The POLIS Water Sustainability Project is turning 20 this year! We couldn’t have made it this far without the support of our colleagues, partners, advisors, funders, water leaders, and many many supporters across B.C. (and beyond!) who give their time and energy and continually champion the necessary and crucial work of water sustainability and watershed security. To celebrate some of the people who have made this milestone possible, POLIS Communications Director Laura Brandes got in touch with several “POLIS alumni” to find out what they’ve been up to since leaving POLIS, and to ask if there are lessons from their POLIS days that they still carry with them…
Montana Lewis worked at POLIS from fall 2021 to fall 2022, first as a work study student and then as our Communications and Research Assistant. She has a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria, with a concentration in Environment and Sustainability. As a settler of Chinese and European descent, Montana is committed to amplifying Indigenous voices while respecting traditional knowledge and rights. While at POLIS, she developed her understanding of water law and watershed governance. She was a joy to work with and enjoys cultivating positive working environments where team members can learn and grow.
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Laura Brandes: What is your current job and how long have you been there?
Montana: I’m a Marine Enforcement Clerk with the Canada Border Services Agency. I’ve been in this role for about a year.
Laura: What was your job title at POLIS, and what did your role involve?
Montana: I started as a work study student while I completed my undergraduate degree. And then I continued work as Communications and Research Assistant.
Laura: What was your biggest contribution to the work at POLIS? And what were the impacts of that work?
Montana: I worked closely with the amazing Communications Director, Laura, on many projects, but what stands out to me is social media and news media. I felt that the projects we promoted and the pieces we shared reached a broad audience. This kind of work strengthens community connections and networks by sparking a greater conversation and bringing like minded individuals together.
Laura: Another big contribution from you was assisting with developing the archive of all the materials, speaker bios, and videos from our decade of Watersheds forums! That was a lot of information to organize, and very much appreciated!
Laura: Are there any skills or lessons from your POLIS days that you still carry with you today?
Montana: Yes, absolutely. One of the greatest skills I took from my time at POLIS is team ethic, which is at the core of the organization’s values. I came to understand what amazing work can get done with a strong team that values communication, inclusive workspaces, and trust! With that, I learned the value of constructive criticism when working on projects. The product at the end is more important than any individual and when we come together the best work is done!
Laura: What adventures have you been on since leaving POLIS? Are there any major milestones—either personally or professionally—that you’d like to share?
Montana: No milestones to date! Taking life a day at a time!
Laura: I like that. Good for you.
Laura: Now that you can look at the work of POLIS from a distance, what are your thoughts? Are we achieving what we should be? Where do you think we’re having the biggest impact?
Montana: I am truly so grateful for my time at POLIS and to have been able to work with such intelligent and inspiring people at a pivotal time in my life. I think it’s possible that the work POLIS does is not easy to see from an outside perspective, or at first glance. However, it is clear looking through the organization’s history how much critical policy has been catalyzed by the efforts of the team. I think you are achieving great things and continuing to have genuine priorities and strong ethics.
Laura: There are some big concepts that are central to our ongoing work at POLIS—like ecological governance and watershed security. What do these concepts mean to you? And, in particular, has your understanding of these ideas changed over time, based on where your career has taken you and what you’ve learned in the last 20 years?
Montana: I think more than anything I’ve come to understand how the terms ecological governance and watershed security impact and resonate with real communities. Prior to working at POLIS, I thought of them more as broad concepts.
