LEADING CHANGE IN THE CAPITAL REGION: Bowker Creek Blueprint & 100-Year Action Plan to Restore the Health of the Watershed – “When I met with four grass-roots community leaders to learn their stories, it was clear that each individual is passionate about the social and ecological well-being of the Bowker Creek community,” stated Kim Stephens, Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC (April 2012)
Four Community Champions
Major breakthroughs happen when decision makers in government work with grass-roots visionaries in the community to create desired outcomes. This is the essence of the Bowker Creek story on southern Vancouver Island.
Established in 2004, the Bowker Creek Initative (BCI) is precedent-setting in British Columbia. This unique multi-jurisdictional effort brought together local governments, community groups, post-secondary institutions and private citizens. Their collaboration has produced the Bowker Creek Blueprint: A 100-year action plan to restore the Bowker Creek watershed. Over time, a sustained inter-municipal commitment to implementation of plan elements will improve the health of Bowker Creek and its watershed.
Community groups and individuals have taken ownership and responsibility for “telling the story” of the Bowker Creek Initiative. Community buy-in has engendered political and staff support for watershed restoration.
“The community groups have stepped up and manned the displays at community events; and they have taken information back from the Bowker Table to inform their associations, neighbours and others,” reports Jody Watson, BCI Chair (and Harbours & Watersheds Coordinator for the Capital Regional District).
To Learn More:
A Commitment to the Common Good
- Ian Graeme – catalyst; to learn more about Ian, click here
- Chris Jensen – applied scientist; to learn more about Chris, click here
- Soren Henrich – artist; to learn more about Soren, click here
- Gerald Harris – teacher; to learn more about Gerald, click here
“When I met with them to learn their stories, it was clear that each individual is passionate about the social and ecological well-being of the Bowker Creek community,” reported Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC, in an article published in 2010.
The Bowker Creek Urban Watershed Renewal Initiative (BCI) is a unique multi-jurisdictional effort. It is a collaboration between local governments, community groups, post-secondary institutions and private citizens to improve the health of Bowker Creek and its watershed. The BC has developed the Bowker Creek Blueprint: A 100-year action plan to restore the Bowker Creek watershed.”
TO LEARN MORE:
