Bird walks- Taylor Head provincial park-2014

Bird walks- Taylor Head provincial park-2014

The members of our group who are volunteering their time have a variety of interests and knowledge about the park. They all share one common trait and that is a love for Taylor Head Provincial Park. We love to show off the parks many facets. Come and join us where the Atlantic Ocean meets the rocky shore of Nova Scotia.

As in all our activities, there is no charge. www.friendsoftaylorhead.com/

Ad Hoc Community Economic Task Force for Eastern HRM Minutes October 24^th, 2012

• Darrell Dexter, Premier of Nova Scotia

• Sid Prest, MLA, Eastern Shore,

• Denise Butcher-Lariade, Constituency Assistant to Sid Prest

• David Hendsbee, Councilor, HRM District 2,

• Paul Kent, Greater Halifax Partnership

• Robyn Webb, Greater Halifax Partnership,

• Jason Guidrey, Greater Halifax Partnership,

• Allison Kouzovnikov, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Nova Scotia,

• Thea Wilson-Hammond, Member, Eastern Shore Heritage Network,

• Paul Nichol, Seaside Tourism and Business Association,

• Tina Fahie, Seaside Tourism and Business Association,

• Sandy Moser, Sheet Harbour and Area Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs,

• Catherine Farris, Sheet Harbour and Area Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs,

• Gordon Hammond, Member, Lake Charlotte Area Heritage Society, midpoint@ca.inter.net

• Bob Book, Acting Executive Director, Regional Planning and Development, Economic & Rural Development & Tourism,

• Lisa Dobson, Economic & Rural Development & Tourism

• Darlene MacDonald, Manager, Tourism Development, Nova Scotia Tourism Agency,

• Peter Labor, Director, Protected Areas, Environment,

• Peter Hackett, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal,

• Marshall Giles, Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture,

• Gordie Greencorn, Fisheries and Aquaculture

• Brian Kinsman, Natural Resources
Regrets

• Karen Wenaus, Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores

• Sheet Harbour and Area Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs
Business of the meeting

1. The meeting commenced at 9.10 AM with Sid Prest welcoming everyone and identifying the primary purpose of the meeting – to determine if there was a desire amongst the community organizations represented at the meeting to proceed with the formation of an ad hoc community economic task force for eastern HRM. Sid noted the need for all to work collaboratively if progress was to be achieved and to focus on the positives.

2. Premier Dexter thanked Sid for the invitation and mentioned that prior to becoming Premier he was involved with community development in downtown Dartmouth and thus was familiar with community development, how it works and what can be achieved. He suggested that it is important to determine the area’s strengths and weaknesses (based on sound data), recognize that economic decline can have been occurring for decades, and that it is unreasonable to expect to reverse this and fix things in a couple of years. He suggested that a successful outcome will be achieved by developing a long-term strategy with identifiable goals based on a holistic approach with an identifiable plan that has both vision and an implementation strategy that identifies the resources needed.

3. Gordon Hammond reviewed the anecdotal economic overview he had prepared which suggest that Metro is the largest employer in the area followed by the public sector (health and education). Forestry is hard pressed, the fishery less so with harvesters in better shape than processors. Real estate is still depressed and lack of public transportation beyond Porters Lake leaves little option but private transportation. Retail is depressed in some areas with Webbers Store closing after 80 years. Tourism is generally in decline with occupancy rates and room nights sold declining over the last ten years and museum attendance (Sherbrooke Village and Fisherman’s Life) by 50%. Open pen fish farming continues to be an issue. However there are some bright spots which seem to share the common characteristic that they are all small businesses.

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  Recent closure of a variety of businesses suggest the area is economically stressed
  
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  Proposed task force would bring together existing organizations to work collaboratively
  
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  Aquaculture has potential for jobs and the Eastern Shore has lots of ocean. Investment from Scotland is a good opportunity. Mussel farming opposed initially but accepted once people became familiar with it. Benefits outweigh the negatives.
  
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  Sheet Harbour and Area Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs does not support the current applications for open-pen salmon aquaculture sites
  
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  Other local groups such as the Musquodoboit Harbour Community Association and the community planning committee of the Musquodoboit Agricultural Society are interested in similar things
  
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  Boundary of what constitutes “Eastern HRM” to remain undefined geographically and instead focus on including “communities of interest”, that is groups that express a desire to work towards the overall object be included
  
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  Some statistical/assessment work has been done over the years
  
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  Premier Dexter will support the task force
  
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  Premier Dexter suggested that everyone read the Yarmouth Ferry report as it covers not just the Yarmouth area but also the way in which tourism has fragmented and the industry has changed
  
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  Gordon Hammond suggested that there did not seem to be anyone opposed to the idea of forming a task force and posed the question – “Is anyone opposed to proceeding with the idea?” and there being no negative response a refreshment break was taken with Robyn Webb of the Greater Halifax Partnership to facilitate the next steps after the break.
  

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  A strong urban core is needed in order to have a strong rural economy in the surrounding areas, as witnessed by the degree to which the current employment pattern in HRM whereby many people commute to work in Metro.
  
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  Important to have accurate knowledge about demographic past, present and future and use this information to help determine what is feasible so that the focus can be on what is possible rather than impossible.
  
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  Not everyone is attached to the economy in the same way ie. a young person looking for a job might see economic priorities in a different way than a retired person living in the same community.
  
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  Need to recognize that if young people have a negative impression of their community and/or their future then they feel they have no option but to leave to be successful. This will be hard to reverse because for 40 years or more “going down the road” was the best option for many. Plus young people want to explore other options.
  
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  Aging population wants to bring their families back to their communities but if there is not a good social life they may be reluctant to do so. Life style is important and a feeling of isolation does not help
  
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  Basic services are crucial. With just four gas stations between Musquodoboit Harbour and Sherbrooke running out of gas is a real concern.
  
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  The Eastern Shore is not homogenous in its work, shopping and travel patterns. There are strong dividing lines reflecting the location of schools and services. Basically, people living from about Tangier go east, while the remainder will go west, although there is still a lot of traffic from further east going to Metro whereby people consolidate a number of purposes into a single trip to the west.
  
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  For residents of Sheet Harbour they can also consider Truro or New Glasgow, both of which are just as accessible as Dartmouth.
  
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  While each area may have specific things that are uniquely important to them the probability of success for individual areas will be increased if all work together and show, in an organized and coherent manner, how the whole area will progress.
  
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  The port of Sheet Harbour has significant potential under its new management agreement.
  
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  Look at what others have done, don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
  
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  The participation of the Premier in the process is a significant boost and allows for the possibility of going directly to the Premier once there is a coherent plan in place.
  
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  Need to set clear goals and know how we will measure progress.
  
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  The economic impact of the closure of the Bowater mill was essentially instant whereas the decline of the Eastern Shore has happened over the last 30-40 years.
  
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  RDA’s are under review and may not continue
  
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  HRM has plans for the area based on a rural growth centre concept. This should be reviewed especially since the 5 year plan is currently under review.
  
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  Half of the teachers in Sheet Harbour do not live in the community
  
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  There is a proposal for a Coastal Heritage Destination area that has already been endorsed by key organizations. Need to review this in relationship to current tourism strategy which may focus on iconic demand generators.
  

1. Prepare minutes for the meeting and circulate to all attendees (Denise Butcher-Lariade and Gordon Hammond)

2. Alert local businesses that Greater Halifax Partnership is ready to work with them (all attendees)

3. Musquodoboit Harbour Community Association and the Musquodoboit Valley Agricultural Society to be contacted to let them know about the task force and to determine if they are interested in becoming involved (Paul Nichol –MHCA and Gordon Hammond-MAS)

4. Prepare an email list for all attendees and send to Robyn Webb (Gordon Hammond)

5. Each participating community organization to prepare an overview of its current plans and priorities and email them to Robyn Webb at rwebb@greaterhalifax.com

6. Conduct a search (spearheaded by GHP) for any previously produced statistical/planning information relating to the area that could assist with determining the next steps (Lisa Dobson, David Hendsbee)

7. Find a few copies of the Yarmouth Ferry report for distribution or else arrange to make accessible on-line (Bob Book, Lisa Dobson)

Approximately mid-November to review information gathered and discuss the next steps

• Letter of Invitation from Sid Prest

• Agenda for the meeting

• Halifax’s Vital Signs, Community Foundation of Nova Scotia

• Overview of various economic sectors, Gordon Hammond

• Tourism and museum statistics for the Eastern Shore