Cowichan Valley Regional Board endorses Vancouver Island Inter-Regional Education Initiative
Collaboration, Alignment and Consistency
Under the umbrella of CAVI-Convening for Action on Vancouver Island, the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia has brought together four regional districts – Capital, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo and Comox Valley – as partners in an Inter-Regional Education Initiative (IREI), one that will result in collaboration, alignment and consistency up and down the east coast of Vancouver Island.
In March 2012, Kim Stephens (Partnership Executive Director) met with the Regional Services Committee of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. He introduced the vision for the IREI and elaborated on the benefits of participation.
“Collaboration is the pathway to a consistent approach to implementation and integrationof water sustainability and green infrastructure policies and practices within and between regions. Yet there is no formal mechanism to enable or facilitate inter-regional collaboration. The Partnership fills this gap,” stated Kim Stephens.
“The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) and its member municipalities have been leaders within the CAVI initiative since 2007 – initially through participation in the Vancouver Island Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series; and then by hosting the first Vancouver Island Learning Lunch Seminar Series and first Vancouver Island Water Balance Model Forum in 2008.”
“Through the Inter-Regional Education Initiative, an opportunity exists for inter-regional information sharing / transfer so that together everyone can go farther, more efficiently and effectively,” concluded Kim Stephens.
“Participation in the Inter-Regional Education Initiative would support the Corporate Strategic Plan Goals to (1) Develop an environmental education plan with a focus on water, biodiversity and climate change; and (2) Develop water planning policies to guide community planning and development practices,” noted Jon Lefebure, Mayor of North Cowichan and Chair of the Regional Services Committee.
The motion to support participation in the IREI was passed unanimously by the Regional Services Committee; and their recommendation was formally on April 11, 2012 by the Cowichan Valley Regional Regional Board.
To Learn More:
To download a copy of the presentation by Kim Stephens, click on presentation to Cowichan Valley Regional Board on Inter-Regional Education Initiative.
To download a copy of the staff report endorsing the Inter-Regional Education Initiative, click here. And click here to download a copy of the Board Resolution.