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“So, why collaboration? Here are the key words – affordable and effective. This is what it is all about. Money is not unlimited,” emphasized Kim Stephens. “So what is the goal of collaboration? We are talking about standards of practice, whether those practices be engineering or planning. They have to be affordable and effective. Where we are trying to get to is a healthy watershed with healthy streams.”

“We know the importance of watersheds, not only for producing our own water, but also for sustainability of the environment generally.Speaking as one of the communities involved in the collaborative effort for Bowker, I can attest for the need for collaboration in these kinds of situations; and also the success that can come out of collaborative efforts,” stated Nils Jensen.

In October 2013, Kim Stephens was invited by Metro Vancouver’s Utilities Committee to provide the members with a progress update on implementation on inter-regional collaboration as it pertains to watershed-based planning.  “A core group of local government champions representing five geographic regions affirmed that it will function as an inter-regional leadership team; and has framed the ultimate outcome of an inter-regional series of working sessions in these terms: ‘Through sharing and learning, ensure that where we are going is indeed the right way’,” stated Kim Stephens.

“Metro Vancouver’s plan for managing rainwater resources seeks improvement through innovation, using local research and development and adapting successes from elsewhere. We are asking Metro Vancouver to formalize its support for inter-regional collaboration. Then the IREI truly will be the Georgia Basin Inter-Regional Educational Initiative,” states Kim Stephens.

“There is no formal mechanism to enable inter-regional collaboration. We also learned that the Partnership is trying to fill this gap by bringing together local governments around the Georgia Basin to advance a consistent approach to rainwater management and green infrastructure practices. Alignment should help everyone,” stated City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto.

“Local governments will benefit from the information sharing between four Vancouver Island regional districts, learn from the experiences of the other regional districts, and be able to participate in workshops delivered locally and elsewhere on Vancouver Island,” stated Glenn Harris.

“Participation would support the Corporate Strategic Plan Goals to develop an environmental education plan with a focus on water, biodiversity and climate change; and ti develop water planning policies to guide community planning and development practices,” noted Mayor Jon Lefebure, Chair of the Regional Services Committee.

“The initiative will focus on education, collaboration and sharing of ideas and experiences on water sustainability and rainwater management best practices. It provides another opportunity to assist local governments to better understand the relationships between watershed and stream and site development,” stated the staff report brought forward by CAO Carol Mason.

“Inter-regional sharing, collaboration, alignment and consistency will accelerate effective implementation of watershed protection objectives within each regional district. The regions are linked by common interests, but are not dependent on each other,” stated Comox Valley Board Chair Edwin Grieve.