NLIS 15
(Industry, Trade and Rural Development)
September 26, 2003
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/
Photo #1 - (L to
R) Seamus O'Regan; Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Judy
Foote; Douglas Sheppard, recipient of the 2003 Community Economic
Development Award for Lifetime Achievement Award; and Premier Roger Grimes
Photo #2 - Premier
Roger Grimes and Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Judy Foote
pose with winners of the 2003 Community Economic Development Awards.
Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 682-0366
BACKGROUNDER
2003 Community Economic Development Award Winners
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.
2003 09
26
10:30 p.m.
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