Comments Are Now Enabled

Sorry, the "Comments" feature of the blog wasn't set properly so you couldn't leave a comment.  It is working now.  Please, let's have a dialogue.  What is on your mind?

The 12 Areas Identified By the Search Conference

I will list the 12 interest areas identified during the conference.  Note that these are not in any particular order of priority, it is simply a list.  I have also included a clarifying statement that sums up the ultimate goal in each of these areas.

If any of these areas strikes a chord with you or you know someone with expertise or a passion for one of these topics, leave a comment.  We can make these things happen and it may take some time but anything is doable if enough people want it to come about.

1. Housing - There is a diverse mix of housing for a vibrant community of all ages and socio-economic groups, including green and affordable new and renovated buildings.
2. Culture - Recognizing that we have a vibrant and sustainable arts community with a broad local talent base, we provide opportunity, venues and encouragement for visual and performing arts initiatives.
3. Green - Mahone Bay is becoming a model green community attracting green businesses due to our initiatives in and commitment to such things as energy efficiency, locally produced renewable power and comprehensive waste management.
4. Community Participation - We encourage and promote community participation in important decisions that affect the future of the community and our sustainability goals.
5. Economics - The Town of Mahone Bay is open for business.  Our Town is thriving with profitable year-round enterprises providing many good jobs and tax revenue.
6. Education - Mahone Bay is an educational destination for meaningful post-secondary and life long learning.
7. Population - Mahone Bay has a year round, diverse population exceeding 1200 people.
8. Seniors - Mahone Bay is an "Age Friendly Community" with appropriate housing for seniors, easy access to transportation to essential services and amenities and a system of community supports.
9. Services - Mahone Bay is a community that provides all essential services.
10. Heritage - Mahone Bay has achieved a balance between preserving its culture and built heritage and integrating growth and change.
11. Waterfront - In the spirit of public access and environmental stewardship, the Town of Mahone Bay has implemented a plan to preserve and develop the harbour and waterfront - a valued physical asset.
12. Health - Mahone Bay is noted for its healthy living initiatives, facilities, active common interest clubs and groups and comprehensive health services.

Group Brain-storming, Group Four

Preserve and Maintain Built Heritage, Community Grounds and Green Spaces and Shoreline

Affordable and Accessible Housing for All Ages

Create an Accessible Community Through:

• Physical
• Sidewalks
• One way street (Pleasant and Fairmont)
• Building
• Parking
• Transportation
• Information
• Website/knowledge board
• Newsletter
• Data bank
• ALL

Attract New Business:

• Business park
• Educational institutions
• M.B.C

Attract More Medical Services

Group Brain-storming, Group Three

Environmental Resources and Services:

• Support urban agriculture
• Urban forest
• Protect green spaces
• Public gardens at entries to Town
• Improved sewage and water systems 

Education:

• Support life-long learning with emphasis on green living
• Eco college
• New ways of thinking

Healthy and Active Lifestyles:

• Supportive infrastructure and planning for walkways
• Cycle paths
• Support for Clinic

Cultural Heritage:

• Preservation of built heritage and history
• Encourage artistic endeavours

Healthy Vibrant Economy

• Support existing green and sustainable businesses
• Promote Mahone Bay as a market centre
• Promote fun

Group Brain-storming, Group Two

Preserve and expand essential services to allow people to stay here and ensure year-round economy:

• Medical health services
• Fire hall needs expansion
• Bank, Post Office, grocery store, gas station, pharmacy
• New Bill's Store or Stedmans (the variety store idea)

Participative Democracy:

• More access to information and citizen involvement in decisions
• Make sure decision making processes include component to address sustainability

Becoming a unique model demonstration project of green living initiatives that will attract green businesses, new residents, young families, visitors, etc. using:

• Alternate energy
• Use of sludge for greenhouses
• Urban agriculture
• Criteria for green buildings
• Eliminate pesticides and toxic substances
• Economic development especially housing
• Rebuild relationship between Council and Chamber
• Jobs

Preserve, protect, purchase waterfront properties at government wharf for use by citizens for:

• Recreation
• Mixed use
• Development
• Boat building heritage
• Related to:  MICA/islands conservation

Seniors:

• Housing options
• Assessment of housing needs
• Supports to aged in place

Preserve historic streetscapes and architectural heritage:

• Establish criteria scale
• Bring Irving and SaveEasy on board

Group Brain-storming, Group One

In an effort to give you a "fly on the wall" view of the work during the Search Conference, we will post the ideas brought forward by the 4 different groups.  (The 40 participants were divided into 4 groups)

Renewable Green Energy:

• Model green homes
• Renovation with minimal visual impact
• New
• Hold a green housing expo (by 2010)

• Tours of new model homes
• R2000
• Underground power lines
• Eco-friendly materials

• Micro-power generation for Mahone Bay
• Green business initiatives

Architectural control/preserve town view-scape:

• Designated architectural control area
• Manual for preservation of the Town view-scape
• See Lunenburg example
• Planning Advisory Committee would take lead
• Need for information availability
• Education
• Enforcement

Waterfront Development:

• Wharf repair
• Walkway/footbridge
• Marina
• Development of empty lot/vacant waterfront properties
• Dredge harbour
• RPS waterfront (move parking)
• Creation of Waterfront Development Corp. whose mandate would be to address the above and other issues as they arise.

Performance Space:

• Define usable space ie: a catalogue
• Create an Arts Council
• Coordinate local and visiting artists
• Promote events

Retirement Friendly Community:

• Population trends noted (of significance over 43% over 65 by 2031)
• Retirees
• An economic asset
• Life long learning (Satellite university courses available)
• Appropriate housing, transportation, community support
• Keeping people active
• Cultural activities
• Town/Municipality develop a "retirement friendly community strategy"

Context for Sustainability

During the conference, all of the ideas and suggestions were to be viewed through what are called the pillars of sustainability.  This would give a coherence to the various outcomes and strategies.

These are the four pillars:  Economy, Social, Culture and Environment.

Some of the other criteria identified by the groups, for a more holistic approach to a sustainable Mahone Bay, included:

• Affordable/attainable goals
• Community led initiatives
• Acceptable to the majority of the community
• Environmental impact
• Heritage
• Demographics
• Identifiable benefits to citizens as well as tourists and merchants
• Build on existing assets so there is a balance between preservation and progress
• If we don't do something will an asset be lost?
• Best return on investment

Why did this group come about?

This group, Stewards of Sustainability, is a direct result of the Search Conference which was held over two weekends in October of 2009.  40 community residents participate in a "brain-storming session" to gather input on the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) for the town.

The Search Conference group identified 12 areas that will need work, time and energy from this community, so that we can make Mahone Bay the most spectacular place to live, work and play.

We will post the areas, identified during the conference, with some of the comments and then ask that anyone that has some expertise or interest in that area to get envolved.

The reality is that it will take some keen people to get involved in order that we can make Mahone Bay the envy of Canada.  We don't think this pie in the sky at all.  It just takes the right people who have a passion to get the momentum started.

What is the Stewards of Sustainability?

We are a citizens based group formed to encourage people to move forward the goals and intentions of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for Mahone Bay.  We plan to report to Mahone Bay Council regularly.

The members are, Sue Bookchin, Ruth Brown, Laurel Darnell, Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Dell Macumber, Sandy Marshall and Tim Worthington. 

During the Search Conference there were some great ideas and discussions surrounding the potential that Mahone Bay could reach.  The participants realized there are some very skilled and knowledgeable  citizens in our community and we as a group would like to try to help those people get together to make some of those ideas a reality.

We welcome comments by the community and view this blog as a vehicle for ideas and information exchange.  The beauty of this process is that it doesn't require meetings as we are all busy and is available 24 hours a day.  So please give us your 2 cents.  Mahone Bay is your community so let's make it even more spectacular.