The inaugural meeting of the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Victoria Park hall in Coquitlam.
The roundtable will co-ordinate and implement activities that will promote the long-term sustainability of the watershed based on a common vision and values. Interested members of the public are invited to come to the meeting and talk about their priorities for the Coquitlam River watershed.
The meeting will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; displays and information, as well as coffee and pastries, will be available from 9 a.m. and lunch will be provided.
Victoria Hall is located at 3435 Victoria Dr., in northeast Coquitlam. There is no fee to attend. You can register by calling Dave Peterson, CRW meeting co-ordinator, at 604-677-2759.
The Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable is a new, collaborative body open to those in all sectors of interest who share the agreed-upon values and vision of the watershed. Governments and government agencies will participate but the roundtable will be an independent entity, not under government direction.
The roundtable will not, however, have authority to make decisions that are the jurisdictional or legislative responsibilities of governments. The types of activities the roundtable might undertake, given the resources, include co-ordinating monitoring efforts, preparing a plan for the watershed, sponsoring educational events, or working towards consensus on issues that affect the watershed. With its broad-based membership, the roundtable will gain credibility through its actions over time and become an important voice in support of a healthy watershed. It is also likely to reduce conflict and make decision-making based on shared values of the watershed more efficient.
The inaugural meeting of the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable is an important milestone in a community planning process that began four years ago.
