Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC

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michael blackstock

    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.”

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    KELOWNA’S WATER SECURITY PLAN: “I believe we are on to something with Kelowna’s Water Security Plan. Within it is a template for other communities in the BC Interior to consider,” stated Rod MacLean, Utilities Planning Manager with the City of Kelowna


    “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.

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    THE PARTNERSHIP’S MID-YEAR REPORT FOR 2025: “The Partnership recognizes and energizes the folks who deal with and are concerned about what happens to our water and environments that support the water cycle,” stated Tim Pringle, founding director of the Partnership and adjunct professor at Vancouver Island University


    “The Partnership for Water Sustainability’s Mid-Year Report for 2025 provides an excellent understanding of our ‘philosophical’ rationale, how we function, and the collaborations and resources that make the Partnership effective. This is a baseline or landmark document. Structured in three parts, the Mid-Year Report describes the Partnership’s operational framework followed by a section on the ambassadors’ program. Then it weaves quotable quotes into a narrative about the Partnership’s array of initiatives.,” stated Tim Pringle.

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    SEASON FINALE FOR WATERBUCKET.CA SERIES ON LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (June 2025): In essence, “know your history, learn from history” is a reminder that the past holds valuable lessons that can guide us towards a better present and future


    A look into the future by Jay Bradley in 2007 has proven prescient in foreshadowing what is happening in the post-COVID era. “What happens if lessons we are learning are not passed on and are lost when there is an exodus of experienced people with deep knowledge and understanding? What then? It takes a career to figure this stuff out,” he said. Jay Bradley’s quote nails the nub of one of the challenges of our time. Never has storytelling been more important than it is today. And that is because knowledge is being lost at an alarming rate.

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    A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR RECONCILIATION IN THE COWICHAN: “What is possible for climate resiliency in the Cowichan? How do we drive it? It is really hard to do really hard work unless you trust and have a relationship with the people doing the work,” stated Cindy Lise, co-lead for the Cowichan Climate Gathering


    “So you bring together a team of partners to try and figure out a way forward. Then something else whaps you on the side of the head. And you, as a collective, must figure out how to address that too. That is my experience because I get to live in a number of different worlds. But you do not have a preconceived history or notion of what it is you are going to do…because it is hitting you in a way you have never experienced before. The only way that you are going to solve a complex challenge is if you have trust in others and a willingness to try something new,” stated Cindy Lise.

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    REIMAGINE URBAN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS AN ECOSYSTEM: “How green infrastructure is defined guides the types of projects that local governments implement, with enduring impacts to people and the urban environment,” stated Dr. Zbigniew Grabowski, principal author of ‘What is green infrastructure? A study of definitions in US city planning’


    Cities are murky on how they define ‘green infrastructure’. Analysis of 122 plans from 20 major cities found that many plans fail to explicitly define green infrastructure. When they do, they tend to focus on stormwater management. “Green infrastructure is broadly understood to be a good thing, but many local government plans lack a clear definition of what it is. Hydrological definitions dominate. What they mean can be unclear and inconsistent within and across local governments,” stated Zbigniew Grabowski.

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    STORYTELLING PLATFORM FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACH TO LAND AND WATER USE: “waterbucket.ca is a trusted source of information. 20 years and counting!” – Mike Tanner, founding chair of waterbucket.ca website partnership and former senior manager with BC Hydro Power Smart


    “waterbucket.ca has matured into a legacy resource. In 2004, we were thinking about where we are now. We have adapted over the past 20 years. We have changed when we have had to. We have always gone where there is interest and energy. We have done all this and that is a big part of our continuing success. When people say I saw it on waterbucket.ca, that is our ultimate measure and testament of success. Hopefully that will continue to be our story for another twenty years and beyond. That will be the legacy of the Waterbucket Website Partnership founders,” stated Mike Tanner.

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    MELTING GLACIERS, HEALTHY WATERSHEDS, AND YOU: “Our actions and behaviours today are influenced by the stories, behaviours and actions of our parents and grandparents,” stated Lynn Kriwoken – career water champion, president of the Whistler Lakes Conservation Foundation


    “In a nutshell, we chose a compelling title… Melting Glaciers, Watersheds and You…that ties watershed health to personal responsibility. It is inevitably a bad news/good news story that we want to end with hope. And a call to action. we have an all-star panel in Dr. Brian Menounos, Dr. Peter Ross and Michael Blackstock. Each has a powerful message to share. These people are good scientists, thought leaders and story tellers who care about our planet. Aiming to inspire action, their message is provocative and hopeful for future generations,” stated Lynn Kriwoken.

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    COUNTERBALANCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITH NATURAL INTELLIGENCE! – “I am worried about youth because they are going into these artificial worlds and may never experience the natural world,” stated Michael Blackstock, co-founder of the Blue Ecology Institute, and ambassador of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC


    “Natural Intelligence is an idea that resonates because it is intuitively obvious. I believe it is that simple. Natural Intelligence is another angle on interweaving Western science and Indigenous knowledge because it explores what Indigenous knowledge is based on. Blue Ecology is a Natural Intelligence approach. Natural Intelligence is a form of Indigenous wisdom…which is knowledge of Natural Intelligence and how to live with it and how to be harmonious with it,” stated Michael Blackstock.

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    SEASON FINALE FOR WATERBUCKET.CA SERIES ON LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (December 2024): “Storytelling is among the oldest forms of communication,” stated Professor Rives Collins, author of ‘The Power of Story: Teaching Through Storytelling’


    We share our world view through our stories and storytelling This is how we pass on our oral history. Storytelling is the way we share intergenerational knowledge, experience and wisdom. “Storytelling is the commonality of all human beings, in all places, in all times,” stated Professor Rives Collins, Northwestern University, author of “The Power of Story: Teaching Through Storytelling”.

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