| How can we identify
what makes a community vibrant? Are vibrant communities those
that are thriving or also those that face substantial challenges?
What is an example of a vibrant community in action?
 Cape
Breton Island is known world-wide for its natural beauty,
for its gifted musicians and writers, and for its friendly
people who have maintained their diverse cultural traditions
since the early 19th century. But the history of Cape Breton
is really the story of a struggling community that has experienced
severe economic and social crisis for generations.
So is Cape Breton a vibrant community?
That's the question we explore in this workshop.
We offer research on vibrant communities from the Caledon
Institute of Social Policy and present the story of Cape Breton
as shared by Rankin MacSween, President of New Dawn Enterprises,
the organization directing Cape Breton's Vibrant Communities'
efforts.
We hope you enjoy! We welcome your feedback
or suggestions for additions to this workshop by emailing us at tamarack@tamarackcommunity.ca.
In this workshop:
Vibrant communities actively promote the
well-being of their members and the community as a whole.
They do this by ensuring support, inclusion
and learning for everyone.
In a report titled Reclaiming
Our Humanity, Sherri Torjman, vice-president of the Caledon
Institute of Social Policy, says a vibrant community is
one that:
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 The
culturally vibrant Island of Cape Breton has a population
of over 113,000. Its traditional economic base has included
agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and mining, with Sydney,
the Island's largest urban area, providing a range of services
and light manufacturing. Approximately 25% of residents lived
under Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Off rate in 1995. Cape Breton faces some very real challenges
and yet the people of Cape Breton continue to hope.
Take a look at the video clips of Rankin
MacSween, President of New Dawn Enterprises, the organization
directing Cape Breton's Vibrant Communities' efforts
Rankin speaks eloquently about the challenges
Cape Breton has faced in the past and those it continues to
experience, including out-migration of youth and broken economic
promises.
| Cape Breton - Rankin
MacSween, President of New Dawn Enterprises, on Cape Breton’s
beauty. |
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| Challenges of Cape Breton
- Rankin outlines some of the challenges facing Cape Breton. |
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| Broken Promises - Rankin
shares the despair Cape Bretoners felt when attempts to
make Cape Breton better, more viable fell through. |
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| Culture of Survival -
Over time the culture of a community can start to change. |
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| Edge of an Abyss - Cape
Breton is at a crossroads. |
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| Understanding Eternity
- Think about the long run. |
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| Articulating a Vision
- Imagining the future we desire. |
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| The Courage to Act -
Once the vision has been articulated and there is energy
to sustain it, we can find the courage to act. |
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| Committing to Outcomes
- Rankin pledges support to those working to build vibrant
communities and asks for the same in return. |
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| Please
note videos may take a moment to load and play. |
Related Links:
Back to top.
In September 2003, after more than a year
of discussions involving hundreds of people from the Cape
Breton community -- business, education, government, youth,
volunteers -- the New Dawn Board and others met at Highland
Heights Inn, Iona, Cape Breton to finalize the vision and
mission.
The Vision: "A Self-Reliant People in
a Vibrant Community."
The Mission Statement: "New Dawn Enterprises
Will Engage the Community to Create and Support the Development
of a Culture of Self-Reliance."
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