Third annual Community Economic Development Awards presented

Premier Roger Grimes and Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Judy Foote presented the third annual Community Economic Development Awards during a gala banquet that was held in Gander tonight. Seamus O�Regan, co-host of CTV�s Canada AM, was master of ceremonies for the event. Awards were announced in six categories: Excellence in Partnership, Outstanding Individual Achievement, Excellence in Fostering Entrepreneurship, Innovation in Education, Excellence in Youth Leadership, and Lifetime Achievement.

"The nominees and award winners of the 2003 Community Economic Development Awards demonstrate that we have the capability to seize opportunities and achieve success in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Premier Grimes. "Our province is fortunate to have legions of individuals who play very active and productive roles in economic development at the community level and government is pleased to honour them for their contribution."

A total of 90 nominations were received in the six Community Economic Development Award categories. A committee judged the nominations and selected three finalists in each of five categories, as well as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The winners of third annual Community Economic Development Awards are:

Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Douglas Sheppard of Gander. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual or organization whose work has made a lasting contribution to the economic development of a community or whose work over an extended period has consistently empowered people to foster economic growth at the community level.

Excellence in Partnership Award
The Labrador Straits Development Corporation was presented with the Excellence in Partnership Award. This award recognizes exceptional efforts and achievements of organizations working together to achieve positive results in community economic development.

Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
Sheila Downer of Forteau captured the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award, which recognizes the outstanding leadership and distinguished contribution of an individual to community economic development.

Innovation in Education Award
The Community Capacity Building Initiative, which is delivered throughout the province, won the Innovation in Education Award. This award recognizes the exceptional efforts and achievements of an individual or group in bringing together education and community economic development activities within communities.

Excellence in Youth Leadership Award
Adam Harnett of Clarenville received the Excellence in Youth Leadership Award, which recognizes a young person or youth group that has demonstrated exceptional initiative, visibility, leadership and success in engaging youth in community economic development.

Excellence in Fostering Entrepreneurship Award
The Youth Ventures Corporation received the Excellence in Fostering Entrepreneurship Award, which recognizes the distinguished efforts of an organization or an individual in promoting, mentoring or fostering entrepreneurship at the community level.

"I congratulate both the winners and nominees for the 2003 Community Economic Development Awards," said Minister Foote. "They are all tremendous leaders in their respective fields and demonstrate what can be achieved in Newfoundland and Labrador when we work together."

Nominations were judged by an awards committee made up of four representatives drawn from the 20 regional economic development boards and one representative each from the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives, and the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development.

The third annual Community Economic Development Awards were presented as part of RuralEXPO 2003, which is being held in Gander from September 25-27. Other components of RuralEXPO 2003 include a rural business exhibition, a conference program and a rural youth forum.

For more information on the third annual Community Economic Development Awards or RuralEXPO 2003, visit the RuralEXPO 2003 Web site at www.gov.nl.ca/ruralexpo/ 

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 682-0366

Lifetime Achievement
Douglas Sheppard was born on Indian Islands near Fogo and has resided in the Town of Gander for the past 54 years. His business career began at the Gander Eatons retail store and in 1968 he formed his own company, "D.B. Sheppard Ltd.", a life insurance and estate planning service, which he ran until his retirement. Mr. Sheppard was involved in municipal politics for many years. He served as mayor of Gander from 1981 to 1993. He has been heavily involved in a multitude of economic development organizations and business groups, including the Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce, Gander Area Community Development Corporation, Gander Area Community Futures, Newfoundland Board of Trade, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, Enterprise Newfoundland and Labrador Corporation, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Douglas Sheppard has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the citizens of Gander and Newfoundland and Labrador, and has played a key role in the economic and social development of his community and the province as a whole.

Excellence in Partnership
The Labrador Straits Development Corporation (LSDC) is the regional economic development board on the south coast of Labrador encompassing communities from Red Bay to L�Anse au Clair. LSDC�s underlying philosophy is that successful regional development is a community-driven process in which local partners identify economic opportunities, set goals and achieve results. This organization has a clear vision of the economic future for the Labrador Straits area, and has developed strong relationships with over 30 community, government and private sector partners as it continues to move ahead with implementation of its strategic economic plan. From development of a Natural Heritage Centre at the Point Amour Lighthouse, to the construction of critical infrastructure to position the Labrador Fishermen�s Union Shrimp Company to capitalize on new fisheries opportunities, LSDC works with its extensive network of partners in leading economic development in its region.

Outstanding Individual Achievement
Sheila Downer has committed over 20 years to community economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador, focussing her efforts on information technology development in rural and northern communities. She currently manages Newfoundland and Labrador�s Smart Community Demonstration Project - SmartLabrador. In 1998, Sheila organized a major rural IT conference in Labrador and has been a leader in the development of CAP sites throughout the Big Land. She serves on the board of directors of the Labrador Development Corporation and served as a member of the board of directors of Operation ONLINE.

Innovation in Education
The Community Capacity Building Initiative is an innovative approach to human resource development in a unique partnership involving regional economic development and government stakeholders. The initiative offers 13 informative workshops to groups and individuals throughout the province who are interested in strengthening their communities from an economic development perspective. The program is continuously evolving and has been used as a model for community capacity building efforts in jurisdictions throughout North America and as far away as South Africa through its availability on the Internet.

Excellence in Youth Leadership
Adam Harnett of Clarenville is a 22-year-old who embodies the term youth entrepreneur. At age 15, while still in high school, this enterprising young man was already an international business success, undertaking an on-line contract with the Irish Refugee Council. As an accomplished motivational speaker and business owner, he has served as a role model for other Newfoundland and Labrador youth. Adam�s presentation entitled "There�s no time like the present" was the centrepiece of a youth entrepreneurship forum held in Clarenville last year. He owns and operates his own digital design company, Dash5 Design, from Clarenville, and has spoken at local, national and international conferences on his experiences as a youth entrepreneur in the digital age. In the spring of 2002 Adam won the BayBytes/Aliant business start-up competition, bringing home a $10,000 prize to invest in his growing business.

Excellence in Fostering Entrepreneurship
Since 1992, the Youth Ventures Corporation has assisted young people in starting up and running their own summer business enterprises. The program started small in St. Anthony with three students operating three businesses. There are now more than 400 young people enrolled in the program each year in 23 communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Youth Ventures provides assistance to students in developing a business idea, preparing a business plan and, if necessary, accessing a student business loan. Working closely with Community Business Development Corporations throughout the province, Youth Ventures is shaping the business leaders of tomorrow, while helping them seize the economic opportunities of today.