LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “We have raised expectations that communities can do a better job of managing land and water. But what happens if knowledge, experience and the lessons we are learning are not passed on or are lost?” – a question posed in 2007 by Jay Bradley, Chair of the Vancouver Island Coordinating Team
Note to Reader:
Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. The edition published on June 6, 2023 brought to a close the current season (January through June 2023) of the weekly newsletter series. During the past 5-month period, the Partnership for Water Sustainability has published 20 feature stories. This finale edition constitutes our “season in review”. We have kept it simple. To refresh reader memories about the topics and how much ground we have covered, we have brought forward the headline plus defining quotable quote from each of the 20 storylines.
EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE / CONTEXT FOR BUSY READER
“We all learn through stories. This is how we pass on our oral history. Storytelling is the way we share intergenerational knowledge, experience and wisdom. This is why each and every edition of Waterbucket eNews is built around a conversational interview,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.
“We start with a compelling quotable quote and delve into the “story behind the story” because that is what is interesting. And relevant.”
Look back to see ahead
“Recently, I interviewed a former long-term mayor of a major municipality for a story that the Partnership will publish later in 2023. Kim, he said, when an elected representative retires from office, the incoming politicians don’t want your help. They just want you to go away. But that’s okay because staff provides the necessary continuity.”
“With that piece of insight, and without realizing it, this former mayor nailed the nub of one of the challenges of our time. And that is, loss of continuity at the staff level is happening just when continuity of understanding is needed most. Without the passing of that baton, those who follow will not know what they do not know.”
“This existential dilemma is what my former colleague Jay Bradley foreshadowed and forewarned with his observation (above) in 2007. Jay was bang-on with his prophecy. This is why stories behind the stories are important. One must look back to see ahead.”
Accept the intergenerational baton when it is offered
“Those who know me say that I am an eternal optimist – that means the glass is half-full and the water level is rising. In my role as Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC, I have many conversations and conduct numerous interviews.”
“Right now, I sense that a window of opportunity is opening because I am observing that minds are increasingly receptive to oral history and learning from elders. I believe there is growing awareness that passing on knowledge, experience and wisdom is essential to a sustainable future.”
“We describe this process as passing and embracing the intergenerational baton. LOOK BACK TO SEE AHEAD.”
SEASON IN REVIEW: Headlines and Defining Quotable Quotes
JANUARY 17, 2023: Local government policy impacts ripple through time
To read the complete story published on January 17th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: A local government’s infrastructure level-of-service policies ripple through time.
JANUARY 24, 2023: Water Reconciliation 101 for Mayors, Councillors and Regional Directors / Countdown to Watershed Moments 2023 |
To read the complete story published on January 24th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: A Pathway to Water Reconciliation and Resilience at the Local Scale.
JANUARY 31, 2023: Adapting to floods and droughts in the Cowichan Region
To read the complete story published on January 31st 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Adapting to floods and droughts in the Cowichan region.
FEBRUARY 7, 2023: Kate Miller is the inaugural winner of the Watershed Moments Team Award which honours the legacy of Rob Lawrance (1964-2022)
To read the complete story published on February 7th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Watershed Moments Team Award honours legacy of Rob Lawrance (1964-2022).
FEBRUARY 14, 2023: Community-based science raises water balance awareness on Salt Spring Island
To read the complete story published on February 14th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Community-based science raises water balance awareness on Salt Spring Island.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023: Measure streamflow and close a data gap in community planning |
To read the complete story published on February 14th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Measure streamflow and close a data gap in community planning.
FEBRUARY 28, 2023: What does “water reconciliation” look like?
DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF : A Pathway to Water Reconciliation and Resilience at the Local Scale
MARCH 7, 2023: Town of Comox – beacon of inspiration for water balance approach to land development
To read the complete story published on March 7th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Town of Comox – beacon of inspiration for water balance approach to land development.
MARCH 14, 2023: Build bridges of understanding, pass the baton!
To read the complete story published on March 14th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Build bridges of understanding, pass the baton!
MARCH 21, 2023: Communities need annual budgets to tackle the Riparian Deficit along streams
To read the complete story published on March 21st 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Communities need annual budgets to tackle the Riparian Deficit along streams.
MARCH 28, 2023: Road map for stream system integrity
To read the complete story published on March 28th 2023, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: History and application of a science-based road map for either protecting or restoring stream system integrity
APRIL 4, 2023: Local governments invest in youth at Vancouver Island University
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Local governments invest in youth at Vancouver Island University.
APRIL 11, 2023: Looking at green roofs through a water balance lens
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Looking at green roofs through a water balance lens.
APRIL 18, 2023: BC’s path to food security is through water security
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Fifty Years – and miraculously still here: BC’s Agricultural Land Reserve
APRIL 25, 2023: Shelly Creek in Parksville is a “living laboratory”
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Shelly Creek in Parksville is a “living laboratory”
MAY 2, 2023: Erik Karlsen and the Streamside Protection Regulation
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Erik Karlsen and the Streamside Protection Regulation
MAY 9, 2023: Healthy Waters Program for salmon, whales, and people
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Healthy Waters Program for salmon, whales, and people.
MAY 16, 2023: Trust is the currency of collaboration
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Trust is the currency of collaboration in the Comox Valley.
MAY 23, 2023: Rural constituencies want a vo
ice
To read the complete story, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: What organization serves only rural local governments, community leaders and First Nations?
MAY 30, 2023: Comox Valley is an experiment in collaboration
To download a copy of the Comox Valley story, click on Stream Systems and Watershed Stewardship in the Comox Valley: Moving Towards Sustainable Service Delivery.