Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC

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

February 4, 2026 - Posted in water sustainability

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. Storylines accommodate a range of reader attention spans. Read the headline and move on, or take the time to delve deeper – it is your choice!

Downloadable versions are available at Living Water Smart in British Columbia: The Series. Stories are structured in three parts: One-Minute Takeaway, Editor’s Perspective, and the Story Behind the Story.

The edition published on February 4, 2026 featured Rémi Dubé and his reflections on what was achieved when the Partnership hosted an intergenerational gathering of local government staff, past and current, in January 2026. This was a defining moment in Partnership history. The forum was the springboard for a 3-year transition strategy that addresses the question: Who will lead the Partnership after the Year 2028?

ONE MINUTE TAKEAWAY for the extremely busy reader

“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.”

When we are part of a network, everyone goes further

“Our Partnership mission is to build a network that fosters support in developing solutions to today’s water sustainability challenges. These range from land use impacts to climate change, and from higher demands on infrastructure to less support for maintaining these works.”

“Challenges also range from sharing accurate, scientifically grounded knowledge to weeding through political agendas and misinformation, and from the status quo to embracing a wholistic environmentally sound wisdom.”

“Some of our ambassadors suggest that we host focused regional forums on specific areas of concern. Some believe field visits similar to the Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation Series in the 2000s can again lead to further cooperation and sharing,” Rémi Dubé concluded.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE / Why there is a Partnership for Water Sustainability

“The Partnership is honoured that former Premier Mike Harcourt chose to show his support by attending the Ambassadors of the Partnership Forum. One can draw a straight line from his time as Premier in the 1990s to the Forum,” stated Kim Stephens, Partnership Executive Director and Waterbucket eNews Editor, in his overview remarks to ambassadors and friends of the Partnership. His overview was titled Why there is a Partnership for Water Sustainability.

“Mike Harcourt was the political champion for a TOP-DOWN AND BOTTOM-UP network approach to collaboration. A defining moment for local governments during his time as Premier was the launch of the transformational Georgia Basin Initiative in 1994.”

Gordon Campbell is the second Premier who is part of our Partnership history and story

“Gordon Campbell and Mike Harcourt were colleagues in local government and Gordon Campbell succeeded Mike Harcourt as mayor of Vancouver. “

“In the 2000s, Gordon Campbell had our back. He gave us the opportunity to show how on-the-ground partnerships could inform provincial policy. And we ran with it. The Water Sustainability Action Plan was the proof of the pudding.”

“The Action Plan was my responsibility to develop and deliver. It was the springboard to Living Water Smart, BC’s Water Plan. The Living Water Smart VISION transcends government and guides the work of the Partnership.”

In 2010, five grass-roots government partnerships morphed into the legal entity that is the Partnership

The fourth partnership was the Water Balance Model Partnership. We built an online tool and this established credibility.

The fifth partnership was the Waterbucket Website Partnership. This allows us to record our history as we create it.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: When we are part of a network, everyone goes further

“For those working in the frontline trenches, how to ensure regional and community livability emerged as the #1 theme in our 1-on-1 conversations with invitees leading up to the Forum. The forum then provided a safe space for frontline staff to connect with a wellspring of resources; each other and the alumni,” explained Rémi Dubé.

Forum Overview

“The Forum seeded three key takeaway messages. First, that local government staff have access to each other and the alumni as key resources,” continued Rémi Dubé.

“Secondly, we can create a knowledge network by learning from each other’s experiences, successes and failures. We can support each other to make everyone’s work easier. That is the goal.”

“Thirdly, when you marry visionary leadership with technical skills and you are part of a network, that is when the spotlight is on MISSION POSSIBLE.”

Coming Next

“The Partnership will release a legacy video documentary about the Forum in a matter of months. This will help shape our next steps as a Partnership and who will emerge as leaders. Our journey continues with a renewed focus to address today’s challenges with a long-term view of sustainability.”

“Although Partnership alumni are passionate and continue to be involved in the Partnership’s mission, it is the active ambassadors and front line employees in various levels of government that will develop new legislation, guidelines, and incentives to meet water sustainability objectives for the good of society at large,” concluded Rémi Dubé.

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: When we are part of a network, everyone goes further.

DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/02/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Remi-Dube_go-further-in-a-network_2026.pdf

About the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC

Technical knowledge alone is not enough to resolve water challenges facing BC. Making things happen in the real world requires an appreciation and understanding of human behaviour, combined with a knowledge of how decisions are made. It takes a career to figure this out.

The Partnership has a primary goal, to build bridges of understanding and pass the baton from the past to the present and future. To achieve the goal, the Partnership is growing a network in the local government setting. This network embraces collaborative leadership and inter-generational collaboration.