Our HistoryThe Fraser Basin Council works in communities across British Columbia. Both our name and history, however, are grounded in the Fraser River Basin, the land drained by the Fraser River and its tributaries − and home to two-thirds of BC residents. For it is in the Basin where the story begins.
The Fraser ― A River in Need of HelpThe Fraser River is at the heart of British Columbia. This is the longest river within BC — stretching nearly 1,400 km from the Rockies to the Salish Sea — and one of the world's great wild salmon rivers. The Fraser Basin is BC's largest, and Canada’s fifth largest, drainage system — 240,000 square km (roughly a quarter of the province). For a sense of the scale, consider that all of Great Britain, or most of California, could fit within it. First Nations were the first to recognize its special nature and enjoy its bounty. Indigenous people have lived beside the river since the vast glaciers started receding 10,000 years ago and the Fraser River, as we know it, was born. Following British and European settlement, the Fraser River and the Basin were impacted by over a century of intensive population growth and development. By the 1980s, alarm bells were ringing over the fast pace of industrial activity, urbanization and pollution from various sources. The health of the river was in jeopardy. Although the situation seemed bleak, environmental management agencies believed the river could recover if steps were taken. One “watershed moment” came when Gordon Campbell, then Mayor of Vancouver, and John Backhouse, then Mayor of Prince George, challenged each other to "clean up their parts of the river." The joint challenge reminded everyone of the efforts needed all along the Fraser River and across jurisdictional boundaries. Fraser River Action PlanIn 1990 the Government of Canada identified the Fraser River Basin as a major freshwater system requiring priority action. From Canada's Green Plan came the Fraser River Action Plan (FRAP). Jointly sponsored by the federal Departments of the Environment and Fisheries and Oceans, FRAP was modelled on the Fraser River Estuary Management Program, which was helping create inter-agency cooperation on estuary management. FRAP made a good start on restoring the environmental health of the Fraser River and the Basin. The program encouraged collective stewardship and cooperative partnerships, and helped people understand how their actions could improve (or harm) watershed health. FRAP protected wild bird habitat, curtailed the release of toxic wood preservatives, and helped introduce some best management practices and pollution prevention plans for business and industry. FBC’s Predecessor — Fraser Basin Management BoardThe Fraser Basin Management Board was created in 1992 to address some of the river management issues identified in the Fraser River Action Plan. The FBMB was composed of representatives from the four orders of Canadian government (federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations), along with those from the private sector and civil society. Over the course of its five-year mandate (1992-1997), the FBMB demonstrated the value of leaders working together in collaboration on complex issues by:
The FBMB launched eight demonstration projects in watersheds, engaging multiple interests in each region:
Creation of the Fraser Basin CouncilAs the FBMB wrapped up its five-year program, support emerged for a successor organization. Under the leadership of Chair Iona Campagnolo, the Fraser Basin Council was formed in 1997 as a non-profit organization and attained charitable status in 1998. A Charter for SustainabilityA key legacy of the Fraser Basin Management Board was a strategic plan for the social, economic and environmental health of the Basin. This Charter for Sustainability was signed in 1997 by 17 leaders and citizens, and it served as a foundation guidance document for the new Fraser Basin Council. A Definition of SustainabilityThe Charter defines sustainability this way: “Living and managing activities in a way that balances social, economic, environmental and institutional considerations to meet our needs and those of future generations.” A Vision for the Basin, and BeyondThe Charter also crystallizes a vision of the Fraser Basin as a place where “social well-being is supported by a vibrant economy and sustained by a healthy environment.” Today FBC continues to support this vision for all of British Columbia. The Charter speaks to the importance of people in all walks of life understanding sustainability, caring for ecosystems, strengthening their communities and improving decision-making at all levels. There is also recognition, under Principle 11, that Aboriginal rights and titles now being defined should be reconciled in a fair and just manner. The Charter expresses a commitment to shared values. Among these is to understand and respect the opinions of others, accept others as peers, value balance over extreme positions, take action based on consensus, and create trust among people.
Take a look at the flipbook above or download the Charter for Sustainability (PDF) | Charter Extract: Vision and Principles |