ABSTRACT
The Greater Vancouver area of Canada has a long history of regional planning and governance going back to the 1940s. This chapter explores why and how regional strategic planning emerged and evolved, the governance structures which enabled regional planning, the nature of the plans prepared, and how these plans have continued and changed leading to the current Metro Vancouver 2040 plan, adopted in 2011. Regional planning becomes strategic when it encompasses multiple policy areas, involves key stakeholders, raises possible new futures and provides an effective policy framework for local planning. But broadening policy areas and stakeholder involvement and pushing the bounds of possible new futures raises more unknowns and uncertainties about the future and these uncertainties need to be managed to get agreement about plans (Abbott 2005). These themes are explored and conclusions are drawn about the nature and benefits of regional strategic planning in Greater Vancouver and the lessons for other metropolitan regions.
