CREATE GREENER COMMUNITIES AND PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: “Imagine that everyone understands and cares where our water comes from and goes,” stated Lynn Kriwoken, retired Executive Director and Living Water Smart champion in the Ministry of Environment from 2005 thru 2020
Note to Reader:
In 2008, Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan was the Province’s call to action, and to this day transcends governments. The hard work of hope resulted in a policy, program and regulatory framework that enables community-based action to adapt to the current climate reality (aka “the new normal)”. Living Water Smart successes are defined by collaboration and a “top-down / bottom-up” approach. This brings together decision-makers and community advocates.
In 2008, the Living Water Smart program called British Columbians to action to create greener communities and prepare for climate change
“Water defines British Columbia, and the rhythms of water are changing – winters are wetter and warmer; summers are longer and drier.,” explains Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability. “Flood, drought, fire, wind and cold – extreme events are the New Normal. We have known this for the past two decades. And now we are at a tipping point. When will communities adapt, and how?”
“In 2005, Premier Gordon Campbell gave my team a mandate to be bold and imaginative. Inspire British Columbians about water, he instructed us. Explain why water is important and what we must do to protect it,” continues Lynn Kriwoken, retired Executive Director and Living Water Smart champion in the Ministry of Environment from 2005 thru 2020.
“While legislative reform is a foundation piece, collaboration takes place outside the legislative framework. We constantly emphasized that Living Water Smart is about motivating and inspiring everyone to embrace shared responsibility. Influencing behaviour and attitudes is at the heart of moving from awareness to action.”
Story behind the story as explained by Lynn Kriwoken
“We took a different approach with Living Water Smart, British Columbia’s Water Plan. Rather than a boring, bureaucratic plan that starts with a vision, mission, goals, actions and words and more words…we flipped things around.
“We started with a design and wrote the story to the design to stand the test of time. It is visual, evocative, and written in plain language.”
“The Partnership for Water Sustainability showed their value-add to the Province as an implementation arm for Living Water Smart. They were able to fill a gap with the convening for action program.”
“Celebrating a decade of living water smart in B.C., but where to from here?” (op-ed published in June 2018)
On Saturday, June 2nd 2018, the Vancouver Sun newspaper published an op-ed article co-authored by four members of the Partnership for Water Sustainability’s leadership team, namely: Kim Stephens, Ted van der Gulik, Tim Pringle and Peter Law. The article is reproduced below.
To Learn More:
To read the complete Op-Ed, download a PDF copy of Celebrating a decade of living water smart in B.C., but where to from here? which was published on June 2, 2018.
Premier Gordon Campbell wanted a “plan to lead the world in water management, the best bar none.” Lynn delivered. Living Water Smart is an idea that has a life beyond a date-stamped plan. To learn more about the role Lynn Kriwoken played in getting Living Water Smart across the finish line, download a PDF copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Lynn Kriwoken, champion for Living Water Smart.
