Partners support training and development in Labrador

The Labrador Region of the Strategic Social Plan is holding the first in a series of workshops for volunteers in Labrador beginning November 20 at the Oceanview Motel in West St. Modeste.

The workshops on volunteer recruitment and retention, and leadership and motivation, are being offered to volunteers and members of the general public on November 20 and 21. An additional two days of meetings and planning sessions are scheduled for coordinators of the Labrador Winter Games and volunteers of the Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Recreation Association.

The Labrador Region of the Strategic Social Plan is coordinating the work and planning sessions, as part of its focus building community leadership and capacity. Workshops were developed by the Community Services Council and the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, along with regional economic development boards.

"Creating networks and building partnerships is what the Strategic Social Plan is all about," said Goronwy Price of the Labrador SSP steering committee. "We hope these workshops will be a starting point for building and strengthening skills and increasing the number of volunteers in our communities."

Last year the steering committee organized a health and recreation summit, bringing communities together to focus on building leadership skills and fostering community pride through recreation. In follow-up planning sessions organized by the SSP steering committee and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, training and development for volunteers was raised as a key issue.

Mr. Price noted that volunteer workshops are in keeping with the Strategic Health Plan�s Healthy Communities Strategy. The strategy emphasizes community leadership and capacity building.

"We�re really leaders in this area," he said. "Two of our development priorities are recreation and building community capacity, and we�ve been focused on this for over a year."

The Labrador Region of the Strategic Social Plan implements the Strategic Social Plan through planning with communities, and fostering partnerships that make a difference in the region.

Contact Alicia Sutton at (709) 896-5152 or Sheldon Baikie at (709) 896-3209, for more information on the workshops.

Media Contact:

Marcia Porter, Communications, (709) 729-0175
Alicia Sutton, Regional Planner, (709) 896-5152

2002 11 13                                        4:30 p.m.