Regional Workshop Keeps Going
The Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) along with the Harris Centre, Innovation Trade and Rural Development, and Service Canada are continuing the work first initiated at the Newtown Regional Workshop last year.
On November 30th and December 1st, 2005, the Harris Centre facilitated a Regional Workshop in Newtown at the Barbour Living Heritage Village. As a result of discussion between Memorial faculty, students and staff, and local community stakeholders, several new opportunities for Memorial University-community collaboration “one-pagers” were created. The projects pertained to several sectors including tourism, community education, business, manufacturing, fishery, and aquaculture. Having Memorial University as another key partner will assist the KEDC in implementing these priority areas.
“These workshops are meant, or are designed, to get Memorial and the community working together” said Dr. Robert Greenwood, director of the Harris Centre, “its not about Memorial University coming in to save all the problems of the region…its about Memorial and the community working as partners to tackle some major economic challenges.”
“The KEDC and the Harris Centre want the legacy of this workshop to be about action,” said Winston Jennings, chair of the KEDC, “we want the community to know that with several incremental projects, and a lot of creativity and innovation, we can make a difference…I am excited to see Memorial engaged with the community at this level.”
With each Regional Workshop focused on action, each project will be pursued by a working group consisting of Memorial staff and community leaders. As project successes happen, each outcome will be reported back to the initial group of workshop participants. Some projects are long term projects while some are short term intiatives which will be occuring within the next couple of months.
An upcoming event arising out of the one-pagers is a Knowledge Transfer Workshop to be held on October 10th, 2006 from 7-9 pm at the Marine Interpretation Centre in Terra Nova National Park. The KEDC, in partnership with Terra Nova National Park and the Harris Centre, is organizing the event. The Harris Centre has compiled a list of research projects pertaining to tourism in the Kittiwake Zone and from that list, three experts will be chosen to act as a panel for this workshop. Tourism operators and industry representatives will have the opportunity to learn about the research and discuss how they can utlilize the knowledge in their existing operations.
It is the hope of Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation along with its partners that these initiatives will add to the region as a whole and strengthen the relationship with partners like Memorial University.
Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation is the Regional Economic Development Board serving the Kittiwake Coast which extends west to Lewisporte, north to Fogo, and east to Charlottetown.
For more information on the other initiatives or the Regional Workshop, please contact: Crystal Anderson, Economic Development Officer, at 709.256.2741
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