STORM WARNING

Internationally known experts on climate change and its implications, Bob Sandford and Deborah Harford will be in Cranbrook and Kimberley from October 24^th to October 26^th to discuss emerging water crises and treaties. 

Bob's credentials include:

- EPCOR Chair of the Canadian Partnership Initiative in support of the UN Water For Life Decade

- Advisory Committee for the Rosenberg International forum on Water Policy

- Director of the Western Watersheds Climate Research Collaborative

- Co-chair of the Forum for Leadership on Water

- Advisory Board of the Living Lakes Canada

- Advisory Panel RBC Blue Water Project

- co-researcher and author of Northern Voices, Southern Choices

- author of 25 books on water, history and ecological & cultural heritage

Deborah Harford is executive director with Simon Fraser’s Adaptation to Climate Change team.  Deborah’s work with ACT has gained her national recognition as a resource for those seeking information on climate change adaptation and practical coping strategies.

Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook are proud to be bringing these internationally known speakers to Cranbrook and Kimberley.  Along with their sponsors of Mainstreams, College of the Rockies and Wildsight they have coordinated several events over those three days.

On Wednesday October 24^th both Bob and Deborah will be speaking at a public lecture at McKim Auditorium in Kimberley.  The title of their lecture will be Storm Warning – Assuring Water and Climate Security in a Changing West.  The topic of the Columbia River Treaty will also be included. Entry is by donation and this event begins at 6:30 pm for a book signing and refreshments.  Lecture at 7:30pm.

On Thursday October 25^th, Cranbrook’s Mount Baker High School and the College of the Rockies will be venues for these speakers.  The lecture at the College of the Rockies from 1:00pm – 2:30pm will be open for all and will take place in Room 250 Kootenay Centre Lecture Theatre

Friday October 26^th   From 9:00 – 10:00am these speakers will be at Selkirk School and the rest of the day has, at this time, been reserved for small group information sessions.These lecture topics will be combined at the lecture in Kimberley on Wednesday, Oct. 24th

Storm Warning:Assuring Water & Climate Security in a Changing West Rising mean temperatures are energizing the water cycle. Many of the established algorithms for forecasting how water will act in different circumstances no longer apply. We are entering a period in which water is going to do things we haven't seen it do before - for which no mathematics yet exist to make accurate predictive modelling possible. Examples from elsewhere in Canada suggest changes in the global water cycle have already begun to affect the hydrology of significant parts of the country with clear implications for everyone living downstream. In this highly graphic presentation, one of Canada's most respected water policy analysts will demonstrate what ecological impacts in combination with changes in snowpack, snow cover and glacial extent in the Rocky Mountains may mean to the climate of British Columbia and to the Columbia Basin in the future. 

A World Prematurely Dammed:Improving On The Columbia River Treaty & Other Hydrological Anachronisms While international water treaties have been existence for more than 400 years, exploding populations, growing water scarcity globally and eco-climatic change are testing all preconceptions about how such agreements need to be constructed in order to serve the common good and reduce the potential of conflict in periods of rapid and persistent change. The Columbia River Treaty is not the only major trans boundary agreement presently under critical scrutiny. By learning from others, it may be possible to prevent the Columbia River Treaty from becoming yet another anachronism that dooms everyone living under its terms and conditions to remaining frozen in the space and time in which it was crafted.