk, who was then mayor of Gibsons, infused the SmartStorm Forum Series with his passion. He was the political champion who carried the green infrastructure torch to the Metro Vancouver Regional Board and then to UBCM.