Chéticamp reboots economic development committee
'After a lot of hard work by the members we're back on track," says new president Paul Gallant
A community economic development group in Chéticamp that claims to be the only one of its kind in Nova Scotia says it's time to turn the area's fortunes around.
At a meeting Thursday night, the Community Committee Chéticamp-LeMoine served notice it intends to overcome the trials of 2015, which saw several businesses close, including the Acadian Centre and even the Tim Hortons.
It had been a year since the committee last met, a period during which the group's new president, Paul Gallant, said several members quit in frustration "due to a lack of progress."
Gallant said what makes the committee unique is it has been set up to act as a liaison between people in the Chéticamp area and Inverness County council.
'We`re back on track'
In spite of the resignations and "disagreements" over the past year, he said the group is focused on the task at hand.
"After a lot of hard work by the members we're back on track," he told CBC Cape Breton's Information Morning.
A big part of the problem, said Gallant, is there was too much attention paid to the business failures of 2015. The committee has adopted the theme "Changing the Conversation," which puts the emphasis on what can be accomplished rather than rehashing what went wrong.
He said the arrival of a Syrian family of five is good news for the community, and another family expected in the near future. Sponsors recently said they expect the adults will be hired by local employers once they complete language training.
Gallant adds the local sports centre, the Chéticamp Arena, "is doing much better this year."
'It can work'
He said the committee is working towards an upgrade of the internet system in the area. It's also working with the county to develop a cruise ship business and expand the Margaree airport, which could spark the local economy given the intense interest travelling golfers have shown in Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Inverness.
The Community Committee Chéticamp-LeMoine consists of municipal councillors Paul Poirier and Gloria LeBlanc, and 13 members of the community that represent various sectors of the economy, including the fishery, health, security, youth, seniors, education and tourism.
The key, Gallant stressed, is to get as many people engaged in the process as possible.
"It can work," Gallant said. "Rather than one person going alone before municipal council, if we as a community can get that engagement, it's so much stronger."