Future of Howe Sound Forum 2022
On November 5th, 2022, 75 people, including new and returning elected officials, First Nations and a variety from sectors and communities around Howe Sound, gathered at the Gleneagles Clubhouse near Ch’ax̱áy in West Vancouver. The Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society (HSBRIS) hosted the event to share information and invite a dialogue on the Nchu’ú7mut/Unity Plan, a land and marine use plan. Read the background here.
During the Saturday morning, municipal leaders, the region’s MP and Sea to Sky MLA networked with colleagues, Squamish Nation members and other community members to learn about the work of the Howe Sound Community Forums, hear perspectives from around the region and contribute thoughts toward the future of the biosphere region.
The event started with a welcome from Sḵwx̱ wu7mesh Úxwumixw members and opening remarks from Squamish Nation elected Council member Joyce Williams and spokesperson Sxwíxwtn (sway-oh-k-tin), Wilson Williams.
Ruth Simons, Executive Director of HSBRIS, provided an overview of the history and evolution of the Howe Sound Community Forums and the years of discussions and efforts for a holistic, comprehensive land and marine use plan for the region (read the history here). The infographic from the 2013 Future of Howe Sound Forum hung on the wall to reference the shared values and what we need to do to protect those values from nearly ten years earlier.
Infographic from 2013 Future of Howe Sound Forum
At the first roundtable dialogue, people were invited to provide their thoughts on the Unity Plan’s vision for the biosphere region. There was no trouble getting people to share their thoughts. Volunteer table facilitators helped keep the conservations focused and ideas captured on sticky notes.
Ruth Simons explained the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how the Nchu’ú7mut/Unity Plan as it is carried out will have key indicators measured against these 17 goals.
For Life Below Water, SDG 15, the Ocean Watch Howe Sound 2020 report provided indicators of ocean health and actions that are tracked quarterly. Bridget John and Courtney Smaha of the Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative spoke about the value of this report, some of the actions being taken and the importance of updating the report again in 2025.
The second roundtable discussion invited people to consider the 17 UN SDG’s, particularly on the four foundational goals #6, 13, 14 and 15, and share what they think we are doing well towards these goals in the region, what people fear and what we need to do more of.
Presenters Barbara McMillan and Elaine McHarg gave a presentation on A Vital Exploration 2020, Greater Sea to Sky and Howe Sound Community Foundations Report and the social indicators in the region. Community Foundations are aligning their reporting with the SDGs and are providing valuable information for municipal planning and development.
Key themes and ideas from the roundtable sessions are summarized here.
Following lunch, just before catching ferries and carrying on with the weekend, the event was wrapped up with closing remarks and a commitment from HSBRIS to report back on the day's conversations.
Thank you so much for a most interesting and stimulating gathering today in support of a future for Howe Sound. I enjoyed meeting everyone at my table, and at the next table too. The speakers were informative and clearly happily engaged in their work and the work being done is impressive to say the least.
Laura Anderson, WVan Historical Society
The local government Howe Sound Community Forums will resume in April, 2023.
