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“I have been following the incredible successes you have been experiencing on the west coast. I would really like to take this opportunity to CONGRATULATE ALL of those who have been involved in this most recent ‘breakthrough’, the Bowker Creek Blueprint. This is truly impressive and hopefully you are sharing it with other parts of Canada, as well as abroad. Many will be fascinated with the ‘governance’ issues alone. This example of what can be done will serve as a positive model for many,” observed Eva Kras.

“Change is slow in the urban environment. It usually happens with re-development of individual lots as buildings wear out or as population density increases. With re-development comes opportunity for creek restoration or creek day-lighting. Having a detailed plan and long-term vision will help all partners be ready. The Bowker Creek Initiative has produced a plan – the Bowker Creek Blueprint – that includes policy recommendations,” wrote Tanis Gower.

“To initiate change so that we do business differently means we set the vision based upon community values, support the vision with information and education, provide practical tools, seek partnerships and engage local decision makers,” states Eric Bonham. The Bowker Creek Blueprint incorporates significant and considerable input from municipal staffs and community members; reflects work undertaken and experience gained since the BCI was established in 2004; builds on existing resource materials; and creates a plan of action at two scales: watershed; and creek sections.

“Publishing stories in advance meant that we could achieve three outcomes: progressively establish expectations; enable participants to tell their stories in their own words; and provide a written record of our ‘convening for action in BC’ history as we created it. The weekly stories on waterbucket.ca website also provided the Bowker Creek Steering Committee with flexibility to issue news releases (complete with web links) to inform target audiences,” stated Kim Stephens.

STORY #1 The Bowker Creek Initiative demonstrates HOW a ‘regional team approach’ can enable action at a watershed scale that results in coordinated and integrated changes on the ground. It has been a lengthy, intensive and expensive process. The lessons learned can be transferred and adapted to other settings. “Effective sharing of their experience can potentially accelerate the change process elsewhere in the Georgia Basin,” observed John Finnie,

STORY #2 The Bowker Creek Forum is an important milestone for Georgia Basin sharing and collaboration. It connects champions from the Capital Region to champions from Metro Vancouver. “In the City of Surrey, we are moving to a broader watershed objectives approach to capturing rain where it falls. Then we can better protect our streams. Once we know what we want our watersheds and neighbourhoods to look like, the next step is to decide what the tools are that will get us there,” stated Remi Dube.

STORY #3 The role that community groups have played in Blueprint development is impressive. “The Bowker Creek story is more than about producing a plan. It is about engaging the community. If the community is actively engaged, they will take greater responsibility for delivery. There is greater alignment now than ever before regarding community goals and the 100-year action plan for watershed restoration. There is a strong vision in the community with many committed champions,” stated Ian Graeme.

STORY #4 “The Shelbourne Plan could help through policy connection to institutionalize and help drive early implementation of the Blueprint. How the story of the Blueprint and the vision for the Shelbourne Corridor are blended and the story articulated to mayor and council will be important. How the two are linked may be crucial to the ultimate success of both plans,” predicts Anne Topp.

STORY #5 The Bowker Creek Forum was a celebration of the Bowker Creek Blueprint; and attracted a diverse audience of 60 people from around the Georgia Basin. “I got a lot out of the Forum. I got a sense of the similar problems we are facing up and down Vancouver Island. We all have come some distance towards a more sustainable approach and the ‘weaving’ that CAVI is doing is definitely helping us stay on track, realize where we are in comparison to other places and learn from each other,” commented Jack Minard,.

BCI success started with the hiring of a Coordinator. It meant one person was responsible and had dedicated time for setting up meetings, writing up minutes, and getting work done. Also, having a Coordinator helped obtain grants. “Council has been recently engaged by the Bowker Creek Initiative: a bus tour pf the watershed; an open house for Councillors to be introduced to the Draft Blueprint; a public open house; and presentations to Council committees. There is generally a good feeling and understanding of the work being done,” reported Adrianne Pollard