Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC

Graham Greene (1904-1991) is recognized as one of the great novelists of the 20th century. Stories that help us understand historical context and policy frameworks also point the way forward to help us find effective solutions for contemporary problems

“We 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. Waterbucket eNews stories celebrate the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. We start with a compelling quotable quote and delve into the story behind the story because that is what is interesting and relevant,” stated Kim Stephens.

“In the early 2000s, when I was on the faculty at the Harvard Business School, I began my research into the concept of a networked approach that is more focused on network-building and trust-based relationships, and less about building an organization to get to your mission impact,” explained Jane Wei-Skillern. “My hope is that we can spearhead a larger initiative which is a culture change in the conservation space to value the power of relationships and networks. This is on top of innovation in technology which is essential.”

“Whenever I hear people say there was not adequate consultation, I have to contradict that because the consultation was incredible. I have not seen anything like it before or since that has even closely matched the WSA consultation. I have to give Ministry of Environment credit for doing a very open-ended, advance public consultation process. They went out into communities. And Ministry staff said, we are thinking of making some substantial changes to the Water Act. What do you want to see? They did that before a word was put on a piece of paper,” stated Valerie Cameron.

“We are adapting asset management to a changing world. One of the big priorities for me this year is to just start bringing Asset Management back to reality. To say, we are all facing the same struggles. Let’s talk about what those struggles are, instead of just believing that we have the solution to it. The theme that I am now promoting is this, just tell us your story because people can learn from stories. It does not have to be perfect. We know it is not perfect. But do not be afraid to tell the story. Passing on knowledge really is about the stories,” stated Arnold Schwabe.

The third installment of the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver covers the period 1997 through 2005. This sweeping narrative weaves quotable quote to tell the story of what led up to publication of BC’s Stormwater Planning Guidebook in 2002, and the impact of what followed in the wake of publication. “Transformation is often fraught with danger. How does one dance with the tiger? You do it carefully, skillfully, courageously, in tune to the same music, advancing step by natural step,” wrote Mary Altomare.

“We know the cause of the increased frequency, magnitude and duration of floods. Yet nobody seems to do a damn thing about it. As a former minister of public safety, I am very concerned about risks and liabilities. So, I have put my markers down in the provincial legislature. I am a professional investigator. I did that for 32 years in the RCMP. When we needed answers, we would go to the science. Or we would go to the experts. That was our job as investigators. And that is what drew me to Younes Alila and his forest hydrology research findings,” stated Mike Morris.

“Kelowna is the major population centre inside the Okanagan Lake basin. And many people take advantage of our natural elements to play, fish, camp and more. So, we have a responsibility to pay attention to what people do as a community. In developing the plan, we looked through a One Water lens to address community needs and responsibilities. Everybody has an opinion about water. Everybody! First Nations, other communities, we all share the lake. But not all have the resources we have at the City of Kelowna. We felt it important to lead by example,” stated Rod MacLean.

“Agricultural land is a public good because it serves everybody, but it is not treated as such. And that makes it difficult. Food should not be political, but it is. So here we are… losing farmland every year to industrial, non-farm use. How do we get the fruit of the ALR? You can build warehouses and industrial stuff pretty well anywhere you have a piece of property. You cannot build a farm by bringing in soil. That is what we have to protect. We have to find other places for this other stuff. Food security is at risk,” stated Christina Gemino.

In the story behind the story, Mark Angelo explains why his title is River Magic; why the Fraser River is the heart and soul of BC; and why Guichon Creek in Burnaby shows never give up. “River Magic is a collection of short stories. And I have written it in that format because I wanted to enable readers of all ages to better appreciate the allure and magic of rivers along with the need to better care for them. My goal was to make the book as accessible as possible to a wide range of audiences. That is a tough balance to strike,” stated Mark Angelo.