Cathedral Thinking = Soaring Aspiration + Grounded Structure + Time
Note to Reader:
In 2005, Eric Bonham championed a vision for building a communications network to address issues facing the water and wastewater industry on Vancouver Island. In May 2006, the embryo “Meeting of the Minds” initiative morphed into CAVI-Convening for Action on Vancouver Island. The CAVI vision is economy, ecology and settlement in balance.
A decade later, on the anniversary of the transformational “Meeting of the Minds” event, the leadership trio of Eric Bonham, CAVI Past-Chair (2006-2011) John Finnie and current CAVI Chair (2011-2016) Derek Richmond reflect on the journey so far and what is yet to come.
“CAVI” is moving forward under a new name –
The Partnership on Vancouver Island:
Leadership in Water Sustainability
The grand creations of antiquity were not designed with a quarterly report or 4-year election term in mind. The builders of great cathedrals in medieval times thought in terms of multiple generations carrying out their work, to complete a dream that would not be realised until long after the originator’s death. When one thinks of a cathedral two aspects come to mind: a soaring aspiration; and a grounded structure firmly planted throughout time.
CAVI – in the beginning……
“It started with a conversation,” recalls John Finnie. “In 2005 a group of similar thinking individuals, recognizing a need to balance economy and ecology with the increasing settlement on Vancouver Island, and the critical importance of water in that equation, gathered in Parksville to have a conversation about water sustainability on Vancouver Island. Within a year, that initial meeting evolved into a movement, Convening for Action on Vancouver Island – Leadership for Water 
Sustainability, known widely by the acronym CAVI.”
“CAVI set a goal that Vancouver Island would be well on its way to water sustainability by 2010. Since that initial meeting in 2005, CAVI has successfully promoted the message of water sustainability by engaging governments, developers and the community in water-centric thinking, planning and development activities.”
Cathedral Thinking
“There is much yet to be done but CAVI’s approach is like Cathedral Thinking – an idea that takes time to evolve and establish, and ends up benefitting future generations,” continues Derek Richmond. “It is not so much what we do but what we cause to happen that matters.”“Water-centric thinking, planning and doing have become more than a vision. They are a reality on Vancouver Island and elsewhere in BC. CAVI was a driver in this accomplishment and demonstrated what can be done through partnerships and collaboration.”“Now, our challenge is to get the right cornerstone firmly set in the right place for the next levels of the initiative.”The VI2065 Vision
“The future of Vancouver Island calls for Cathedral Thinking to create a vision that is inspirational, pragmatic, and based on a strong foundation,” explains Eric Bonham. “Planners, engineers, politicians and citizens will be collectively challenged to focus on water-resilient outcomes against a backdrop of an unpredictable water cycle. Achieving consensus in this situation emphasizes a 
commitment to collaboration based upon cooperation and partnerships across institutional and political boundaries.”
“The VI2065 initiative envisions a Vancouver Island based on long-term sustainability and water resiliency models that involve innovative partnerships. The results guide us towards effective land and water management practices. Water is an entrance point for the discussion on climate change, for the connection on this complex issue is clearly understood in light of the increase in floods and droughts.”
CAVI – moving forward…..
