Wednesday Session Descriptions

Presenters:
Anna Warwick Sears, PhD, Executive Director, Okanagan Basin Water Board
David Roulston, P.Eng, Manager of Municipal Infrastructure, District of Squamish — Presentation
Mark Dowhaniuk, P.Eng, Manager, Infrastructure, City of Vernon — Presentation
Kristina Anderson, Watershed Planner, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary — Presentation

Details:  Many B.C. communities already have significant development on floodplains. After recent intense floods, a number of these communities created digital maps delineating their flood hazard areas. With the current housing shortage, communities want to densify and build out where they can, but don’t want to increase their vulnerability to catastrophic flooding. This session profiles examples of B.C. small and mid-sized cities, towns, and rural areas that are using planning tools to guide the form and direction of new development – reducing flood risks while growing their neighbourhoods. From the coast to the interior, across a range of population sizes, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and each community can consider a portfolio of options. This session demystifies best practices and next steps for building out flood resilient communities.

Presenters:
Deb Beaton-Smith, Executive Director, BC Music Festival Collective
Julie Fowler, Festival Consultant
Kevin McIsaac, Councillor & Wapiti Music Festival Co-founder, City of Fernie
Eduardo Ottoni, Partner, EventLAB Inc.; Operations Director, Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Desiree Gatten, Operations Manager, Film & Special Events, City of Vancouver
Presentation

Details:  Festivals and events are tourism and economic drivers for communities but permitting and security requirements can often be prohibitive to event producers. How can your municipality improve its event application processes to make the next event a win for everyone involved? Are there ways to support festival and event organizers with event planning, navigating municipal approvals and execution? Some municipalities are leading the way by adopting Music Strategies and offering support for special events. A panel of industry and local government representatives will discuss best practices and solutions for a more consistent and transparent approach. By working together, we can reduce red tape, spur economic activity, and support safe communities.

Presenters:
Sarah Ellis, Executive Director, Squamish Community Housing Society
Lilian Chau, Chief Executive Officer, Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society
Presentation

Details:  Municipalities play an important role in creating the necessary conditions for the successful delivery of non-profit housing solutions in their communities. Join three non-profit housing leaders as they share their experiences of successfully working with municipalities to address critical housing need in their communities while balancing the needs and concerns of other community stakeholders. Session participants will have an opportunity to dive deeper into the topic through facilitated roundtable discussions with panelists to further explore how municipalities can improve the conditions for non-profits to deliver more affordable housing faster.

Presenters:
Amina Yasin, Director, SFU Centre for Dialogue - Renovate the Public Hearing Initiative
Trudi Goels, Program Manager, SFU Centre for Dialogue - Renovate the Public Hearing Initiative
Presentation

Details:  SFU Centre for Dialogue, under the Strengthening Canadian Democracy project, is exploring evidenced- based ways to improve the public hearing process through hands-on projects in public hearings and analysis of innovations happening in local governments and by communities. We are working in partnership with the British Columbia Legal Institute, which is simultaneously reviewing the legal perspective of changing the legislation around public hearings. We are ready to share what we've heard from stakeholders, what we've learned to date, what work is underway and what to expect in the final stretch of this project funded by the CHMC Housing Supply Challenge. The final outcome may include toolkits for local governments, learnings for communities, and recommendations to the Province for legislative changes. (We are interested to hear how you would like to be involved!)

In British Columbia, approximately 15% of the homeless population are youth. Some have aged out of care; many have been forced to leave their homes due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Others have been the victims of human trafficking. Simply put, there are any number of reasons a young person can find themselves homeless. However, there is hope!

For over 25 years Covenant House Vancouver (CHV) has provided unconditional love and absolute respect to youth experiencing homelessness.  Recognizing that every young person’s experience and life is unique, CHV uses a one-size-fits-one approach that is trauma-informed to help ensure that each youth receives the precise housing and supports they require, under one roof.

Delegates are invited to tour this unique facility and learn more about the services and supports offered to youth in need. Delegates will be transported by bus to Covenant House.

Delegates will meet outside the Sechelt Room of the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel at 2:30 PM.  The bus will depart promptly at 2:40 PM.  The tour will take place between 3:00 - 5:00 PM, and then delegates will be transported back to the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel.

Please note there is no fee to attend this tour, however, the capacity limit has been reached.

Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health
Honourable Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens' Services
Honourable Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Childcare 

People in B.C. depend on the Province and their local governments to provide reliable public services that they can count on, from helping young working families find childcare for the first time to ensuring that seniors have access to the health supports they need. The ministers participating in this session will speak about the Province’s work to improve health services, expand connectivity and create more inclusive, affordable universal childcare. This session provides an opportunity to share what you think will help your communities thrive.

Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing
Honourable Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance
Honourable Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

Housing is an issue for communities across the province. Together with the help of local governments, the Government of B.C. is supporting regional growth by building more livable communities, supporting our most vulnerable citizens by creating complex care housing programs, and ensuring we have a housing market that includes a diversity of affordable housing options. During the session, you will have a chance to learn more about what the province is doing to support housing in all B.C. communities from the ministers directly responsible. Bring your questions and suggestions on how we can all work together to better grow our communities.

Honourable Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
Honourable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests
Honourable Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship
Honourable Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture

As leaders in your communities, the work you do every day is critical to supporting resilient communities in an ever-changing world, and the Government of B.C. is here to help. This year’s fire season was the worst in B.C.’s history. It took all of us working together to keep people safe and it's going to take us all working together to rebuild. The ministers participating in this session will speak to resiliency and emergency preparedness – improving wildfire and flood preparedness, improving roads and infrastructure to withstand extreme weather, and learning how to adapt to climate change. The Province wants to know what you need to help them make better decisions and help your communities prepare for emergency situations. This is your opportunity to meet the ministers who can support you.