CHRONICLE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INNOVATION IN METRO VANCOUVER: “In the United States, too often we see a cookie-cutter approach. Not so with the British Columbia Guidebook – it is unique, and it is innovative,” stated Tom Schueler, founder and former Executive Director of the Center for Urban Watershed Protection
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 story builds on the extract from page S1.
BC’s Stormwater Guidebook: a catalyst for “Designing With Nature”
“To ensure credibility with local governments and practitioners, the Guidebook drew heavily on BC case study experience. This is one of its strengths in offering a common sense, effective, and affordable approach,” wrote Kim Stephens, Synopsis author and Partnership Executive Director.
“The consensus process included working with the development community. This approach set the Guidebook apart from previous provincial government initiatives.”
“The Guidebook was a catalyst for action to implement a Design With Nature approach to rainwater management and green infrastructure.”
Flashback to 2003 testimonial by Tom Schueler
“In 2003, the national stormwater conference held in Chicago was literally a watershed moment in the paradigm-shift that was then emerging in the field of urban drainage. One has to keep in mind, for example, that green infrastructure was not even part of the lingo in 2003,” recalls Kim Stephens.
“When I landed in Chicago on the Saturday before the conference started, I had no inkling that 24 hours later a blizzard would cripple travel in the Northeast United States and change my life. The Blizzard of 2003, also known in the United States as the Presidents’ Day Storm II, was an historic and record-breaking snowstorm on the East Coast of the United States and Canada, which lasted from February 14 to February 19, 2003.
“Tom Schueler was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. But air travel was shut down. Robert Kirschner was the conference chair came to me and said: Kim, would you be willing to deliver the keynote tomorrow? Sure, I said without hesitation.”
“At the end of my presentation, Tom Schueler was the first person to rush to the podium to introduce himself and express his admiration for our British Columbia Guidebook. He had arrived just in time to hear me speak. To this day, one aspect of our conversation that still sticks in my mind was his reference to the City of Surrey case study. It impressed me that his knowledge of the Guidebook was that detailed.”
To Learn More:
And to 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.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/gi/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/Metro-Van-Chronicle_Synopsis_DRAFT_Nov2024.pdf