LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: Without Paul Ham’s quiet and unassuming leadership behind the scenes, would the green infrastructure movement in British Columbia have successfully launched a generation ago?
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. The edition published on November 7, 2023 featured Paul Ham, former General Manager of Engineering with the City of Surrey. A generation ago, his quiet and unassuming leadership behind the scenes made the green infrastructure movement possible in British Columbia. As chair, he provided the Green Infrastructure Partnership with early credibility.
Green infrastructure genesis in British Columbia
“Viewed through the green infrastructure lens, one word characterizes the 2000s. That word is transformational. Almost overnight, the term “green infrastructure” went from novel idea to mainstream concept in the Metro Vancouver region. There was energy. There was a willingness to learn by doing. The regional team approach emerged as the new business as usual,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.
“In this edition of Waterbucket eNews, we weave a selection of quotable quotes from a conversation with Paul Ham to tell a short story about green infrastructure evolution in Surrey as it progressed from pilot projects to watershed-based actions.”
“The past informs the future. It is about looking back to see ahead. What universal principles are timeless? How do we leverage what we know in order to continue advancing the common good? How do we pass that understanding on to inform the actions of successive generations?”
Story of the Metro Vancouver region’s Green Infrastructure Journey (1997-2023)
“The complete conversation with Paul Ham is included as an appendix to the downloadable version of this edition of Waterbucket eNews. Paul Ham is a valuable source of oral history. This is the first in a 3-part series. The next two feature other voices.”
“These stories are preview extracts from Create Liveable Communities and Protect Stream Health in the Metro Vancouver Region: Moving Along the Green Infrastructure Continuum. This legacy resource will be published early in 2024.”
Collaboration, Partnerships and Alignment
“Success in advancing the green infrastructure mission during the 2000s under Paul Ham’s watch is attributable to 10 cascading factors being in alignment within Surrey as well as within the Metro Vancouver region. The ten are illustrated on the graphic below. These are universal principles. They are timeless.”
“This top-to-bottom alignment enabled local government collaboration at the regional scale. Paramount is political commitment. Staff can only carry things so far. Only when someone who is elected takes the lead, and is the champion, does something happen,” concluded Kim Stephens.
DOWNLOAD A PDF COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Know-Your-History_universal-principles_2023.pdf
To Learn More:
To read the complete story, download a copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Surrey’s green infrastructure evolution – from pilot projects to watershed-based actions. The downloadable version includes a Bonus Feature – the complete interview with Paul Ham.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/10/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Eric-Bonham-on-lake-stewardship_2023.pdf