There is a tremendous amount of frustration in Councillor Laurie (Smokey) Golden’s Letter to the Editor over the loss of community and making space for growth in the NBP. The beavers aren’t to blame, the National Park isn’t to blame, nor are the Conservation bodies, nor are any of their collaborations or partnerships. Creating space for growth requires a strategic pivot by asking questions like: Where is the funding? How do we tap into it? How quickly can we get it? What does success look like? How can we set ourselves up for success? Who do we need to work with to get there?
If we really focus on the core questions and look outside of our own political proclivities by studying similar locations across Canada, we can see how other communities are dealing with growth issues, where they are getting their funding, and what their successes look like. It might not be a path that all residents agree with. Recognizing that there are many roads to get from A to B, may help us choose a healthy path that takes us to the secure, vibrant community that we all want.
What about the Municipality applying to develop a Green Energy Park in Tobermory? How about the Municipality tapping into the abundance of government funding available in Green Tech and Climate Change? Just like the industrious and stubborn beavers, it may serve Council better to “work it” to attract businesses in the field of climate change and green industry by showcasing the conservation-friendly environment that surrounds us. Look how fabulously green and nature loving we are! Bring your like-minded businesses and jobs to the Northern Bruce Peninsula.
Alliances, partnerships, and collaborations are increasingly popular ways of getting things done and sharing costs. The Parks and Conservation bodies are not unique in forming partnerships and helping one another out. This is how supply chains work in industry. This is how many successful organizations do business today. It’s also a tool sitting in the toolbox, ready for the MNBP to use as well.
And what better location for collaborations and partnerships than the NBP? Our area is blessed with an airport, a harbour to the Great Lakes, a secondary highway, small, manageable urban clusters, not great land for farming, harsh winters for extreme conditions testing and an abundance of green space? It’s like a dream come true! Instead of railing against the beavers and besmirching collaborations with the Parks, what about taking a page from their play book? The Municipality, too, can form alliances and collaborations, with government bodies, green organizations, universities, and colleges to tap into new technologies and create a space for think tanks.
The universe has handed the Municipality a blank slate for green tech pilot projects and industries, all of which could support young, tech-savvy residents. We need to work with the regionally unique opportunities, the competitive advantages that today offers instead of attempting to drive forward by looking in the rear-view mirror. We need a clear vision to promote unity, to create a rallying point for development and to get on track to the vibrancy that we all want for the Northern Saugeen Bruce Peninsula. With no vision for the future, the road to securing prosperity for our communities won’t be clear and people will become frustrated.
Tamara Wilson
This letter reflects my own ideas and mine alone and may not be shared or reflective of any organizations that I belong to.
