Media Release

Community Representation, Public Input Key to Visioning Process

(Wednesday, March 21, 2007) – Members of the Community Liaison Groups of Fall River, Musquodoboit Harbour and the Bedford Waterfront are determined to have the voices of residents from every neighborhood, age group and interest in their community represented in their Community Vision.

Halifax Regional Municipality launched the Community Visioning Project in November 2006 with kick-off events in the three pilot communities. The pilot project is an important first step towards implementing HRM's Regional Plan at the community level. It provides an opportunity for communities to have a dialogue about what they want to look like, feel like and be like 10, 15 and 20 years into the future. A draft Community Vision and Action Plan for each community will be presented to Regional Council.

Following the kick-off events, local residents were recruited and selected to form Community Liaison Groups (CLGs). The most important task of the CLG is to solicit input of community members on the vision for the community’s future. The CLG is guiding and shaping the process in their own community, with support from HRM Community Development staff, but it is the community members who, through a range of events and opportunities for input, will make key decisions on the content of the Community Vision and Community Action Plan.

The CLGs have planned a number of opportunities for public engagement, including a series of community meetings. Online public forums and community questionnaires are also being developed. Each community will have their own web page which will be used to announce upcoming community engagement events, communicate information and actively seek ideas and input.

The CLGs’ first public meetings/workshops are scheduled for the following dates:

Fall River      Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 pm, Lockview High School
                    Cafeteria, Lockview Road, Fall River

Bedford        Waterfront Youth Engagement Event - Thursday, March 22,

                    7:00 - 9:00 pm - CP Allen High School, Bedford

                    Public Engagement Event - Thursday, April 12, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
                    LeBrun Centre, 33 Holland Avenue, Bedford

Musquodoboit Harbour   Saturday, April 14, 2:00 - 4:30 pm,

                                       Eastern Shore District High School

                                       (also a parallel children's program)

Community members can offer input by attending meetings or participating in an online public forum on the Community Visioning website at www.halifax.ca/VisionHRM.

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Susan Corser, HRM Senior Planner
490-4468