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“In 2005, there were a number of initiatives on Vancouver Island that were focusing upon the theme of sustainability. It was a matter of seeking out partnerships to reinforce the common theme of sustainability based upon an island wide communications information exchange network. We did a survey. It was clear that there was widespread interest in holding a workshop that would provide an opportunity for the exchange of information, and to explore the possibility of establishing a communications network for the Vancouver Island region. This resulted in Meeting of the Minds workshops in consecutive years. The rest is history,” stated Graeme Bethell.

“There were a number of initiatives on Vancouver Island that were focusing upon the theme of sustainability. It was a matter of seeking out partnerships to reinforce the common theme of sustainability based upon an island wide communications information exchange network,” recalled Eric Bonham, the visionary behind Meeting of the Minds. “We did a survey. It was clear that there was widespread interest in holding a workshop that would provide an opportunity for the exchange of information, and to explore the possibility of establishing a communications network for the Vancouver Island region.”

CAVI is an inclusive partnership, reaching out to audiences that share a vision of achieving water sustainability on Vancouver Island. CAVI is a grassroots, collective partnership committed to achieving settlement change in balance with ecology, beginning with water-centric planning. The CAVI vision is that by 2010, Vancouver Island will be well on its way to achieving water sustainabilty.

“We set a goal that Vancouver Island would be well on its way to water sustainability by 2010. For the past decade, CAVI has successfully promoted the message of water sustainability by engaging governments, developers and the community in water-centric thinking, planning and development activities. We exceeded our own expectations. Water sustainability became a common thread in discussions and decisions about land development, water use and water conservation,” stated John Finnie.

“We primarily work in the local government context, with a focus on community and regional planning systems, to influence uptake of strategies that will integrate decisions about use and conservation of land with water and watershed sustainability outcomes. The guiding philosophy is ‘design with nature’,” stated Tim Pringle. The Partnership brings together local governments, regulators, the stewardship community and business to address shared issues with consistent, workable solutions.

“Back in 2008, we knew that the key to moving forward was thinking beyond our boundaries, and making a real commitment to communicate, cooperate, coordinate and collaborate. Fast forward to October 2011. Our focus is on action so that we can implement strategies and practices at a watershed scale,” stated Derek Richmond. The handing of the baton from John Finnie to Derek Richmond was done at the “CAVI Forum within the Summit” at the 2011 State of the Island Economic Summit in Nanaimo.

“CAVI started on its path in 2005, with a gathering of people who recognized the importance of water sustainability in just about everything we do, whether it be do-to-day living or economic development. By 2006 that initial gathering had evolved into Convening for Acting on Vancouver Island: Leadership for Water Sustainability. CAVI envisions development carried out in a manner that harmonizes the footprint within the watershed to achieve water sustainability as an integral component of land development,” reflected John Finnie.

“In 2005, the Action Plan partners launched a ‘made in BC’ process known as Convening for Action. When we gather, it is for a purpose. There must be an action item or an outcome. Beyond the Guidebook 2010 is the telling of the stories of how change is being implemented on the ground by local governments and community partners.The CAVI story in particular demonstrates how the practitioner culture is changing on Vancouver Island as an outcome of collaboration, partnerships and alignment,” stated John Finnie.

“When we refer to The New Business As Usual, we mean that ‘design with nature’ will be everyday practice; and we will move to an approach that is cohesive, concerted and leads us to sustainability. We are being bold in using the mantra: What do we want Vancouver Island to look like in 50 years? Rather than being guided by 3-year municipal and 4-year provincial government election cycles, we are saying….look 50 years out and backcast to determine what decisions we need to make now to create the future that we want,” stated Eric Bonham.

“We are using the slogan The New Business As Usual to convey the message that, for change to really occur, practices that until now have been viewed as the exception must become the norm moving forward. We have to build regulatory models and develop models of practice and expertise to support The New Business As Usual. Vancouver Island is the pilot region. The shared vision is to move toward water sustainability by implementing green infrastructure policies and practices. This is a multi-year commitment by the funding agencies,” stated Dale Wall.