RAINWATER MANAGEMENT / THE NEW BUSINESS AS USUAL: “Everywhere I go I am seeing evidence of the new ethic. It is not that everyone is perfect, but the change is really coming along,” stated Maggie Henigman, BC Ministry of Environment
Note to Reader:
The focus at Seminar 2 of the 2008 Comox Valley Learning Lunch Series was on policy and legal strategies to create liveable communities and protect stream health. Seminar 2 included a segment that was conducted in a town hall format. It encompassed a set of seven theme areas. The format for stimulating discussion was introduce the topic, summarize the nature of the issue, pose the defining question, draw on the experiences of participants, and conclude by identifying policy and legal options.
At the conclusion of the town hall discussion, Margaret (Maggie) Henigman of the Ministry of Environment’s Nanaimo regional office shared her reflections after listening to participants elaborate on what they have done or what they want to do.
The New Business As Usual
“Since 1996 I have been working across Vancouver Island, both reviewing development proposals and monitoring project implementation. In the last couple of years I have been really pleased to see a huge shift take place in the way projects are being done,” stated Margaret Henigman.
“As I reflect on the current situation, it strikes me that we have created a new social norm; and it is being accepted by the development community as a whole. The change in attitude is really gaining momentum. Everywhere I go I am seeing evidence of the new ethic. It is not that everyone is perfect, but the change is really coming along.”
Seminar 2 Program
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.
