CONVENING FOR ACTION IN THE COMOX VALLEY: British Columbia’s Living Water Smart program is a provincial strategy and shared responsibility – “The message is that we are rewarding good behaviour,” stated Glen Brown at the 2nd in the Comox Valley seminar series (October 2008)
By 2012……
An over-arching goal of Living Water Smart is to encourage land and water managers and users to do business differently. At the second in the 2008 Comox Valley Learning Lunch Seminar Series, hosted by the City of Courtenay in October 2008, Glen Brown of the Ministry of Community Development explained what the Province wishes to accomplish through its Living Water Smart initiative.
“This is a provincial strategy; we must look at it as a shared responsibility,” he emphasized.
“It is not one strategy; the Province has a number of strategies,” explained Glen Brown. “The Province is looking at raising the bar as far as what we are trying to accomplish with standards and provincial legislation.”
“We really have to look at how we develop land. Ultimately this requires leadership and champions on the ground,” Glen Brown told the Learning Lunch audience. “The message is that we are rewarding good behaviour.”
YouTube Video:
To capture the flavour of presentations at the seminar, video clips have been uploaded to YouTube. To hear everything that Glen Brown had to say about Living Water Smart, watch this 5-minute video:
Comox Valley Learning Lunch Seminar #2
For the complete story about the October 2008 seminar, click on Strategies and Tools for Creating Liveable Communities & Protecting Stream Health: Actions on the ground add up to A Positive Settlement Strategy for Vancouver Island.
About the Learning Lunch Series
The Learning Lunch Seminar Series promoted a consistent provincial approach to rainwater management and green infrastructure. The program is adding depth to Living Water Smart, and was implemented through CAVI, which is the acronym for Convening for Action on Vancouver Island. In 2008, participating Vancouver Island local governments represented some 250,000 people.
- The Cowichan Valley series comprised a set of three sessions held during the June – July 2008 period.
- The Comox Valley series comprised a set of three sessions held during the September – November 2008 period.
The Learning Lunch Seminar Series was the first step in building a regional team approach so that there would be a common understanding and consistent messaging regarding on-the-ground expectations for rainwater management and green infrastructure.
The Seminar Series was part of the implementation program for Beyond the Guidebook: The New Business As Usual, and was precedent-setting in its scope.
About CAVI
T
he CAVI Partnership comprised the British Columbia Water & Waste Association, the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, the provincial Ministries of Environment and Community Development, and the Green Infrastructure Partnership. CAVI was co-funded by the Province and the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia. The Water Sustainability Committee of the BCWWA was the managing partner and provided program delivery. In 2010, the committee morphed into the stand-alone and non-profit Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC.