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“The new normal in BC is floods and droughts – along with longer, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. What happens on the land matters to streams. To make better decisions, we must first understand how rainwater reaches a stream. Not many people have that understanding. And that includes engineers,” stated Kim Stephens. “Only when everyone involved has that basic understanding of what happens when that rain drop reaches the ground, will we be able to do the things that we need to do to reconnect hydrology and ecology, and in so doing, go ‘back to the future’!”

“Participation in streamflow data collection is a way to educate streamkeepers about creekshed hydrology, in particular correct data collection techniques and their importance for refining the water balance and understanding what the numbers mean. This would create understanding that would enhance their effectiveness as champions for reconnecting hydrology and ecology,” stated Neil Goeller. “My vision is to develop relationships and partnerships with stewardship groups, local governments, federal government and First Nations to expand our collection and understanding of data.”

“Look for synergies between programs, systems, policies, disciplines and management objectives. Account for uncertainty through acknowledging what we don’t know, and variability in what we do know. Develop effective partnerships that get the vision right and produce sound strategies,” stated Nick Leone. “The issues around effective water management, and certainly as it pertains watershed planning and restoration efforts, aligns well with fisheries conservation and management considerations.”

In this video clip, Richard Boase sets the scene for Day Two of the Symposium which had a “Restorative Land Development” theme. RIchard talks about building trust, and why it is so essential for effective collaboration. “There are lots of things we can do to renew, restore and reinvigorate this faith in working together,” stated Richard Boase. “Day One was about the challenges and the what-to-do with the science that we have. We also heard about what we would like to do, but don’t have the resources to do. In contrast, Day Two is all about sharing the success and really good celebration stories of leaders within this region.”

“The goal of making the world ‘less worse’ does not go far enough. Rather, we have it within our power to undo previous damage and make the world better. Shrink our destructive footprint while growing our regenerative footprint. The process of restoring our planet and revitalizing our communities is becoming a rigorous discipline, with the proper education and tools,” stated Kim Stephens, when he quoted from the work of Storm Cunningham, to set the context for Day Two of the Symposium.

“The engagement session for the RDN’s Drinking Water and Watershed Protection program was a great example of the interactive nature of the Parksville 2019 Symposium event, where participants could share ideas and learn from each other, as well as the speakers. The involvement of the graduate students from Vancouver Island University as table facilitators extended the collaboration across the generations, providing an opportunity for future leaders and planners to be involved in the discussions,” stated Julie Pisani.

Richard Boase brings three ingredients to the role of Moderator: passion, enthusiasm and a sense of humour. The unifying theme for the Day Two Panel was that a vision for restorative land development could be guided by the mantra: Sustainable is attainable. We can make where we live better. While communities cannot restore lost biodiversity, they can halt its decline and consciously direct efforts into bending the trend-line in an upwards direction. ‘Getting it right’ is a process that requires long-term commitment, patience and perseverance by champions.

“Watershed planning is a way of integrating land use planning for communities with other impacts in watersheds to ensure that all the resources are managed effectively. In October 2018, Cowichan electors passed a referendum (by a decisive 58% in favour) to implement the new regional service. This is the culmination of more than a decade of collaboration to build capacity in the stewardship sector and enhance decision-making,” explained Kate Miller.

“The Comox Lake Watershed Protection Plan is truly a collaborative outcome. But a plan is nothing without follow-through and implementation. We’ve got the support. This plan will not sit on a shelf,” stated Marc Rutten. “Along the way, the process fostered relationships and built trust among the many stakeholders, including all four local governments. We will continue to collect data, make good decisions, educate, collaborate, and understand the true value of the most important natural asset – the watershed.”

“The only way to get something done is through partnerships and relationships,” stated Tim Ennis. “Decommissioned in 2006, the Field Sawmill was once the economic heart of the Comox Valley. A First Nation, a municipality and an environmental non-profit share a dream and have signed an MOU to collaboratively purchase, restore and manage this key property in the heart of their community. This is an historic milestone in reconciliation and intergovernmental relations.”