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Watershed Wake-up! Roundtable Meeting, held November 5!
On behalf of the Core Committee, we would like to thank the many participants who attended the fall Roundtable meeting! Over 50 people attended the one day event held at Victoria Drive Hall in Coquitlam.
At the meeting, participants learned about the first project of the Roundtable - the creation of a new interactive watershed Web site and virtual tour. In small group discussions, participants identified more projects for the Roundtable to pursue in the areas of: Planning; Public Awareness; Education and Art; a CRW Resource Centre; Stewardship; and Monitoring. Rob Butler, President of the Pacific Wildlife Foundation, made an inspiring presentation. Participants were encouraged to volunteer to assist with Roundtable projects.
For more details on this meeting, check out these links:
Agenda and Summary Notes for the November 5 Roundtable Meeting
Presentation slides for the meeting
Presentation slides for the new Web site and virtual tour
Dr. Rob Butler, President of the Pacific Wildlife Foundation Presentation on Youtube
The Roundtable (November 2011) Backgrounder
Summary Notes from the inaugural Roundtable February 19, 2011 meeting
"The partnership between the City of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and the Kwikwetlem First Nation has done a remarkable job. We have funded a number of watershed roundtables, and this one has progressed very far and very fast. We are proud to have supported this program." - Terry Tebb, VP Operations, Pacific Salmon Foundation
What is the Roundtable?
The Roundtable is a multi-interest body with members representing various sectors with interests in the watershed. Governments and government agencies are represented on the Roundtable, which is an independent entity, not under government direction. The Roundtable does not have authority to make decisions related to the jurisdictional authority or legislative responsibilities of governments or government agencies.
The types of activities the Roundtable might undertake could include coordinating a watershed-wide monitoring program, preparing a plan for the watershed, or working towards consensus on issues that affect the watershed. Because of its broad-based membership, the Roundtable will gain credibility through its actions and become an important voice in support of a healthy watershed. At the same time, it should help reduce conflict and make decision-making based on shared values of the watershed more efficient.
Participation in the Roundtable is open to anyone with an interest in the Coquitlam River watershed. The only condition is that participants in the Roundtable must agree to and respect the Common Vision, Values, Mission and Guiding Principles for the Roundtable.
Other Roundtable Meetings
Summary Notes from the Inaugural Roundtable February 19, 2011 meeting
Make Sure You Are On Our List!
If you are not already on the Roundtable contact list, email your email address and contact information to info@coquitlamriverwatershed.ca or phone Dave Peterson, Coquitlam River Watershed (CRW) Roundtable meeting coordinator at 604-677-2759. We will keep you informed about Roundtable meetings and activities.
"Before the Roundtable, there was a lack of bringing the full river into one picture: much concentration on certain areas and not the rest. It was my feeling that we should have one common body that overseas everything and brings it into one." - George Turi, retired President and COO, now consultant for Jack Cewe Ltd.
In-Kind Support and Funding for the Roundtable
In addition to the significant contribution of in-kind support from the individuals and organizations participating on the Core Committee or on the Roundtable, the operation of the Roundtable requires funding. At present, the Roundtable is relying on funding from three sources: The Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program run by the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Coquitlam River Watershed Society. This funding will run out in the spring of 2012, so additional funds must be raised to insure the continued operation and success of the Roundtable.
If you are aware of other sources of funding for the Roundtable, or would like to volunteer to write a grant proposal on behalf of the Roundtable, please email your suggestions to: info@coquitlamriverwatershed.ca or contact Dave Peterson, CRW Roundtable meeting coordinator at 604-677-2759.
"The group focus can shift, and it can be made of different players at different times on different issues. My hopes are to get people who can have a significant impact on the health of the watershed to act coherently into the future." - Norm Fletcher, Port Coquitlam District Hunting and Fishing Club
Common Vision, Values and Guiding Principles for the Roundtable
The Roundtable came into being as a result of four years of effort on the part of a multi-interest Project Team composed of key stakeholders in the watershed and members of the public who attended numerous community meetings. Through the meetings, community members developed some terms of reference for an entity which would focus on the health and long term sustainability of the watershed and decided on the Roundtable as the most appropriate structure for this entity. Following are the vision, values and draft guiding principles developed through the community meetings:
Common Vision and Values
Our common vision is:
A healthy watershed supported and enjoyed by the community in a manner that respects our common values through:
- Partnerships and collaboration;
- Education, stewardship, and monitoring;
- Conservation and green economics; and,
- Responsible decision-making
In perpetuity.
Our Values for the Watershed
- Ecosystem integrity;
- Home/Heritage/Culture;
- Native bio-diversity;
- Natural beauty;
- Natural resources;
- Protected areas;
- Public access;
- Recreation;
- Responsibility to protect;
- Spiritual qualities; and,
- Sustainability.
"For the people I have met and the activities they have going on in the watershed, there is a lot of compatibility with the work BC Hydro does. They are not competing interests; there are opportunities to work together." - Judy Dobrowolski, Senior Advisor, Capital Projects, Communications, BC Hydro
Operational Guiding Principles and Terms of Reference for the Roundtable
The Roundtable developed Guiding Principles through community consultation meetings and were finalized by the Core Committee on July 6, 2011 in conjunction with a Terms of Reference to help guide the Core Committee and the activities of the Roundtable.
The Core Committee agreed follow up on these plans through until early 2012, at which time Core Committee will evaluate and bring bring forward an updates as appropriate to the larger Roundtable for their consideration and adoption.
The Core Committee
Following the Roundtable meeting, the Core Committee met on March 17, 2011. Members reviewed available funding for the Roundtable and decided that applying the funds to an initial activity with a designated project coordinator would be a more cost effective use of the funds than beginning by hiring a full or part time Roundtable coordinator. After reviewing the activities proposed by the Roundtable, the Core Committee selected the development of a Virtual Watershed Environmental Centre as the first activity of the Roundtable. A Task Group was formed to scope out this initiative and report back to the Committee. A second Task Group was charged with developing procedures and operational guidelines which will help the Roundtable and Core Committee to function smoothly.
Core Committee Activities and Meetings
As the first project of the Roundtable, the Core Committee is pursuing the idea of creating a Virtual Watershed Enviornmental Centre (an interactive and informative Web site about the watershed). Other activities include fundraising for future Roundtable activities and identifying an individual to fill the Education seat on the Core Committee.
Core Committee Meeting Summary Notes and Agendas:
Summary Notes, March 17, 2011
Summary Notes, May 26, 2011
Summary Notes, July 6, 2011
Summary Notes, September 12, 2011
Summary Notes, October 12, 2011
Summary Notes, November 5, 2011
Summary Notes for the January 11, 2012
Next Core Committee Meeting: Wednesday March 14, 2012, 9 am to noon, Kwikwetlem First Nation Band office, Coquitlam.
The agendas for the Core Committee meetings are posted within one week of the meeting date. If you are planning to attend as an observer, please phone Dave Peterson, Coquitlam River Watershed (CRW) Roundtable Meeting Coordinator at 604-677-2759.
In-Kind Support and Funding for the Roundtable
In addition to the significant contribution of in-kind support from the individuals and organizations participating on the Core Committee or on the Roundtable, the operation of the Roundtable requires funding. At present, the Roundtable is relying on funding from three sources: The Fraser Salmon and Watersheds Program run by the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Coquitlam River Watershed Society. This funding will run out in the spring of 2012, so additional funds must be raised to insure the continued operation and success of the Roundtable.
If you are aware of other sources of funding for the Roundtable, or would like to volunteer to write a grant proposal on behalf of the Roundtable, please email your suggestions to: info@coquitlamriverwatershed.ca or contact Dave Peterson, CRW Roundtable meeting coordinator at 604-677-2759.
"The group focus can shift, and it can be made of different players at different times on different issues. My hopes are to get people who can have a significant impact on the health of the watershed to act coherently into the future." - Norm Fletcher, Port Coquitlam District Hunting and Fishing Club |
