The Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable was founded in 2011 following a four-year community engagement process. During this development period, individuals and organizations representing a broad range of perspectives on the watershed came together to develop a solid foundation for the Roundtable, including developing a mission statement, values and guiding principles for the Roundtable.

The Roundtable coordinated and implemented activities that promote the health and long-term sustainability of the watershed.

Anyone who supported the Roundtable’s mission could participate in Roundtable meetings, which are held once or twice a year. A multi-sector Core Committee, whose members represent the diverse sectors of interest in the watershed, would meet on a regular basis to carry out the work of the Roundtable. Sectors represented on the Core Committee include municipal, provincial, regional and federal governments, First Nations elected officials and staff, industrial, arts and culture, education, community, real estate development and stewardship groups.

Mission

To preserve and enhance the health of the Coquitlam River Watershed through collaboration, education, and advisory action.

Vision

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
• Responsible decision making

In perpetuity.

Values

Our values for the watershed are:

• Ecosystem integrity
• Home / Heritage / Culture
• Native biodiversity
• Natural beauty
• Natural resources
• Protected areas
• Public access
• Recreation
• Responsibility to protect
• Spiritual qualities
• Sustainability

Guiding Principles

Guiding principles are proactive statements about the way the Roundtable will operate to achieve its mission. The guiding principles are:

• Accountable
• Adaptive
• Consensus-based decision-making
• Effective and credible
• Efficient with capacity
• Inclusive and respectful
• Influential and responsible
• Proactive approach
• Relationship-building

Roundtable is also a Society

The Coquitlam River Watershed Society was incorporated on November 2, 2020, under the BC Societies Act. The Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable’s Core Committee agreed that establishing society status would provide the collaborative organization greater stability and access to external grants, and insurance. The first set of Bylaws were adopted in January 2021.

Thereafter, as per the terms of the Bylaws, the Bylaws are to be regularly reviewed, with the next review initiated by fall 2022. Supported by a volunteer task group, a set of recommendations were brought to the Roundtable Core Committee and Society Directors for consideration. The bylaws review included an external governance and legal review, a workshop, resulting in a comprehensive set of bylaws during summer 2024. At the AGM held on October 9, 2024, members of the Core Committee unanimously adopted a new set of Society Bylaws, and a slate of directors for the Society Board was elected.

The Coquitlam River Watershed Society operates publicly as the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable (“The Roundtable”). The Core Committee and the Board of Directors comprise the Society’s membership. Members of the community at large are welcome to attend all meetings. The Society is guided by the Roundtable’s Mission Statement, Common Vision, Values and Guiding Principles.

Click this link to see a copy of the current (October 2024) Society Bylaws Adopted October 2024

History of Roundtable Formation

The Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable was formed in February 2011 following a multi-phased history that began in late 2007 under the umbrella of the Coquitlam River Watershed Strategy:

• Phase I (2007-2008) – Year 1, which reviewed existing information produced a story of the past, present and future of the Coquitlam River Watershed.
• Phase II (2008-2009) – Year 2, which included Feb and March 2009 public meeting and workshops to develop a common vision and values for the watershed and draft a mission and guiding principles.
• Phase III (2009-2010) – Year 3, which included a conference in October 2009 and workshops in February 2011 and March 2011 to review and select a governance framework for the watershed.
• Phase IV (2010-2011) – Year 4, which involved gathering support and launching the Roundtable and a supporting body called the Core Committee.

Since February 2011, the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable has been moving forward as an operational body that coordinates and implements activities to promote the long term health and sustainability of the watershed based on the agreed-to Mission, Vision and Values of the watershed.

In January 2018, the Roundtable released a report, “Sustainable Funding Options – Recommendations for the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable – Funding Proposal,” based on extensive background research and consultation that took over a year in the making. The Roundtable community were consulted and contributed input to the development of the business case report that provided background rationale and recommendations to establish a funding model that would provide secure, stable long-term funding to support the Roundtable. This work led to the success in stable multi-year funding support that has endured to this day. To view the report: Sustainable Funding Options for the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable January 2018

Much of the same structure, including the Mission, Vision, Values and Guiding Principles as amended by the Roundtable, and implementation of the Lower Coquitlam River Watershed Plan, guides the Society organization. For details about the Coquitlam River Watershed Society, view: Society