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Bowker Creek Blueprint

    AT THE BOWKER CREEK FORUM: “You have to set really clear targets. And you have to clearly define responsibilities – who does what,” stated Rémi Dubé at the launch of the Topsoil Primer Set (February 2010)


    An absorbent topsoil layer has emerged as a fundamental building block for achieving water sustainability outcomes through implementation of green infrastructure practices. “The development process is our opportunity to make the change to protect our watercourses. In each of our watershed plans, we always recommend increased topsoil depth. So the City volunteered to develop a primer for implementation. Depending on who you talk to, topsoil means different things to different people. The City sets the targets. It is then up to the developer to find ways to meet those targets,” stated Remi Dube.

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    A 100-YEAR ACTION PLAN FOR URBAN WATERSHED RESTORATION: “The Bowker Creek Blueprint is about reclaiming ‘lost territory’ from damage caused as a result of our ‘collective indifference’ because we did not consider the values of urban streams important,” stated Eric Bonham in his keynote reflections at the Bowker Creek Forum (February 2010)


    “A number of principles apply to the Bowker experience. First, there is the necessity for partnerships and collaboration. Second is the importance of leadership – from the top down; and leadership from the bottom up. Third is a long-term vision, in particular the 100-year timeline. Most important of all is recognizing  the importance of community. This is what distinguishes the Bowker Blueprint from other projects. The Bowker Blueprint has been truly driven by the passion and vision from the community up,” stated Eric Bonham.

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    BOWKER EXPERIENCE SHOWS HOW TO CREATE AN ACTIONABLE VISION: “British Columbia’s ‘Bowker Creek Blueprint’ will serve as a positive model for many. The Bowker Creek Initiative demonstrates how collaboration and a top-down and bottom-up approach can ‘unblock the blockage’,” observed Eva Kras, author of The Blockage, published in 2007


    “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.

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    BOWKER CREEK INITIATIVE IN THE CAPITAL REGION: “Creek restoration opportunities typically arise with little warning, and the detailed plan and long-term vision will help all its partners be ready,” wrote Tanis Gower, Bowker Creek Initiative Coordinator, in an article that recognized re-development of Oak Bay High School as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (December 2009)


    “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.

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    BOWKER CREEK FORUM PREVIEW: Eric Bonham will open the Forum with a call to courage. He will elaborate on the mantra: What do we want Vancouver Island to look like in 50 years?


    “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.

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    BOWKER CREEK FORUM PREVIEW: “Leading up to the Bowker Creek Forum, a set of four stories progressively foreshadowed and/or elaborated on what would be covered at the Forum,” stated Kim Stephens, Program Coordinator, Water Sustainability Action Plan for British Columbia (February 2010)


    “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.

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    CONVENING FOR ACTION IN THE GEORGIA BASIN: Bowker Creek Blueprint establishes precedent for moving from awareness to action – “Other watershed initiatives and other jurisdictions can benefit from the trail-blazing efforts of the Bowker Creek Initiative,” stated John Finnie, Chair, CAVI-Convening for Action on Vancouver Island (January 2010)


    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,

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    CONVENING FOR ACTION IN THE GEORGIA BASIN: Bowker Creek Forum promotes inter-regional sharing and collaboration – “The Bowker Creek Blueprint is clearly about shared responsibility. Metro Vancouver municipalities can learn from Bowker experience,” stated Remi Dube, City of Surrey (February 2010)


    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.

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    SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: Community Perspectives on Developing and Implementing the 100-Year Action Plan for Watershed Restoration – “My Ah-Ha moment was when I realized that the three municipalities could not deliver a plan for stream and watershed restoration – unless the community drives and supports delivery,” stated Ian Graeme, founder of the Friends of Bowker Creek Society (February 2010)


    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.

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    SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: Local Government Perspectives on Developing and Implementing the 100-Year Action Plan for Watershed Restoration – “Having a coordinator was huge; and the decision to designate municipal staff to sit on the BCI committee was equally important. This gave us a mandate to help direct and inform the process,” stated Anne Topp, Manager of Community Planning, District of Saanich (February 2010)


    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.

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