Across Canada Workshop Series on Resilient Rainwater Management included a session for Eastern Ontario: "The insight provided by the speakers on moving change forward was invaluable," stated Darlene Conway, City of Ottawa
Note to Reader:
During the period October-November 2014, the Across Canada Workshop Series on Resilient Rainwater Management showcased the case study experience of those who are leading change in BC. The program introduced audiences in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes to the Water Balance Model Express for Landowners; and to the District of North Vancouver’s GEOweb open data portal.
The third workshop was held in the Ottawa region of Eastern Ontario. It was hosted by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), with support and a large turnout of staff from the City of Ottawa.
Sharing & Learning About BC’s Watershed-Based Solutions & Tools
“Each workshop comprised four modules,” reports Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia. He was the series organizer and team leader for Resilient Rainwater Management: Across Canada Workshop Series on Adapting to a Changing Climate.
“Module 1 served two purposes: the local host provided local context; and the BC team set the stage for Modules 2 and 3 by presenting a broad-brush picture of the key elements of the BC storyline. We concluded the day with a town-hall forum.”
“Three words capture the essence of Modules 2 and 3: CONTEXT-INTENT-RESULTS,” emphasizes Kim Stephens.
Develop Solutions / Implement Changes in Practice
“Module 2 explained the science behind the Water Balance Methodology and how our knowledge expands and becomes clearer over time. This primed the audience for Module 3,” continues Ted van der Gulik, co-presenter and Partnership President.
“In Module 3, the spotlight was on the demonstration of four web-based tools: WBM Express, Drainage Infrastructure Screening Tool, GEOweb and Irrigation Scheduling Calculator.”
To Learn More:
Click on the links below to download PDF copies of the presentation slides for Module Nos. 1 through 3.
Module 1: Convening for Action in British Columbia (5.3 MB)
Module 2: Mimic Natural Water Balance – Developing Solutions that Build Resilience (19.4 MB)
Module 3: Regional Team Approach – Implementing Changes in Practice(7.3 MB)
Ontario’s Provincial Policy Statement & Hydrologic Integrity of Watersheds
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is an environmental protection and advisory agency that works with local municipalities, government agencies, special interest groups and the general public. The RVCA strives to protect watershed resources.
“As more and more areas within the Rideau Valley watershed are built over or otherwise culturally modified, RVCA staff know the importance of ensuring that key components of the natural hydrologic cycle are preserved and to thereby address Ontario’s Provincial Policy Statement (PPS),” stated Don Maciver when the Ottawa Workshop was first announced. He is the RVCA Director of Planning and Regulations.
“The PPS, on which the planning and technical advice that RVCA provides to our municipal partners is based, indicates that planning for stormwater management must address: contaminant loading; water balance and erosion; and risks to human health, safety and property.”
Share Experiences, Ideas and Thoughts
“We are delighted to be part of this across Canada experience,” stated Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, RVCA General Manager, in her welcoming remarks to workshop attendees. “We see this as a great opportunity to not only learn from our neighbours from the far west, but to connect locally – sharing experiences, ideas and thoughts on how we can better deal with rainwater runoff in both an urban and rural context.”
“As a Conservation Authority, we are certainly very interested in how we preserve our green infrastructure and the steps we need to take to make our watershed more resilient in a changing climate.”
City of Ottawa: “Getting Our Feet Wet” with Low Impact Development
RVCA staff invited the City of Ottawa to provide local context. Darlene Conway, Project Manager – Stormwater Management Strategy, delivered a presentation titled City of Ottawa: “Getting Our Feet Wet” with Low Impact Development.
“The workshop was very enlightening – BC’s issues are very different in many ways from ours but the insight provided by the speakers on moving change forward was invaluable. The workshop was a great blend of the technical combined with the compelling back story of how and why BC and local municipalities are addressing their many stormwater management challenges,” stated Darlene Conway.