On November 3, 2021, the Town of Gibsons hosted the Elphinstone-Gibsons Watershed Dialogue. The dialogue, which was conducted via Zoom, brought together a comprehensive group of stakeholders who gathered to discuss:

1. The need to collaborate in order to protect the Gibsons Aquifer watershed; and
2. Short-term and long-term strategies to achieve that goal.

View a video recording of the dialogue here. 

Presentations included:

Watershed Dialogue Opening Remarks by Mayor Beamish

Mayor Bill Beamish, Town of Gibsons, Protecting the Elphinstone-Gibsons Aquifer

Dave Newman, Director of Infrastructure Services, Town of Gibsons, How the Town is Working to Protect the Gibsons Aquifer

Michelle Lewis, Natural Asset Technician, Town of Gibsons, Source to Sea Project

Mia Edbrooke, Manager Strategic Initiatives, Sunshine Coast Regional District, Watershed Protection Business Case

Suzanne Senger, Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, West Howe Sound Watershed Protection

Hermann Ziltener, Elphinstone Community Association, Save the Reed Road Forest

Following the presentations, participants were broken into small groups to discuss possible strategies for promoting the protection of, and strong inter-group collaboration within, the Gibsons Aquifer watershed.

Attendees

Attendees included representatives from many local and provincial organizations, including the Squamish Nation, Province of BC (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development; Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure), Sunshine Coast Regional District (Board members and representatives from the Water Advisory Supply Committee), Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society, Sunshine Coast Bear Alliance, Watersheds BC, Water Sustainability BC, Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society (board members), Waterline Resources, Municipal Natural Assets Initiative, Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre, Essa Technologies, Econics Services and Vancouver Coastal Health.

Next Steps

Following the dialogue, Mayor Beamish sent a note to all participants thanking them for their interest, and outlining potential Next Steps. Read the Mayors Note to Watershed Dialogue Participants

The Mayor also invited participants and the public to submit other ideas to mayorandcouncil@gibsons.ca.

Moving forward, we intend to build on the momentum of the 2021 Watershed Dialogue to advance actions and policies that will increase protections around the Gibsons Aquifer watershed.

You can follow that story here.