REDEFINING ANNAPOLIS VALLEY

Bob Maher at the Road to Georgetown Conference

The Georgetown conference in October is an Atlantic Canada meeting to look at ‘redefining rural’. As part of the lead up to the event, the local community, supported by the Annapolis Spectator, proposed two initiatives: a series of Georgetown Letters, where citizens could submit their ideas to the weekly newspaper, and a one day conference called ‘The Road to Georgetown’ (R2G). This event on May 4th provided the audience with a context: a Skype call to Greg Baeker on the Creative Rural Economy and a presentation by Mark Austin on the findings from the commission on building the Nova Scotia economy. In the afternoon, Edward Wedler hosted a storytelling session that allowed local residents to describe their experience living in this area. The passion shown by the storytellers about their ‘sense of place’ was inspirational. 

We learned two lessons from May 4th: 
 a) Web technology can be a powerful vehicle for sharing ideas and information about ‘place’ (see audio, photographs and links throughout this website)
b) There is real strength in the informal networks throughout rural Nova Scotia. 

From this experience, we (Edward Wedler and Bob Maher) had to answer the question: what is the next step in civic engagement? 

First, we recognize that Atlantic Canada is a mosaic of unique geographies. Rather than getting caught up in administrative boundaries, we need to think in terms of logical landscape units. If we are going to share stories, then we need a common geography. Thus – redefining the Annapolis Valley. This is not to be exclusive. Simply put, there are many similarities – climate, topography, soils in the Annapolis Valley that supports a long agricultural history. 

Second, we can use new technologies (maps and web) to address themes important to the region. One theme is demography. Can we provide learning opportunities that bring together youth and boomer professionals? 

This leads us learning how to reinvent the existing institutions.

Next Steps 
1) Share the results of the R2G conference with the larger region 
2) Expand our networks to address youth engagement 
3) Initiate conversations with existing institutions about network technology, content, and future vision.

STORYTELLER

PRESENTER: Phil Milo

 

SELECTION FROM "ON MAJOR CHURCH" by Phil Milo, Lawrencetown NS

PRESENTATION: Community Mapping

STORYTELLER

 

STORYTELLER

 

STORYTELLER

STORYTELLER

PRESENTER: Anne Crossman

PRESENTER: Mark Austin

WELCOME FROM ATLANTIC NEWSPAPERS

STORYTELLER

STORYTELLER

STORYTELLER

SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE ROAD TO GEORGETOWN CONFERENCE 4th May 2013

Photographed by Anne Crossman

   The day was beyond expectations. Everyone and everything was perfect. My thanks for doing it all. LARRY P.

   I wanted to write and thank you for an inspirational and fun day on May 4th. I was born and raised in Auburn, Nova Scotia and I went to Acadia and for some reason decided to stay in the valley (unlike other people my age who couldn’t wait to run away from the valley or didn’t want to be “stuck” in the valley). Sometimes I always wonder if I am one of those people who are “stuck” in the valley, sometimes I wonder if I too should be heading out west or to Toronto or some other place where I could possibly get a “better” job or live in “better” place. I guess it’s the grass is always greener on the other side mentality that I often come to as a young professional who grew up in the valley and has stayed in the valley. However, the meeting on Saturday that I attended and the stories I heard was exactly what I needed to hear. I too have chosen to stay in the valley for very similar reasons to those who presented on Saturday. I am not stuck here, I chose to stay here. I sometimes forget as a local how wonderful my community is and how fortunate I am to be able to live here with a good job and work towards creating an even better community. I believe in the valley and I believe that we will develop rurally and change as needed, and continue to be a wonderful place to live. 
   I guess what I am getting at is I want to thank you for a wonderfully inspiring day that has reassured me I am in the right place, living among the right people and doing the work I think is important. I had moments on Saturday of just pure pride that I was born and raised, and still live in such a vibrant community. I am proud to say I live here and was born here, and I thank you for reminding me of why. I look forward to working and collaborating more with all the individuals in attendance on Saturday, and I look forward to our travels to Georgetown.  ROBIN C.

Thank you and the team, for making such an event possible for the grassroots to express visions of our rural living where real human values weave the texture of the world in which we wish to live. KLAUS & SHIRLEY L.

  Thank you so much for all your assistance, drive and ideas that helped make yesterday a day that was most memorable for me. The afternoon was filled with delight and inspiration. Boy, we live in such a rich place! ANNE C.

   Thank you for allowing me to be part of this wonderful event, "The Road to Georgetown", to meet people I have never met and hear stories I have never heard (I think Phil Milo could have gone on all day and would have received rapt attention). What especially struck me was the passion and diversity in the room ... Know what? It's events like these that make me happy my "two-year stay" in the Valley has been extended by 30+ years. To think, how many more stories that are out there waiting to be told and waiting to be heard! EDWARD W.

   The morning was filled with excellent information that should inform the region as we go forward with the rural development agenda. The story telling passion was an absolute delight.
   Beforehand, I had decided that I should try to speak to the question of rethinking institutions : schools, colleges, churches, community halls. Afterwards, I realized that it is the individual stories that remain. Here is an untold story.

   Raymond and Rona Hunter came to the Valley from England, after the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya. They had a farm on Paradise Lane, opposite Jack Pearl's. There, they had the 'Born Again barn'. This was in the early '80s. Later they moved up to East Paradise and the bought the farm, that my son Andrew now owns. The apple cider comes from the organic orchard that was planted by Raymond. Meanwhile, Alex Cole discovered the red maples by the Annapolis River. each year, he comes to coppice the wood in November ( FYI Shirley and Klaus) for his yurt construction.
Last week, we had new tenants move into the farm house, with young children (helps the demographics). They plan to use the land to farm organically.

   Back to Raymond and Rona, it is my understanding that the signs on Hwy 101: 'baby's choice to live ' and 'choose life ' around Exit #18 were from the Hunter's beliefs. Regardless of the context, I think it is wonderful to imagine as you head west on the Highway, passing Middleton that you see on your left 'Choose Life'. An artifact of an earlier time, and yet still symbolic (Edward, it might be worth a photograph).

   Heather and I are encouraged that future generations can learn from our experiences. And we can meet that 2050 vision for Annapolis County, and beyond. BOB M

   Congratulations to all of you who worked so hard to pull this event together. HEATHER L.