Thriving communities

 

Barriers to adaptation exist today mostly because broader conversations about future solutions, tradeoffs, and benefits have not effectively occurred in the public sphere.  By engaging citizens through storytelling barriers will be deconstructed generating new approaches to traditional coastal defence design, community planning, and architecture.

 

Storytelling will increase citizens’ understanding about sea level rise stimulating ideas and feedback on values, policy, technical solutions, and economic opportunities.  By actively engaging a variety of citizens, experts, and community leaders support will be generated for the investment in local, efficient and cost-effective adaptation solutions. This support will translate into action helping communities thrive now and into the future.

 

“The stories we tell literally change the world. Stories shape our perceptions and experiences of reality and inform our ideas of change. Stories act at a springboard to redefine the boundaries of what we believe is possible. Stories create the future.”

 

~ Pattie LaCroix, Catapult Media ~

 

 

In summary, storytelling will assist communities to adapt and thrive by:

 

• Moving the conversation about sea level rise impacts and adaptation solutions from the bureaucratic sphere to the public sphere. By engaging the public solutions will reflect local needs, values and priority. 

• Taking a systems approach to the issues of sea level rise in terms of space, time, service, and economics. Adaptation planning should address the region from Hope to the Fraser Delta, coastal infrastructure, building design & community planning, coastal business operations, emergency planning, ecosystem services, and economic investment to be effective.

• Bringing together community partners that include all levels of government, crown corporations, major employers, NGOs, the business community, citizens, first nations, youth, the faith community, and academia.