Regional Collaboration to Address Environmental Sustainability, Social Responsibility, and Economic Prosperity
By: Emily Phillips
On Tuesday, September 14th, thirty-five residents of the Tantramar region met at Cape Jourimain Nature Centre for the first Tantramar 2040 workshop. EOS Eco-Energy and the Tantramar Planning District Commission are coordinating the initiative and facilitated the event. The goal of the program is to create a sustainability plan in cooperation with communities of the Tantramar region. This plan will address concerns related to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic prosperity.
The targeted area includes Port Elgin, Dorchester, Memramcook, and Sackville. The coordinators also hope to include members of the rural, unincorporated region outside of these communities. Currently, there exist a number of separate municipal plans, zoning rules, green plans, sustainability plans, emergency measure plans, and regional adaptation plans in each of these areas. This project aims to create a collaborative, regional plan.
Representatives from the Fort Folly First Nation Band, artists, architects, land-owners, employees of the New Brunswick Department of Environment (Provincial and Community Planning), ACORN, Daybreak, community supported agriculture, provincial Green candidate Margaret Tusz-King, provincial Liberal candidate Beth Barczyk, the Deputy Mayor of Memramcook, employees of Fundy Solar, a Mount Allison professor, Mount Allison undergraduate and graduate students, and a high school student attended the event.
The first workshop identified issues and opportunities for improvement within the region. The second workshop, taking place in November, will explore current realities and confirm residents’ priorities. The third workshop, in January 2011, will present an action plan based on the ideas raised in the previous workshops.
Participants drove the night’s agenda. People spoke out about the issues they felt needed to be discussed. Together, the room brainstormed a list of concerns critical to the future of the Tantramar region: public transportation, infrastructure, employment, renewable energy, personal responsibility, local food production, peak oil, clean water, the elderly, the disabled, organic farming, urban forestry, wildlife protection, public spaces, green zoning lines, aboriginal rights, arts and culture, accessible farmer’s markets, safe areas for youth, education, protecting the watershed, no uranium mining, health, and active living. From this list, the facilitators organized the concerns into slightly broader categories. Of these, participants chose seven issues of top priority: energy, social support, water, food security, climate change adaptation, local business development, and community based education.
During the remainder of the session attendees broke into seven small groups, one for each topic. The groups were charged with the task of articulating what they wanted to see happen in the future for each issue. Ideas ranged from pragmatic, immediate concerns to creative, long-term aspirations.
The group discussing energy proposed solar subsidies, tie-in tariffs, exploring alternative biomass such as hay, creating more ambitious community (or even provincial) energy policies, and highlighting and spreading awareness of the lesser-known costs of energy.
Regarding social support, participants brought up the need for greater vocational and pre-vocational training; access to affordable public transportation for seniors and adults and children with disabilities; clean and safe housing for seniors, those with disabilities, and those with low incomes; and the possibility of care farming.
Community members discussing water called for greater local involvement in the decision-making process of policies affecting their area. There was interest in the strength of property rights, sub-soil rights, and the protection of watersheds. Participants felt that it was important to emphasize each community’s unique relationship with water. The group also stressed the importance of conserving water, promoting awareness of consumption rates, and educating communities about protecting water supplies.
Food security inspired a plethora of ideas, a few of which included: local food in local supermarkets, greater community education about food, fair wages for farmers, connecting local food with schools, expanding community gardens, and even a community supported fishery.
To mitigate negative effects of climate change, participants voiced the need to bolster infrastructure, particularly through strengthening bridges and preparing for higher levels of rainfall. Other ideas included building more environmentally friendly homes and raising standards of building code and subdivision bylaws.
Local business development and community based education came together in one group. Their suggestions included: expanding access to locally grown food within the community; establishing public transportation linking the region; encouraging tourism based on nature, farming, fishing, arts, music, and outdoor activities; and taking inventory of businesses to ensure needs and niches of interest are met and opportunities for growth are identified.
All in all, the workshop had a strong turnout, the dinner highlighting local food was delicious, community members contributed enthusiastically, and the open structure of the event created a comfortable space to express concerns and suggest solutions.
Who is Emily to this region? Another student visitor passing through.... like so many since... the people who think they know best for everyone else around them... funny thing huh?
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