DOUG GRIFFITHS has a passionate interest in promoting the well-being of Canada's prairie communities. Co-author of Rural Alberta: the Land of Opportunity report, at one time the youngest MLA in Alberta, now serving his third term in government, he has visited most of the 422 communities in the province to learn first-hand about the special challenges that confront small and not-so-small communities in the 21st century. Co-author KELLY CLEMMER is a prize-winning journalist with The Wainwright Review and The Wainwright Star Chronicle, past Vice President of the Writers Guild of Alberta, and has been widely recognized for his contributions to enhancing the quality of life in rural communities. (from Amazon's page)
THis book was based on a series of letters Griffith wrote for Alberta communities but apply equally to Hantsport.
NEWS & VIEWS will publish my own summaries of this book over the next few weeks.
Why?
To prompt discussion.
You can buy the book. You can see it and print it from on-line.
The summer is not a great time to start this; however, I believe there is no time to lose.
I will post each segment on line and it will also be a page.
Good reading!
PROLOGUE (OR WHY WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THIS WRITER - HAD's words.)
Griffith's extensive travels in Alberta have led him to conclude that the federal, provincial, and municipal governments are partially responsible for successful rural development. However, the plan and initiative must come from the community. He found that the best intentions were often sabotaged by current actions. Griffith's list is not a to-do-list but it is a list of things communities may be doing which may unintentionally harm the community.
1. QUALITY OF WATER (HANTSPORT SHOULD SCORE HIGH ON THIS ONE. -HAD)
Griffith believes he can go blindfolded into any town and can tell from a glass of water the condition of the town. If the water is good, the town has new subdivisions, new businesses downtown, a clean main street, etc. If the quality of water is poor, businesses are closing on Main Street, the downtown is decrepit, many old houses are for sale. Why? People want good quality water. If you want your community to fail, ignore the water issue.
2. DON'T ATTRACT BUSINESS.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
THis book was based on a series of letters Griffith wrote for Alberta communities but apply equally to Hantsport.
NEWS & VIEWS will publish my own summaries of this book over the next few weeks.
Why?
To prompt discussion.
You can buy the book. You can see it and print it from on-line.
The summer is not a great time to start this; however, I believe there is no time to lose.
I will post each segment on line and it will also be a page.
Good reading!
PROLOGUE (OR WHY WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THIS WRITER - HAD's words.)
Griffith's extensive travels in Alberta have led him to conclude that the federal, provincial, and municipal governments are partially responsible for successful rural development. However, the plan and initiative must come from the community. He found that the best intentions were often sabotaged by current actions. Griffith's list is not a to-do-list but it is a list of things communities may be doing which may unintentionally harm the community.
1. QUALITY OF WATER (HANTSPORT SHOULD SCORE HIGH ON THIS ONE. -HAD)
Griffith believes he can go blindfolded into any town and can tell from a glass of water the condition of the town. If the water is good, the town has new subdivisions, new businesses downtown, a clean main street, etc. If the quality of water is poor, businesses are closing on Main Street, the downtown is decrepit, many old houses are for sale. Why? People want good quality water. If you want your community to fail, ignore the water issue.
2. DON'T ATTRACT BUSINESS.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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-Heather