Community
First Impressions Exchange Project
A project designed
to foster effective regional governance that begins with developing
champions, forging institutional support, and building a culture
of community collaboration. Beginning this process involves
Conducting a Community First Impressions Initiative that will
engage leaders from 10 communities in evaluating each other’s
communities in various aspects. As a long-term result of implementing
recommendations and fostering partnerships, current and potential
residents, as well as visitors and probable investors will gain
an increasingly positive impression of the region. Communities
collaborating in community development processes can increase
their capacity to improve quality of life, better manage change
and sustain long-term well-being.
Engaging several communities
in a collaborative evaluation of each other’s communities
will allow an ‘outsiders’ view to be communicated
back to residents and stakeholders. This new self-awareness
will help each community discover who they really are. What
are their strengths and weaknesses? What opportunities exist
to work together? What elements are threatening the reputation
of the region and each community? And how does each community’s
individual identity contribute to the voice of the region?
In addition, Industry
Canada has also partnered with the team to incorporate a Community
Progression a Scorecard tool (CPS) to the project. The
scorecard will allow the communities to assess their technological
capacity and receive recommendations on how to act to see improvements.
Status: The communities
of Willowbunch, Rockglen, Ogema, Assiniboia, Ponteix, Shaunavon,
Hazlet, Burstall, Leader and Kyle were the communities selected
to participate. Community visitations and CPS Tool survey
will take place from November to January. Communities
will come together again in January to discuss their perception
of one anothers communities. A final ceremony that will
be open to the region to learn about the project and what their
findings were that could benefit other communities across the
region has been tentatively planned for March 10, 2006.
Special thanks to all
the following partnering organizations and businesses:
Community
Collaboration Action Team
Lead: Dallas
Gislason - Regional Development Coordinator, Saskatchewan Regional
Economic and Co-operative Development
Leaders /
Support:
- Sandra Blyth – Project Manager, Action Southwest
- Robert Carignan, SME/CED Business Advisor, Conseil de la
Cooperation de la Saskatchewan
- Sonja Dahlman, EDO, Assiniboia Economic Development Authority
- Sharon Dickie – Mayor Town of Shaunavon
- Barb Field, Business Information Officer, Saskatchewan Regional
Economic and Co-operative Development
- Edith Gibbings - Project Coordinator
- Keleah Herron, General Manager, Southwest Regional Economic
Development Authority
- Doug Howorko - Provincial Manager for Business Retention
& Expansion, Saskatchewan Regional Economic and Co-operative
Development
- Susan Nadon, Senior Officer, Information Highway Branch,
Industry Canada
- John Parker, General Manager, Southwest Community Futures
Development Corporation
- Carol Peterson, Member, Ogema Economic Development Committee
/ Red Coat REDA
- Dianne Sletten, Regional Development Coordinator, Saskatchewan
Regional Economic and Co-operative Development
- Robert Therrien, Conseil de la Cooperation de la Saskatchewan
- Susan Wiebe, Can-Sask Career and Employment Services
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