1. COMMUNITY BUZZ
Highlights from community economic development activities in Annapolis and Digby Counties
November, 2000 Volume 1, Issue 1
Business Recruitment Campaign
The WVDA has been working with Nova Scotia Investment and Trade and our local partners
to recruit new businesses and new jobs to the Western Valley. A wide variety of companies,
from manufacturers to call centres -- have started taking a serious look at what this region
has to offer.
It’s our fabulous quality of life, progressive business climate, and available work force
that has got their attention. However, we need some good hard evidence that our workforce
is indeed ready to roll.
To gather this information, we’ve undertaken a massive “labour force data”
campaign: radio, television and print ads and features, posters, and dozens of agencies
and schools, have all come together to help gather this information. Our webmaster Chris
Wood has set up a special form on our web site (http://www.wvda.com/jobbank/) in
both English and French. Over five hundred people have registered to date, but more are
encouraged to sign up.
New grain
“Trade fair
centre for
networking great West Nova
for business” say A new community-owned, community-
operated Grain and Commodity Centre
women
opened in Lawrencetown on August 8, thanks
to the commitment, dedication and hard work
of a group of Annapolis County farmers.
entrepreneurs Agriculture Development Officer
Jonathan McClelland spent much of the
An opportunity to network, promote their businesses, and learn from the experiences of past year working with West Nova Agro
others brought 70 women from throughout the Western Valley to the recent Women in Commodities to develop a sound the
Business Trade Fair at Cornwallis Park. business plan and to set up a community
The WVDA’s Community Development Officer, Leslee Fredericks, worked with investment fund, which allows individuals
the Women in Community Economic Development Network to organize the successful to buy shares in the centre.
event. “It was a fabulous networking opportunity -- I got at least three new business This new commodity centre not only
clients” enthused one participant. Guest speakers offered seminars on things like marketing serves the needs of local grain producers,
and “using the internet to promote your business.” Business networking events such as it also supports the export of top quality
this are key to the WVDA’s Business Development strategy, a community goal developed Timothy hay from the region.
during Vision 2000.
Vision 2000 gets national recognition
The Economic Developers Association of for Annapolis and Digby counties”. based on the ideas , expertise, concerns and
Canada (EDAC) and the Globe and Mail’s Designed by Elizabeth Stanick, the dreams that were shared by more than 500
Report on Business awarded first place for document is the result of a community people who took part in the process.
research documents to “Building Tomorrow consultation process conducted throughout Contact the WVDA to obtain a copy, or find
-- Vision 2000: a community action plan the region last year. Building Tomorrow is it on-line at www.wvda.com/2000survey.
Welcome to the first edition of the Western Valley Development Authority’s community
newsletter. We are involved in a multitude of projects and would like to keep you up to date
This newsletter is also available
on community economic development activities in our region. If you would like to reduce as part of our website at:
costs and receive this newsletter by email, let us know. And please call if you ever have any
questions, our contact information is on the reverse. www.wvda.com
2. Ethical Whale Watching
In 1999, Bay of Fundy Whale Watch operators came together
to create a unique “code of ethics”. The tour boat operators
in our area have chosen to self-regulate their industry for the
protection of marine wildlife. To encourage whale watchers
to adopt responsible practices while enjoying the wonder of
our marine environment, we created a large full colour poster
which tells tourists how they can help. Designed by Sonda
Last call for new Mutch, the colourful poster is available from individual
operators, the Bay of Fundy Marine Resource Centre, East
Coast EcoSystems, or WVDA offices.
CAP sites
We’re proud of the 28 Community Access
Program (CAP) Sites which are up and
Community
running in Annapolis/Digby Counties, and
we hope to see more before Industry
helping Salmon
Canada’s program officially ends this year.
These sites offer people in communities of Crossroads Community Play was a marathon The Salmon River Salmon Association was
all sizes access to much more than just outdoor performance that took place organized in 1997, and has since released
computers and the internet; they are often throughout the Town of Annapolis Royal last more than 15,000 salmon smolts and 4,000
at the centre of community activities. July. The production involved people from sea trout into river systems in Clare.
Groups from Middleton, Havelock, Lequille, Bear River, Victoria Beach and The SRSA, with help from the
and Jordontown/Acaciaville/Conway Inglewood. From costume-making to set WVDA, has gone on to develop programs
submitted proposals for the October 30/ construction to performance, this giant in eight elementary schools and the Clare
00 deadline and Barton is working towards community effort was the result of countless Regional High School, involving youth in
the last and final deadline of December 30/ volunteer hours. When the Annapolis Region everything from salmon hatching, to stream
00. Any other communities who are Community Arts Council first approached the restoration and re-population of salmon and
interested in setting up a CAP site are WVDA with the idea back in 1998, we sea trout stocks, to the creation of multi-
encouraged to contact our CAP realized that communities telling their stories media educational materials, to developing
Coordinator, Victor Mutch, as soon as in a mass theatrical production was a perfect new aquaculture technology. The SRSA has
possible. For more information on CAP, visit blend of community development, cultural been featured on CBC’s Going Places, and
http://www.wvda.com/cap/. expression, historical education, and of received this year’s Visionary Award from the
course, plain good fun. If you missed it, contact Gulf of Maine Council and the Province of
ARCAC (532-7069) for a copy of the video. Nova Scotia.
3rd Annual
We are all anxious to see the start of the
Harvest Fest
multi-million dollar Smart Community
Project. We have been working since May draws a crowd
11 toward the signing of a contribution Judging by the enthusiasm of the 800
agreement with Industry Canada, and hope
visitor crowd, the third annual
that we will be able to begin the program
following the federal election. Middleton Harvest Food Festival,
held in September at the Nova Scotia businesses “through a fun, tasty, and
Community College, was a huge success. uniquely Maritime food celebration.”
The festival was organized by the Products ranged from smoked garlic
Thanks for the support! Middleton Harvest Food Festival Society to different varieties of jerky. Cranberry and
We gratefully acknowledge the support of with support from the WVDA. The event blueberry products were represented, as
our many partners, including NS Dept. of promotes Annapolis Valley food was seafood, apples, and vegetables.
Economic Development; Atlantic Canada
Opportunties Agency; Human Resources
Development Canada; the Municipalities of
Clare, Digby County, Town of Digby, How to reach us
Annapolis County, Annapolis Royal,
Digby Office: Venture Centre, Tel 245·2412 Fax ·245·4551
Bridgetown, and Middleton; NS Technology
Science Secretariat; our volunteer Board Bridgetown Office: Bridgetown Development Centre, 26 Bay Road
of Directors; and the countless people who Tel 665·4083 Fax 665·2878
do so much to make our communities work. Email: wvda@wvda.com Web Site: www.wvda.com