Recent Workshop:
Protecting Environmental and Human Health Through Partnerships and Communities (February 23)
MARCH 17, 2010 UPDATE: PRESENTATION NOTES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!
Today in BC there are innovative, multi-agency partnerships focused on improving air and water quality for the benefit of humans and environmental health. Some of these initiatives were recently profiled at a February 23 workshop in Nanaimo, co-hosted by a number of bodies, including the Fraser Basin Council.
The workshop was an opportunity for participants to discover:
- How to manage open burning through legislation, alternative disposal options and partnerships
- How water quality objectives established for Vancouver Island promote safer, more secure water supplies for your community
- The myriad approaches communities are using to tackle the health impacts of smoke from woodstoves, including incentives, education, and bylaws
- Groundwater vulnerability mapping and important initiatives to improve the health of watersheds for the benefits of people and aquatic life
- Community and policy leaders who can have tremendous impact on the health and quality of life for the members of your community.
Thanks to all presenters and participants. Here is a look at the day's agenda and downloadable presentation notes (in PDF format):
Agenda and Presentations:
Protecting Environmental and Human Health Through Partnerships and Communities
| Welcoming Address | Brenda Janke, Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport John Deniseger, Ministry of Environment |
| Presentation Notes: Environmental Quality and Human Health |
Dr. Lorna Medd, Medical Health Officer Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) |
| Session 1: Managing Open Burning – Chaired by Rebecca Freedman, MHLS Roles, responsibilities and innovative solutions for managing open burning through legislation, bylaws, alternative disposal options, and partnerships. |
|
| Provincial and Local Government | Earle Plain Ministry of Environment |
| Port Alberni Air Quality – Challenges and Actions | Bernadette Wyton Port Alberni Air Quality Counci |
| Open Burning Alternatives and Bylaw Development – The Cowichan Valley Experience | Harmony Huffman Cowichan Valley Regional District |
| Session 2: Water Quality and Urbanization - Chaired by Lynne Magee, VIHA Improving local water quality through effective planning, rainwater management, and bylaws. Roles, responsibilities and innovative solutions for managing open burning through legislation, bylaws, alternative disposal options, and partnerships. |
|
| Nanaimo’s Action for Water Plan | Mike Donnelly and Christina Metherall Regional District of Nanaimo |
| Water Management and Land Use in the Sooke Basin | Laura Burns Regional District of Sooke |
Session 3: Partnering to Reduce Wood Smoke – Chaired by John Deniseger, Ministry of EnvironmentTackling the health impacts of smoke from woodstoves with monitoring, education, incentives and bylaws. |
|
Dr. Eleanor Setton |
|
Rebecca Freedman |
|
Terri Martin |
|
Rob Lawrence |
|
Session 4: Planning, Outreach and Emerging Issues – Chaired by Rob Lawrence, City of Nanaimo |
|
Pat Lapcevic |
|
Deb Epps |
|
Craig Wightman/Al Lill |
|
For more information, please contact cargue@fraserbasin.bc.ca.
Partners
Thanks to the BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport for funding this workshop. The event was a partnership project of:
BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport
BC Ministry of Environment
City of Nanaimo
Fraser Basin Council
Vancouver Island Health Authority.