Tag:

International Year of the Salmon

    DOWNLOAD THE “SERIES AT A GLANCE” to learn about the programs for each event in the Vancouver Island Symposia Series on Watershed Stewardship in a Changing Climate


    “The over-arching message for the Vancouver Island series is applicable to any region. Simply put, it is to focus on improving where people live through implementation of good strategies. These will provide communities with a path to success. There are two guiding principles. First, reconnect hydrology and ecology – because what happens on the landscape matters to streams! Second, shrink our destructive footprint while growing the restorative footprint – because sustainable is attainable,” stated Kim Stephens.

    Read Article

    WATERSHED MOMENTS, THE VIDEO TRILOGY: “In 2020, the Watershed Moment team succeeded in our mission to create a broadcast quality legacy resource. We are thrilled that Shaw Cable has televised the trilogy multiple times across Vancouver Island. It is the resource that keeps on giving,” stated Paul Chapman, Chair, Vancouver Island Symposia Series on Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate


    COVID has changed and challenged how everyone does outreach and peer-based education. The Watershed Moments team turned COVID into an opportunity to create a legacy educational resource – the Watershed Moments video trilogy. In 2021, the 3-part series was broadcast twice by Shaw Cable – first in January-February and then again in August-September, reported Jocelyn Matwe, producer with the Shaw Spotlight Nanaimo team. Each time the broadcast cycle was three times.

    Read Article

    WATERSHED MOMENTS, THE VIDEO TRILOGY: “Passion is the glue for collaboration when everyone shares a common set of values and a vision for reconnecting people, land and water,” stated Paul Chapman, Chair, Vancouver Island Symposia Series on Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate (ANNOUNCEMENT – just click on the links to view the Trilogy on YouTube)


    “Producing three videos in just six months required an incredible commitment by all 15 members of the Watershed Moments Team . As I reflect on all three modules in the series, the thread that attaches them all is the different layers of responsibility that team members represent. Yet most team members only knew a few of the other members when we began our sprint to create the series. Through the shared experience of doing something bold and original, everyone connected and bonded in a way that would not have happened without COVID,” stated Paul Chapman.

    Read Article

    REGISTRATION OPEN FOR WATERSHED MOMENTS, THE VIDEO TRILOGY SERIES: 2020 Virtual Symposium on “Actionable Visions for Reconnecting Hydrology and Ecology in an Altered Landscape” – a unique and interactive experience delivered via YouTube on November 19 / November 26 / December 3


    “The changes wrought by COVID 19 have allowed NALT and the Partnership for Water Sustainability to dare to be bold in integrating technology platforms and co-host what we anticipate will be a compelling virtual symposium. We are integrating Zoom and YouTube to create a viewing experience that captures the passion, knowledge and wisdom of our team members in conversation. The vision for the Video Trilogy Series is that it will take on a life of its own as a legacy resource that informs, educate and creates understanding,” states David Mackenzie. He is the technical director for production of the series.

    Read Article

    PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR WATERSHED MOMENTS, THE VIDEO TRILOGY SERIES: Re-Imagining the 3rd Annual Vancouver Island Symposium for online delivery to showcase “Actionable Visions for Reconnecting Hydrology and Ecology in an Altered Landscape” on YouTube on November 19 / November 26 / December 3


    “In the age of COVID 19, it is necessary to adapt and evolve in response to the new reality imposed by physical distancing. How could we avoid going down the same pathway as others, which would be to subject viewers to a day of staring at their computer screens? And so the plan took shape for a unique and interactive experience via YouTube in combination with Zoom. We are bringing our three teams together in a safe space for a series of in-person, facilitated conversations. Immediately after watching each video on YouTube, our virtual audience will be able to chat in real-time with the presentation team,” stated Kim Stephens.

    Read Article

    INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SALMON IS A POTENTIAL GAME-CHANGER: Multi-year program is not just about fish; it is about humankind creating sustainable landscapes for people and salmon – following the live broadcasts, “Watershed Moments, the Video Trilogy Series” will be accessible as a legacy educational resource on YouTube (Announcement #5, November 2020)


    “How do we encapsulate the human element? It is not just our impact on things. It is much more. It is our behaviour. It is how our behaviour has changed over the decades. We are trying to make things better. The way we are managing really goes well with the designing with nature concept. We are part of nature. We are part of the ecosystem. We have a big effect because there are so many of us. We change the landscape profoundly. But we are still part it,” stated Dr. Peter Tschaplinski.

    Read Article

    RIPARIAN AREAS – WHERE CULTURE JOINS ECOLOGY: “Fighting the negative effects of climate change is hard work. Our creeks are our frontline of climate change mitigation,” stated Paul Chapman, Chair of the Vancouver Island Symposia Series on Water Stewardship in a Changing Climate, in his presentation to Nanaimo City Council (June 2020)


    “Protecting our natural systems to preserve natural water balance is one of the most effective things we can do to be a resilient community in the face of climate change. Let’s not make the hard work harder by degrading the systems we are going to need to increasingly rely on. The solution is healthy functioning watersheds, the problem is riparian development coupled with the effects of climate change and the ever-increasing cost and invasiveness of engineered solutions seeking to mimic natural function. When you make a decision about development in a riparian area, you are making a climate change decision,” stated Paul Chapman.

    Read Article

    BRITISH COLUMBIA’S CLIMATE REALITY, INTER-REGIONAL COLLABORATION & ACTIONABLE VISIONS: Five women are leading programs that strive to ‘reconnect land and water in altered landscapes’ in four regional districts on Vancouver Island – following the live broadcasts, “Watershed Moments, the Video Trilogy Series” will be accessible as a legacy educational resource on YouTube (Announcement #3, October 2020)


    “A dynamic team of five women provide their insider insights into an array of water-centric initiatives and programs underway on Vancouver Island. In four regions, water management initiatives are now into a second decade and ramping up. Sharing and learning from each other helps these program managers and doers adapt concepts and approaches to the local context. The programs they lead are foundation pieces for restoring the water balance in an altered landscape,” stated Kim Stephens.

    Read Article

    CONTEXT FOR RESTORATIVE DEVELOPMENT: “We abuse the land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see the land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect” – a famous quotable quote written by Aldo Leopold, professor and author of A Sand County Almanac (1949)


    In his presentation at the 2018 Engineers & Geoscientists BC Annual Conference, Kim Stephens quoted Aldo Leopold – legendary American professor, author, philosopher, scientist, ecologist, forester, conservationist, and environmentalist. “The Land Ethic,” a chapter in his book A Sand County Almanac, popularized the idea of ecological thinking — that animals, plants, soil, geology, water and climate all come together to form a community of life — that they are not separate parts, but integrated pieces of a whole.

    Read Article

    WATERSHED MOMENTS, THE VIDEO TRILOGY SERIES: “There are so many variables to take into account when making a video in the age of COVID. We have created a blueprint for ‘getting it right’ by exceeding local, provincial and federal requirements,” stated David Mackenzie, technical director and volunteer extraordinaire (Announcement #2, September 2020)


    “Inspired and guided by David Mackenzie’s passion, knowledge and attention to detail, a plan took shape to deliver Watershed Moments, the Video Trilogy Series via YouTube. The vision for the three videos is that they will be educational legacy resources that would inspire a snowballing of individual actions. Each video is built around a group conversation. We are now in the post-production phase, which includes inter-weaving of outdoor footage. We are striving to provide an experience comparable to viewing an engaging TED Talk video,” stated Kim Stephens.

    Read Article