Water-Centric Planning

MELTING GLACIERS, HEALTHY WATERSHEDS, AND YOU: “It is a story about making a positive difference in the world, influencing change, stewardship and the important role of citizens in all this,” stated Lynn Kriwoken – career water champion, president of the Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation

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 March 18, 2025 featured the story of the Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation as told through the eyes of Lynn Kriwoken, WLCF president. She narrates the story of “connection to place” as the motivator and foundation piece for bringing people together and building a stewardship ethic in a world destination resort community.

Our actions and behaviours today are influenced by the stories, behaviours and actions of our parents and grandparents

“Witnessing presentations at the 2023 Lake Stewardship Conference by groups from around the province was eye-opening. There are many sick lakes in the province. We are not there yet in Whistler and we certainly don’t want to be,” states Lynn Kriwoken, president of the Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation.

“Coming away from that conference reinforced even more for us the importance of outreach and education in building a stewardship ethic in a world destination resort community like Whistler that attracts 3 million visitors per year.”

“That aha moment led to collaboration with the Whistler Institute to expand our reach. The event we are co-hosting on April 17 is part of their Global Perspectives Speaker Series.”

WHISTLER EVENT ON APRIL 17, 2025 – Melting Glaciers, Healthy Watersheds, and You

“A volunteer organization only has so much capacity. We went into 2024 with a focus on education and getting out into the community more. We wanted a place to tell our WLCF story.”

“It is a story about making a positive difference in the world, influencing change, stewardship and the important role of citizens in all this. The mindset that we are all part of the problem, and all part of the solution.”

Provocative and hopeful for future generations

“We are excited to be co-hosting the speakers’ event in Whistler with the Whistler Institute on April 17th. Executive Director Mandy Rousseau was very receptive from the get-go. She works hard behind the scenes to convene thought provoking conversations about things that affect everyday people.”

“The event headline is Melting Glaciers, Healthy Watersheds, and You; and we have an all-star panel in Dr. Brian Menounos, Dr. Peter Ross and Michael Blackstock. Each has a powerful message to share.”

“These people are good scientists, thought leaders and story tellers who care about our planet. Aiming to inspire action, their message is provocative and hopeful for future generations.”

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE / CONTEXT FOR BUSY READER

“Across British Columbia, there are groups of “citizens in action”. These passionate volunteers with expertise and wisdom are stepping up to fill gaps. In so doing, these volunteers are making a difference through their contributions to community and environment wellbeing while passing the intergenerational baton,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.

About making a contribution as a citizen scientist

“In the story behind the story, WLCF president Lynn Kriwoken is the narrator. She tells the story through her eyes to establish the context for the Melting Glaciers event and how it came to be.’

“In government, Lynn was a leader who made a difference behind the scenes with her vision and ability to make things happen. She was the Living Water Smart champion, and her passion and leadership drove it.”

“Living Water Smart is a timeless story about the value of water in all its forms and its message continues to resonate with people today,” says Lynn Kriwoken. In retirement she continues to draw on those same messages to inspire and educate others about water.”

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Melting Glaciers, Healthy Watersheds, and You – a conversation with Lynn Kriwoken

The story behind the story is structured in three parts. In Part One, Lynn Kriwoken explains how she was recruited by the newly formed Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation in 2020. Part One sets the scene for the heart of the story behind the story which is the impact of the WLCF as a force for good.

The theme for Part Two is know your history and care for the land. Lynn elaborates on her family connection to the early history of Whistler. This has influenced her stewardship ethic. An appreciation for the idea of “connection to place” is foundational to understanding what motivates volunteers to give back to their communities.

In Part Three, Lynn Kriwoken provides insight into the vision that the Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation has to embed a stewardship ethic in a world destination resort community. She builds to a crescendo with a call to action.

PART ONE – A connection to place inspires volunteers to give back to their communities

“One afternoon in the summer of 2020 I was enjoying the sparkle of Alta Lake from my deck, when an excited neighbour appeared waving a membership form, telling me I should join this new lake group,” recalls Lynn Kriwoken.

Not retirement, rewirement!

“Freshly retired from a 30+ year water career with the provincial government, my feet barely back on the ground, I said sure, why not? Not retired, just re-wired. Involvement in the WLCF allows me to make a contribution as a citizen scientist to protect the place I love.”

“WLCF has since evolved to more of stewardship, citizen science focus with a longer-term view. including a 5-lake monitoring program entering its 5th year, watershed-based monitoring on streams, and outreach and education activities.”

Things happen for a reason

“None of this would have been possible without our team of active volunteers, from all walks of life. They got involved because they care about the environment, want to make a positive difference in the world, meet people in the community and simply have fun.”

“Nor could we do this without valued partners like the BC Lake Stewardship Society, Raincoast Conservation Foundation, BC Ministry of Environment, Resort Municipality of Whistler, Vail Resorts, and others.”

“I believe that we attract that which occurs in our life. As someone with an interest and experience in water, with a family that has four generations of history on Alta Lake at Whistler in a place that is near and dear to our hearts, I am not surprised to find myself doing what I am doing today. Especially with the support of a whole cadre of former colleagues/friends who are doing the same thing.”

PART TWO – Know your history and pass the intergenerational baton through storytelling

“It is not just about the science; it is about people. It is about our history, our experience, our connection to place. It is the values we hold, the decisions we make and the stories we pass on to our children and grandchildren.”

Know Your History / Indigenous Knowledge

“The work that we are doing today in Whistler is part of a continuum that has evolved in this place over time. It started with the stewardship of the resources and the land by the people of the Squamish and Lil’wats First Nations and the continuation of story over generations.”

“We have learned the ancestors of these two strong nations lived, hunted and traded here from time immemorial, long before settlers arrived. They shared the responsibility of the land, lakes and waterways and cultivated and cared for the ecosystems across their territory.”

“They lived by the concepts of what Indigenous people call today ‘leave no trace’ and the 7th generation principle – that the decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future.”

Know Your History / Story of Myrtle Philip

“The arrival of the PGE railway in 1914 further contributed to its success, with the Rainbow Lodge boasting that it was the most popular resort west of the Rockies.”

“It attracted people to come to hike, fish, swim, horseback ride in summer and skate, play hockey, ice sail, and cross-country ski in the winter. All for the love of the lakes.”

“In her later years, Myrtle kept a close relationship with the children in the community. The valley was in a time of transition, changing from a small community down on Alta Lake to the new ski town of Whistler.”

“On a broader scale, if we want to carry on an ethic of stewardship of the land and our resources, we can elevate that to thinking about how we were each influenced in our lives by the stories that we were told from a young age. And in turn the stories we tell our children and grandchildren.”

Know Your History / Connection to Place

“Our daughters are 4th generation of the Farley family on Alta Lake. Their great grandfather was a builder and avid fly-fisher who recognized something special about this place 82 years ago.”

“I have come to realize that four generations is not a long time. And it is not a long stretch for me to imagine my great, great grandchildren knowing the history of Whistler lakes, enjoying the same lake experience, hearing the stories of this century, and feeling and acting for the love of their lakes.”

“How true is that? I We can’t protect what we don’t love, even our lakes. We cannot love them if we do not know them. Therefore, we have to understand them. It all comes down to story and the importance and passing those stories along.”

PART THREE: It is not just about the science; it is about people and their actions and behaviours

“The Melting Glaciers, Healthy Watersheds and You panel on April 17th is about education and raising awareness. One of the foundational programs with WLCF is our monitoring and reporting program. For those interested in our findings, visit News and Reports on WLCF’s website.”

Challenge is to build a stewardship ethic in a world destination resort community

“Monitoring and reporting aside, it is not just about the science. It is about people. We know we can’t manage what we don’t measure. That’s why quantitative lake data provide a baseline from which changes can be observed and acted on over time.”

“However, we cannot always measure everything that matters. Equally important are qualitative data like the relationship between people and lakes, how lakes affect our emotions and behaviours, and the stories we tell about our lake experiences.”

“Whistler gets up to 3 million visitors per year. Tourists and visitors have as much of an influence on the lakes, the watersheds and environment experience as anyone.”

“As Whistler’s tourism economy grows, so do our concerns about the cumulative impact of human activity in and around the lakes. One of our outreach products last year was a Lake Stewardship in Whistler brochure for visitors and locals.”

“And on this topic of outreach and education, that brings us full circle to our water panel collaboration with the Whistler Institute…Melting Glaciers, Healthy Watersheds, and You.”

Panel is but one event in the continuum

“In a nutshell, we chose a compelling title that ties watershed health to personal responsibility. Inevitably it is a bad news/good news story that we want to end with hope. And a call to action.”

“There is a lot that goes on between glaciers and the sea and the all-star panel of Dr. Brian Menounos, Dr. Peter Ross and Michael Blackstock promises to tell an engaging and provocative story. “

“The panel is but one more event in the continuum. With the call to action, looking at the colossal threats we face as humanity in the world. It all comes down to people…thoughts, wants, feelings, actions, behaviours.”

The tourism economy drives Whistler

“The evidence is showing that the glaciers in the region are going to blink out by the turn of the century. This is material because the tourism economy drives Whistler.”

Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation collaboration with Whistler Institute

“We are hoping to reach out to a broad audience,” concludes Lynn Kriwoken. “This topic should be of interest not just to curious citizens but also to decision makers in business and government. We are hoping to fill the house!”

Living Water Smart in British Columbia Series

To download a copy of the foregoing resource as a PDF document for your records and/or sharing, click on Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Melting Glaciers, Healthy Watersheds, and You.

DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Lynn-Kriwoken-and-Whistler-Lakes-Foundation_2025.pdf