Celebrating Communities Winners Announced

NOTE: A social media version of the release is available at http://gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2009-09-25-awards.asp .

Enthusiasm and community empowerment were celebrated today, Sept. 24, as the winners of the 2009 Celebrating Communities accepted their awards.

The evening celebration, at the Best Western Trade and Convention Centre in Truro, highlighted the ability of Nova Scotians to grow together.

Six winners from Cape Breton to Clare are celebrating their innovative collaboration and success after the three-day conference where delegates representing more than 200 community organizations, advocacy groups, post-secondary institutions, governments, and the private sector, gathered to discuss the best in community development.

"Congratulations to all the award nominees and to the winners who certainly demonstrate the flavour of community excellence," said Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris. "I am very proud of your achievements and trust that they will inspire similar innovation and collaboration in communities across the province."

"This conference is a showcase for all the excellent community economic development work being done in this province," said National Defence Minister Peter MacKay. "I congratulate all the award winners and finalists for their vision and dedication. The individuals who are being recognized this evening are contributing to the long-term economic prosperity of Nova Scotia and Canada, just as our government is doing with the Economic Action Plan."

The Celebrating Communities award winners are:

• Client Service Excellence, New Ross Family Resource Centre. The centre cares for the people in the New Ross area by providing a free nurse practitioner and many other programs. Working with limited funds, it brings services to a rural community that many people in cities take for granted.
• Excellence in Collaboration, Community of St. Andrews. From creating the first co-operative store in Nova Scotia to a recent seniors housing project, St. Andrews is an innovator that adopts and develops new models of collaboration.
• Excellence in Community Development, Caisse Populaire de Clare. The caisse is a great example of how local business can contribute to bettering communities through leadership, dedication and support. Its $50,000 community development fund provides benefits to communities throughout the municipality of Clare
• Outstanding Volunteer Achievement, Murray Hill. Mr. Hill is a well-rounded champion for development in Pictou County. He is the chair of many local community organizations. His interest and dedication to his community has improved its quality of life, cultural heritage and its economic well being.
• Excellence in Youth Leadership, Eastern Communities Youth Association, Youth Council. The Youth Council is a group of role models that donate hundreds of hours of volunteer time to the Eastern Communities Youth Association and the community. The youth council determines important programming and activities like establishing a work group to confront the issue of alcohol and substance abuse.
• Innovation In Community Development, Unama'ki Student Firewood. Junior high school teacher Gerard Livingston, and his partner/students took charge and turned challenges into opportunities. Their company didn't just teach essential workplace skills but, most importantly, taught them success is possible.

The awards gala was the largest event at the 2009 Celebrating Communities Conference, which began in Truro on Wednesday and wraps up today.

"We are pleased to be celebrating so much success here in the Truro-Colchester region," said Jo Ann Fewer, executive director, Colchester Regional Development Agency (CoRDA). "The award winners, and every finalist, have such great stories of inspiration, determination and accomplishment -- my congratulations is extended to all of them."

Hosted by the CoRDA and sponsored by Department of Economic and Rural Development and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the conference was attended by more than 200 Nova Scotians.

Complete profiles of award recipients and finalists are available at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/celebratingcommunities/ .