ASSET MANAGEMENT BC HOSTS “SAFE SPACE FORUM” FOR MUNICIPAL STAFF: “Maybe saying you do not have all the answers and asking for help, or saying that you have made mistakes, is a greater sign of strength than suggesting you are infallible.” – Gracelyn Day and Mike Matejka, co-chairs of the Asset Management BC Community-of-Practice
“Pain points. Safe space. Sharing stories of struggles. Turning problems into solutions. That was the mind map that framed how Arnold, Gracelyn and Mike approached their Asset Management BC sharing and learning forum last November. They share the story behind the story of why and how they came to organize the safe space forum. Local government people need a safe space to share their stories of struggle, they explain. Out of conversations come solutions to problems faced by everyone in local government,” states Kim Stephens.
SET THE GOAL, LEARN BY DOING, AND ADAPT TO CREATE LIVABLE COMMUNITIES: The context for action in the 2000s was the need to accommodate an extra million people by Year 2030 yet preserve regional livability
“Collaboration is essential. We also have to bring people together. If we find a common purpose that we are pursuing together, there really is nothing that we cannot accomplish,” stated former BC Premier Campbell in 2010. “Look long term. Think about what is best for the future. Not for you, but for those who will follow you. Think about how we can create a better environment that others can live in and benefit from. We get to make our own choices. We get to make our own future. We just have to have the vision to imagine, and the tenacity to pursue it.”
WHEN PROVINCIAL BOLTS OUT OF THE BLUE IMPACT LOCAL AUTONOMY: “Housing should be about building homes that people can afford in communities that work,” stated Ken Cameron, regional planning thought leader in British Columbia
“We should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater and be seduced by simplistic solutions. That is what I am trying to put on the record. There is a relationship between infrastructure services, open space, employment, etc. All those things are supposed to be brought together in plans and reflected in development decisions. And they are not anymore. I want to do what I can to help the current generation of decision makers understand what it is about regional planning that has got us to this point, both the good things and the bad,” stated Ken Cameron.
WHEN WE ARE PART OF A NETWORK, EVERYONE GOES FURTHER: “In these busy times, there is tremendous value in networks to help solve problems together. We are all yearning for cooperation that will help buttress this wobbly world,” stated Rémi Dubé, moderator for the Ambassadors of the Partnership Forum, and former senior manager in local government
“The January 29 2026 Ambassadors of the Partnership Forum will be remembered as the launchpad for the future of the Partnership,” stated Rémi Dubé when he reflected on what was accomplished in bringing together alumni and current local government staff to share stories and learn from each other. “Round table discussions clearly demonstrated a desire for collaboration in finding solutions to today’s challenges. The forum was an inter-regional gathering with folks from Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Okanagan and East Kootenays.”
LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF CONVENE FOR ACTION AT PARTNERSHIP FORUM: “A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead,” wrote Graham Greene, 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. Stories that share deep knowledge serve as a “narrative scan” of the past, transforming abstract experiences into practical wisdom for current challenges. By structuring complex information into relatable narratives, these stories help individuals and organizations identify patterns, build empathy, develop effective problem-solving strategies, and engage both the logical and emotional centers of the brain.
FALL 2025 SEASON IN REVIEW: “Never has storytelling been more important than it is today. And that is because deep knowledge is being lost at an alarming rate,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia
“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.
SEED CHANGE THROUGH THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORKS: “Networks are a way to get greater leverage on your scarce resources and move forward together with other likeminded, values-aligned colleagues,” stated Dr. Jane Wei-Skillern, Senior Fellow with the Center for Social Sector Leadership at the University of California Berkeley
“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.”
BRITISH COLUMBIA’S WATER SUSTAINABILITY ACT, UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE: “I was in government a long time. I have NEVER EVER seen such open-minded consultation for any piece of legislation as I did for the Water Sustainability Act,” stated Valerie Cameron, a former Deputy Comptroller of Water Rights and regional water manager in the BC provincial government
“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.
ADVANCING MUNICIPAL ASSET MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING WOLRD: “Asset Management concepts have been around long enough for staff and elected officials to have an awareness of the issues. We need to truly begin addressing the struggle to implement,” stated Arnold Schwabe, Executive Director with Asset Management BC
“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.
HOW TO DANCE WITH A TIGER AND LEAD CHANGE: “Transformation is often fraught with danger for both the change agents themselves and their organizations. It is like dancing with a tiger – with the outcome frequently uncertain,” wrote Brian Nattrass and Mary Altomare, authors of ‘Dancing with the Tiger: Learning Sustainability Step by Natural Step’, published in 2002
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.