NLIS 3
September 19, 2001
(Executive Council)
 

Cormack-Grenfell region, of Strategic Social Plan, implements regional plan for social and economic development

Innovative partnerships are taking hold in the Cormack-Grenfell region as the steering committee of the Strategic Social Plan there implements its regional plan for social and economic development.

"We have partners around the table offering space for family resource centres, talking about sharing resources and personnel, and coming up with collective solutions to issues that impact all of us," says June Alteen, chair of the Cormack-Grenfell Regional Steering Committee for the Strategic Social Plan. 

The Cormack-Grenfell Regional Plan is a comprehensive look at the region from St. Anthony to Port aux Basques to Francois. It was drafted by committee partners including school, zone and health boards as well as representatives from federal, provincial and municipal governments.

The regional plan is a road map for action in the region and a work plan for the steering committee.

"We've got tremendous strengths, tremendous creativity at work in our communities," says Ms. Alteen. "We wanted to focus on those things but we also wanted to look at the issues that we will need to deal with now and into the future if we want those healthy, prosperous communities that the Strategic Social Plan envisions."

The plan tackles issues that will impact on the region in the next few years, issues such as the shrinking number of school age children in the area, and the aging of the workforce, with a focus on creating opportunities.

It's a five year work plan that will guide the committee's actions and lists six specific goals, including: 1) strengthening the capacity of the volunteer sector; 2) developing a human resource strategy for the region; 3) promoting positive community images; 4) promoting collaboration for social and economic development; 5) fostering a climate of learning and 6) incorporating prevention and early intervention.

The committee is already putting its plan to work. Building Better Communities, last month's regional volunteer conference, was organized to bring volunteers together to network, learn new skills and celebrate. The committee is also developing a strategy for human resource development in the region that will identify training and employment opportunities.

"I offer my congratulations to the committee for creating a plan that approaches regional development in an integrated way, looking at economic and social issues and reinforcing the link between the two," said Gerald Smith, lead minister for the Strategic Social Plan. "This is an example of the Strategic Social Plan in action."

Media contact: Marcia Porter, Communications, (709) 729-0175.

2001 09 19                                     10:20 a.m.