Headwaters Communities in Action Building A Better Quality of Life Together.
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Transcript of Headwaters Communities in Action Building A Better Quality of Life Together.
Headwaters Communities in Action
Building A Better Quality of Life Together
What is Social Prosperity?
Social Prosperity is a community’s ability to:
Maintain a high quality of life and a good standard of living for its citizens.
Provide access to employment opportunities, community services, health care, adequate housing and education.
Social Prosperity Makes Good Sense
One of “the most important magnets in attracting and keeping investment and business” in today’s global economy is a community’s ability to bring people together to:
define the common good, create joint plans; and, identify strategies that benefit a wide range of
people and organizations,
Harvard Business Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter
The Opportunity
This project offers residents of the Headwaters region the opportunity to:
create a strong, shared vision for the future;
work collectively towards it; and ensure that our communities remain
strong and vibrant
The Goal
The fundamental goal of Headwaters Communities in Action is to strengthen our region’s ability to foster a culture of engagement, inclusion and collaboration – its social prosperity. This cultural shift is the determining factor behind our community’s quality-of-life
Our Vision
Vision for Social Prosperity
Our communities will speak with one voice as we establish an integrated mechanism for social, economic and
environmental planning in a way that respects historic continuity, maintains and protects the natural
environment, coordinates and promotes services and establishes a sense of community for the residents in
the Headwaters area, so that we can enhance and celebrate the prosperity, health and well-being of the
diverse citizens of our communities.
Our Values
Inclusion and Accessibility - We recognize the intrinsic value of all people and are committed to engaging all citizens in building social prosperity
Multi-sector Collaboration - We recognize that collaborating across various sectors in new ways is key to addressing complex community issues
Sustainability - We are committed to building upon existing community strengths and designing sustainable initiatives
Innovation - We will model and nurture creativity and innovation throughout the Headwaters area
Effectiveness - We will monitor our progress, continuously learn and apply and share our learnings to ensure we are maximizing our resources
The History of The Headwaters Communities in Action Project
Headwaters Linkages Committee – A group of health and social service providers from across Dufferin County
2002: A Broader Perspective – Recognized the need to mobilize a broader cross-section of perspectives from across the community to plan together for the future
2006: Re-Branding – In order to more clearly and simply state what we are trying to do, and reflect our commitment to be inclusive, our project has chosen a new name: Headwaters Communities in Action
Our Formal Beginnings
Project initiated background research and an environmental scan highlighting trends in Dufferin County
Held 1st Community Forum with 54 community leaders in November 2004
What We Have Done Already?
Made presentations to Dufferin County Council and at the 8 Local Councils
Hosted public meetings throughout the community reaching more than 150 people across Dufferin County to test and ultimately affirm our Vision
Secured “seed funding” for our Project through a number of committed community organizations within Dufferin County.
What We Have Done Already?
Used feedback from community meetings to identify strategic directions, goals and values to shape the Community Plan for achieving our vision
Established 3 Working Groups to create a volunteer infrastructure to move our project forward
Recently secured grants from both The Ontario Trillium Foundation and ServiceCanada which together provide a solid base of funding for our work in the coming year
What We Have Learned So Far:Our Assets
Our region has many assets including: An impressive array of services for a region of
its size A small-town feel but close to urban centres
– the best of both worlds A high quality hospital and health services A history of successful collaborations within
many sectors
What We Have Learned So Far:Our Challenges
Our region’s challenges include: Having one of the fastest population growth
rates in Ontario and many of the social pressures associated with larger cities
No overall regional plan Becoming a “bedroom community” as
residential growth outpaces industrial growth and local job creation.
Needing a health and social services infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing, aging and changing population
What We Have Learned So Far:A New Approach is Needed
Our region’s most complex issues and challenges cannot be solved with “quick-fix” solutions.
No one sector can be effective addressing these issues in isolation. Fragmented thinking and action will only produce fragmented, partial solutions
To have the kind of strategic impact we need on our region’s quality-of-life we need to find new, innovative and comprehensive ways of working together
Sustainable Communities
Economic Prosperity
Environmental Viability
Community Health
Best Quality of Life
Strategic Focuses
Community Health
Environmental Well-being
Economic Prosperity
Strategic Focus
Community Health:
Strengthening our health and social services to reflect our communities’ changing needs
Strategic Focus
Environmental Well being:
Protecting and responsibly growing the use of our environmental assets
Strategic Focus
Economic Prosperity:
Ensuring a vibrant economy that offers sustainable wages and the opportunity for everyone to reach his or her potential
Imagine…
A Community that comes together across sectors to identify issues and generate solutions
A shared plan for the future of this region that identifies: The industries we want to attract The services we need; and, The natural assets we want to protect
A Community Foundation that provides funding and information to support needed local projects that enhance economic prosperity, community health & well-being and environmental viability
Imagine…
A regional network of recreational trails that is used by residents and draws tourists to the area
A youth summit that engages young people in identifying issues, creating solutions and sharing their vision for the future of the region
Adequate and affordable housing being available to each and every individual and or family.
Citizens being aware of and engaged in discussions about key issues related to economic, social and environmental well being or the Headwaters area.
What Next?
Incorporate new ideas from focused conversations into draft community plan
Host and continue conversations as needed
Build partnership commitment to the draft community plan
Launch and implement the plan in Fall 2006