Day 1 Summary Reports
How do we work together to make Fredericton a better place to live, work and play?
On Friday February 19th, almost 200 participants joined together for a unique experience of building an agenda for community dialogue around that very question. Any participant could initiate a discussion topic, and within a short period of time, nearly fifty topics had been generated by the group. Participants could then join the topics they were most passionate about in order to help make Fredericton better.
New connections were made, brainstorming animated the room and community priorities began to emerge. Each discussion group was given a template to track their proceedings. This template asked:
- What is the topic?
- Who Participated?
- What happened during the discussion?
- What was recommended?
- What action can be undertaken?
Want to follow up?
If, upon reviewing the following summaries you want to follow up on a particular issue or get in touch with someone who was involved in that discussion, contact communications@fsi-isf.ca in order to get connected.
A few more notes
- Each report is a brief summary only based on the hand-written notes provided by each group at the event.
- Reports are listed alphabetically
- To comment on a particular report, click on the title and scroll to the bottom of the report. Here you will be able to use the comments feature.
Open Space Reports (44)
Convener: Ben MacNamara
Participants:
Cheryl McLaughlin
Allison Pineo
Summary of Proceedings:
- User fees: all shop in Fredericton but penalized - Disadvantage for low income - Not much awareness about programs - Higher fees for competitive … logical? - Where are fees going? - Large discrepancy between outside/inside Fredericton? Need for more skate, swim, gym etc. times for youth at free or low cost Make a wider variety of sports available Make people aware of city website for posting youth activities available in city No requirement to make a team Set aside teen times at all facilities Need a youth recreation master plan Make rinks “community facilities” not just hockey facilities Mountain bike trails and parks Need more skate parks Better maintenance of x-ski trails on trail network More youth athletics that don’t involve team participation Once in middle school and later need non competitive sport
Recommendations:
- A breakdown of where the athletic fees are going
- Where should parents go for funding?
Action Plan:
- Funding streams: Contact Fredericton recreation about placing funding opportunities in their outreach book. Anonymous way for parents to find out information. - Breakdown: Contact Fredericton recreation to request funding breakdowns from provincial organizations.
Convener: Gary Glauser
Participants:
Donna Chiasson Bernadett Samulski Miguel Leblanc Jim Christopher Karl McLellan Allison Pineo John Otteson Faith McFarland Jane Buckley Bob Fisher
Summary of Proceedings:
The importance of affordable housing in making Fredericton a strong community. It is a critical ingredient in people becoming self-sufficient and in reducing poverty. We talked about the benefits of affordable housing to those who live in the units as well as to the community at large. If affordable housing is in good supply, Fredericton will be a healthier place to live, education and employment will be enhanced and crime rate will drop. We talked about the desire to build mixed income communities and avoid ghetto-type developments and the need to reverse NIBMY to “YES in my backyard”. We also talked about impediments to affordable development – rezoning, NIMBY, lack of land, etc.
Recommendations:
- The City should bank land for affordable development ie: designate land in various subdivisions for non-profit and promote development that is affordable - The City to lobby the province to get change to legislation to allow inclusionary zoning - The City to review/simplify its zoning bylaws to lessen the need for rezoning - Educate the private sector in the benefits of affordable housing development - Social Development – Review it’s point rating system to ensure those in greatest need are getting assistance
Action Plan:
- Engage with other municipalities/jurisdictions to transfer best practices in affordable housing – don’t need to reinvent the wheel – see CMHC website chmc.ca - Lobby for the review of the double taxation of rental properties to make rent more affordable - Better use of existing housing – match under-housed with over-housed people - What happens to affordable units after operating/funding agreements terminate – Need to ensure units are not lost to private incumbent. - Work more with manufactured housing to keep build cost-effective affordable housing - Build assisted living to keep people independent longer - Engage City Council – educate and motivate!!
Convener:
Alex Leblanc
Participants:
Hart North
Joanne Thomson
Adam Kelly
Stephanie MacEachern
Summary of Proceedings:
Transit system is under utilized Groups in need (lower income) cannot afford access to transit $65 x 12 months = $780 per year When people cannot afford transportation they cannot access: employment, community services Need greater subsidy for lower income transit users- could determine eligibility based on years income tax summary Frequency of routes poses challenges to access Location of routes are not always responsive to the needs of public transit users ( ex. Two nations crossing)
Recommendations:
The transit system in Fredericton should consider broadening the subsidy program that is currently offered to seniors (over 65), to those individuals with lower incomes
Possible eligibility mechanism: income assistance recipients immediately qualify
Provide income tax summary, etc.
Action Plan:
I, Alex Leblanc, am keenly interested in improving access to an affordable transit system for those who require lower rates, or subsidy. If greater numbers of Fredericton citizens were using the transit system our entire community will benefit due to their inclusion.
Availability of healthy food choices wherever families live, learn and play.
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Shauna Miller
Participants:
Scott MacAfee
Summary of Proceedings:
- NB has the 2nd highest rate of obesity in Canada
- To have an impact on obesity we need multiple strategies around healthy eating and physical activity
- Fredericton is investing in state of the art recreational facilities to increase physical activity. We need to make sure that families using these facilities have access to healthy food/beverage choices while visiting these facilities
- Fredericton could be a role model for the province for truly healthy recreational facilities
- There is a potential to increase revenue of canteens / vending machines in these facilities because there is a market that is not currently being topped because families choose not to buy the unhealthy food for their families
- In order to sustain our health care system, we need to invest more resources in health promotion/population health approaches- NB has the 2nd highest rate of obesity in Canada
- To have an impact on obesity we need multiple strategies around healthy eating and physical activity
- Fredericton is investing in state of the art recreational facilities to increase physical activity. We need to make sure that families using these facilities have access to healthy food/beverage choices while visiting these facilities
- Fredericton could be a role model for the province for truly healthy recreational facilities
- There is a potential to increase revenue of canteens / vending machines in these facilities because there is a market that is not currently being topped because families choose not to buy the unhealthy food for their families
- In order to sustain our health care system, we need to invest more resources in health promotion/population health approaches
- NB has the 2nd highest rate of obesity in Canada
- To have an impact on obesity we need multiple strategies around healthy eating and physical activity
- Fredericton is investing in state of the art recreational facilities to increase physical activity. We need to make sure that families using these facilities have access to healthy food/beverage choices while visiting these facilities
- Fredericton could be a role model for the province for truly healthy recreational facilities
- There is a potential to increase revenue of canteens / vending machines in these facilities because there is a market that is not currently being topped because families choose not to buy the unhealthy food for their families
- In order to sustain our health care system, we need to invest more resources in health promotion/population health approaches
NB has the 2nd highest rate of obesity in Canada
To have an impact on obesity we need multiple strategies around healthy eating and physical activity
Fredericton is investing in state of the art recreational facilities to increase physical activity. We need to make sure that families using these facilities have access to healthy food/beverage choices while visiting these facilities
Fredericton could be a role model for the province for truly healthy recreational facilities
There is a potential to increase revenue of canteens / vending machines in these facilities because there is a market that is not currently being topped because families choose not to buy the unhealthy food for their families. In order to sustain our health care system, we need to invest more resources in health promotion/population health approaches
Recommendations:
1. Development of a city policy / regulation that at least 50% of food and beverages sold at recreation facilities be healthy 2. After school programs, organized youth activities (ie: Scouts, Girl Guides, sport activities, etc), Sunday School programs be encouraged to offer healthy options if serving food to youth.
Action Plan:
Bridge of Empowerment: A physical/symbolic structure on Carleton Street piers for recreational and cultural activities
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Ian Robertson
Participants:
Shawn Bartone Andrew Gunter Katie FitzRandolph Hart North
Summary of Proceedings:
Benefits: - Compliment existing trails system - Reduce vehicle traffic on existing bridges - Encourage Northside (Devon) redevelopment - Provide increased housing options, especially for NB College of Craft and Design Mechanics/Steps to Achieving Results: - Preliminary engineering study (if not already done) - Engineering/design coaches and costing of actual work Possible partners: - UNB Faculty of Engineering / Students - Engineers Without Borders - CFB Gagetown
Recommendations:
Action Plan:
Convener:
Allison
Participants:
John Dennis Stephanie Sarah Shelby Margaret Savidge
Summary of Proceedings:
No guidance counselor intervention in schools
- Counselors overloaded with issues
Recommendations:
- PETL and Service Canada can partner to go into schools
- Early intervention is key (ie: student loan defaults)
- Student loan education
Action Plan:
- Creating more interventions outside of school - Partnerships with different levels of government and private sector to reach our youth
Convener:
Andy Scott
Participants:
Lawrence Wuest
Diana MacLean
Bob Fistler
Mitch Peters
Edee Klee
Elizabeth Dvergsten-Beauce
Eileen Malone
John Carkner
Shirley Cleave
Margaret Dykeman
Mac MacFarlane
Tara Brinstion
Miles Clayden
Maria Goldfarb
Nick Scott
Christine Little
Elizabeth McBain
Kate Rogers
Kelsey Patterson
Penny Ericson
Meghan McGrattan
Joe Crawford
Thelma Innes
Marz Trahms
Summary of Proceedings:
First, the goup discussed simple community involvement. New residents, people with disabilities, university students and seniors sometimes feel isolation; that Fredericton is not as inviting or open as long time residents might think. More should be done to make these people feel welcome and included.
Second, there was considerable discussion around engagement within civil society; working with not-for-profits of all kinds. This occupied most of our time. Again, the feeling was expressed these groups were intimidating, inaccessible, not well known and populated with people who knew each other and had been working together for a long time. It was noted repeatedly that this was paticularly discouraging for younger participants.
Thirdly, we discussed engagement in the "public policy" or political sense. There was an expressed desire that there be more oppotunities to be involved in discussing public policy without being explicitly partisan.
Recommendations:
By way of RECOMMENDATIONS the group suggested the need for general "engagement initiatives". Given the the need for volunteers it was recommended some form of data base be created (or one exists but people are not sufficiently aware). There should be greater collaboration between NGOs to reduce redundancy and increase complementarity and seamlessness. Particular emphasis should be placed on youth. They are willing to be involved but don't know where to go nor do they always feel welcome. It was recommended that organizations consider mentorship programs to introduce and guide youth (and new and other residents). It was suggested that Fredericton make better use of technology for it's efficiency and its "youth friendliness" to link willing "doers" with those who need them. This led to the idea of a volunteer center as was discussed in other groups or the possibility of looking at the YMCA or a model like the Saint John Human Development Council. The business community should be more engaged. There should be "issue specific Forums" like this on a regular basis. Fredericton Social Innovation should either host/initiate or cause same. There should be a website (when it was mentioned there was one it was pointed out that they didn't know). It was recommended that these activities should not require new "bureaucracy" but that existing groups should take them on. It was recommended that a "citizens network" be built, with a list of engaged citizens with their interests/expertise identified and that the Fredericton Social Innovation Network be the "anchor" for such a list. Consideration should be given to a dedicated space (like the present Y) for NGOs. It was suggested that we should choose a particular goal such as supporting the most vulnerable people and rally the community around them and that the rest would follow. Fredericton needs a workshop on engagement of all sorts, probably provided by the city in advance of municipal elections but speaking to involvement generally and we were reminded that technology could be very supportive to do connecting in an innovative and youth friendly way. It was recommended that we push for civics education and that we connect civil society leadership with the school system..
Action Plan:
While many of the recommendation can be translated into actions the only specific action item was to repeat the Open Spaces Initiative in a year.
Convener:
Anne Marie Hartford
Participants:
Adam Kelly
Jane Yeo
Jim Christopher
Tara Sutherland
Alex LeBlanc
John McDougall
Miguel LeBlanc
Scott MacAfee
Summary of Proceedings:
- Feasible in small / larger communities (Quispamsis, Saint John, PEI, NB – Lunenberg)
- Weekly to every other week
- Make it easy – small bags to pick up bin
- Complement to Community Garden
- Provide a starter kit
- Include businesses and apartments in recycling pick up
- See through bags
- No plastic bottles
- Are there provincial and/or federal monies
- Farmers / gardens in city provide amount to restaurants and grocery stores
- Privately operated?
- If not composting, what is cost to landfill
- Engage youth in this initiative
- Neighborhood composters maintained by the city?
Recommendations:
Action Plan:
Convener:
Participants:
Summary of Proceedings:
Common place for NPO needed What will become of the Y? High maintenance/ upkeep? Purchase building? Who would own it? Other options York House Canadian Tire (North side) Smythe street school Goal- strengthen services because currently overlapping- so join together Combine programs Funders like this Not paying as much for admin fees, etc can focus more on service delivery and reach a larger market
Recommendations:
Action Plan:
Convener:
Eric Gionet
Participants:
Penny Erickson Tara Brinston Thelma Innes Kate Rogers Kate FitzRandolph Aimee Forman Tim Coates John Coates John Sharpe Fiona Williams Mavis Doucette
Summary of Proceedings:
Pros/cons of setting priority Determining = validity What information does funding require? How to use existing organizations? How to get win- win for agency/ funding Can an organization like United way play a role in determining priority if so – how do you manage mission deficit? Why is fundraising so difficult if we need for certain resource school food banks? Spontaneous funding ie Haiti type vs. sustainable requirements Education key =who is responsible for this on a broad base and what to convey Who are the avoidances to educate? Youth have info sessions Some methods of solicitation are harmful wrong people making the ask! Giving is personal preference Are you an organization or program Can gov’t pay a role in beginning programs/ services together Have to be careful that NCOR not totally funded by gov’t Province needs to work with folks to maintain funds
Recommendations:
FSI could be a vip structure? Are there opportunities for organizations to join forces? How to encourage agency collaborations vs competition Have to be careful not to stop creativity. To drive organizations where need does not exist. FSI could be a mechanism to establish students Is there a way to how much we save with all the good services/ infrastructure that we have in place… is this something that FSI could do to show founders what we do with what we have and what we could do with more! No contribution agreements can’t retain it
Action Plan:
Design a mechanism to determine a stamp of approval official recognizing validity of service (also approval) Should it be issued based? What criteria’s should be used to determine funding criteria? Credibility of agency/ attention to problem
Developing Collaborative Leadership Skills
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Jeanne Geldart
Participants:
Andy Scott
Marz Trahms
Maria Goldfarb
Lawrence Wuest
Summary of Proceedings:
- Leadership: what it is and isn’t and various perceptions
- Where participants place themselves on the leadership spectrum
- How to gain knowledge, confidence, skills to move a concept or concern into action
- How to lead for conformational change
- How to develop community sensitivity and awareness of the need for change
- Learn about best practices for change elsewhere
- How to change the system from its current model to a more collaborative one
- How to acquire knowledge about progressive organizations, processes, and tools
- Check out “socionomics” – an assessment tool used in Russia
- Recognize the aristocratic model is outdated but institutions cling to it
- Answer the question “What is the appropriate role for government for transformational change
- Work towards changing society so that public sees itself as a leader rather than an advocate to a leader
Recommendations:
1. City Council be trained in collaborative leadership
2. Training in collaborative leadership be provided to the community
3. The City of Fredericton embrace collaborative leadership styles and champion the style in the community
4. Ask council to re-think it’s ward system, which is aggressive and to encourage more collaboration
Action Plan:
1. Educate for collaborative leadership style, the current zeitgeist 2. Make one article available for people on collaborative leadership (at this conference?).
Convener:
Participants:
Kelsey Patterson Virginia B Shleby Mercer Lisa Roy Sarah Caissie Mitch Claybourn Claudia Hitchcock Janet Smith
Summary of Proceedings:
NYC good model
Location is important
Indoor/year round
Skate Barn
Crime prevention
Midnight B-Ball
Boredom
Big Upside
Political will over 1000 youth
Lots of kids and know how
Need a champion
Youth LED
Youth Park
Transportation and accessibility is key
Peer mentoring
Youth master plan
Reflect youths needs
‘Engagement focused
Volunteer
Service learning
Sustainability
Youth run business/ enterprise
Mentoring
Skaters welcome
Amendment to by law 4 wheels on the ground
No play
Youth centre year round
Technology age
Recommendations:
Action Plan:
Education challenges for children, youth, adults
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Participants:
Alision Pineo Lisa Roy Shelby Mercer Sarah Cassie Cheryl MacLaughlin Betty Saunders Mitch Peters John Otteson
Summary of Proceedings:
Support for the support workers TA’s have hardest to serve youth with least amount of education Pre-schools have one to one support as long as funding is in place Short –term contracts Alternative schools Alternative approaches to learning/ teaching Creative learning environment Collaboration Connecting with school system awareness What can you do? Partnering- creating action plans Research Statistics of Education. Renaissance College Frontier Support Winning back our youth May 12th Annual youth engagement forums
Recommendations:
Action Plan:
Educational opportunities for persons aged 50 and more
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Myrna Gunter
Recommendations:
- Take the course off UNB campus
- Collaborate with the community ie: if doing a sports session, go to the Y, if doing arts, go to the CSAC
Convener:
Andrew Gunter
Summary of Proceedings:
- help tourists and other connect with their genealogical and historic roots
- History of their homes or former homes
- www.labs.familysearch.org for the parishes of Southampton, Bright and Queensbury but it’s likely that the City of F’ton would be too large for all families to be covered on one web site; other York County parishes could have their own websites
- Other links: Fredericton Heritage Trust, New Brunswick Genealogical Society Capital Branch, York-Sunbury Historical Society, Fredericton North Heritage Association
Recommendations:
- Connection on city web site to Provincial Archives
- List emails of persons willing to help tourists
Action Plan:
- Bring up the idea to various groups (I will do this.)
Convener:
Kevin McKinney
Participants:
Kevin Donna Bowlin Randy Dickinson Ian Culligan
Summary of Proceedings:
- There already is one that works in conjunction with the DECH palliative care unit - It’s a continuum of work done at DECH - Urgently needed: Spread the work, the service is free - A volunteer base is essential to help the family members cope with end of life issues of their loved one
Recommendations:
Contact 472-8185 Tues or Wed during office hours; Leave a message if need be www.hospicefredericton.ca
How do we help attract and retain newcomer professionals/business people
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Ben McNamara
Participants:
Bruce MacPherson
Joe Gallant
Doug Motty
Joanne Thomson
Eric Megarity
Summary of Proceedings:
Retention- not staying No understanding of services Language (not comfortable) no strict timelines A need to focus on those here
Recommendations:
Honesty in recruitment Discussions with associations Develop more cultural understanding
Action Plan:
Meeting with key stakeholders Doug Motty offered to host (Enterprise F’ton)
Convener:
Andrew Steeves
Participants:
Sonya Hull Mac MacFarlane Lawrence Wuest Penny Ericson Karl McLellan David Innes Jill Peters Aimée Foreman Mike O’Brien Mary Dykeman Marz Trahms Edee Klee
Summary of Proceedings:
- There are many good ideas but how can we pay for them all? (Idealist: Value of everything, price of nothing; Cynic: price of everything, value of nothing)
Recommendations:
- Account for the full costs ($, health, environment)
- Check our underlying assumptions: why are we doing this? Why? Why? Why?
- Determine if large national companies pay / control as much as local companies
- User pay / user fees (such as those at GFAA)
- Setting priorities (through forums such as this) and then saying “no” to other good ideas
- Investigate other options ie: can services be delivered more efficiently through service groups / private companies
- Consider higher taxes / fees / trade off alternate delivery mechanisms
- Social investment = political leverage (C of F)
- Sustainable “social” entities (Charlotte St Centre)
- Links to neighboring communities (ie: transportation to/from Oromocto)
- Push program delivery to lowest level ie social groups (most efficient) and community ownership
- F’ton Community Foundation Green initiative (carbon) offsets invested in F’ton
- Find ways to encourage local groups to invest in social initiatives (empower, encourage) ie: churches
Action Plan:
- Define the “Fredericton” we envision for future and the various priority actions / activities required to attain that Fredericton - Remember a sound priority never lacks funding / support - Be open to changes and respond to them (demographics, environment climate change) - Once priorities are set, then communicate, education, communicate, educate, etc etc
Convener:
Janine Papadopoulis
Participants:
Edee Klee
Shauna Miller
Virginia Bjerlalard
Tara Sutherland
Summary of Proceedings:
Recommendations:
Action Plan:
Convener:
Angela Carr
Participants:
Bernadett Samulski
Richard Tenderenda
Hart North
Carney O’Hara
Summary of Proceedings:
- Literacy & poverty are linked
- It can be generational- responsibility on parents to assist kids /encourage kids
- Literacy- low Numeracy- math
- Poverty reduction Plan – literacy
- Why do we still have people with low literacy/ numeracy?
- Schools (Public) education on system
- Kids get pushed from one grade to the another
- We need a shift- identify students who need help early on
- Boys and girls learn differently- acknowledge this
- Kindergarten- changed- now in school over loading lots of play and socialization
- Reading resources for middle ages (not elementary & not adult)
- Literacy agencies (NPO’s) there are overlaps. Can this be examined? There needs to be an effective/ united voice to work with government
- Increase in availability of mentors for school age- government employees, baby boomers, male mentors, female mentors, need training and access to resources, youth
- Schools lack one on one time with teachers and students
- Korea 50 + students
- We don’t have a culture of discipline in the schools
- Instill in young people the desire to read – grand parents, others
- Adult literacy- besides poverty, other barriers like health care (reading forms, instructions)
- Still goal to have GED
- People have figured out some coping skills, but still dying earlier/ poverty/ crime
- Socially isolating (low social connectivity)
- Culture of learning is needed what do you do outside of school hours? With your family?
- Focus on basic skills in curriculum
- Technology- Facebook, twitter, slang are all cultural shifts
- Do we have a strategy? Education Dept, Municipal – what is city’s role?
- Local TV can educate and inform (ex. Chipman) radio
How does Fredericton transition to a post-fossil fuel city?
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Shawn Bartone
Participants:
Shawn Bartone Hart North
Summary of Proceedings:
Encourage dual systems - low power solar and standard for household electricity. Transportation diversity: bike, bus. City hydro power using Saint John and Nashwaak rivers
Recommendations:
Action Plan:
How to create a sustainable city: balancing social, environmental and economic concerns
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Sonya Hull
Participants:
Andre Gunter Garth Duguay Thelma and David Innes Joe Gallant Tracy Glynn Gary Glauser Lawerence Wuest Andrew Seeves Halt North Greg Ericson Janine Papadopoulis
Summary of Proceedings:
Sustainable growth- creating a visible, resilient sustainable city- by design- for the future Do not value once sector over the other
1. Social
2. Economic
3. Environmental
Integrated planning approaches with all levels of influences (local gov’t, provincial gov’t, business comm.. citizen groups, community
Move focus form development/ housing to communities/ neighborhoods change not in my backyard mentality so neighborhoods can exist with amenities (daycares, stores, etc)
City needs a plan to guide future developments so decisions are objectives and take into account the balance of 3n (social environmental, economic)
We are a capital city, how do we compare to other capital cities?
Recommendations:
What needs to be done? Number your recommendations and before ending your discussion agree on up to 5 you consider the most important and put an asterisk (*) beside each “most important” one. 1. Development of an integrated community 2. Incentives/subsides for building a sustainable development 3. Investing in given jobs here 4. Transportation info structure to support economy 5. Recognize trade-offs in maintaining balance 6. Openers/ mixed density development services available; recycling, bus station
Action Plan:
Better communication re future plan and growth the grand plan and how actions/ policies fit in. Proactive annual town hall mechanism (robust planning) Urban sprawl issue- coordination with LSD s, outsides community, provincial gov’t
Improve the coordination of Government, Business, Non Profit, and Service sectors in delivery of services to those in need
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
John Carkner
Participants:
Tara Brinston Randy Dickinson Elizabeth Dvergsten-Beauce John Coates Edee Klee Kate Rogers Kim Russell Susan White Elizabeth McBain Mitch Peters Ian Culligan Brian Carty
Summary of Proceedings:
What we bring to the table
How to bridge silos
Entry point-access
Awareness
Overlapping, reduce cost effectiveness
Turf war vs. flexibility
Recommendations:
Central forum to provide awareness of all players in all sections, entry point access Reduce Obstacles Focus on long term solutions vs. short term projects Integrate four sectors Eliminate duplication Sharp resources on similar issues Tear down silos
Action Plan:
Coordinate with human development council website
Convener:
Olivier Thibault
Summary of Proceedings:
- What makes a city truly successful? You can have all sorts of industries or tourism, but it’s the profit that opens doors to run programs, raise quality of life, etc.
Currently there are dozens of services that could cater to the military in Oromocto, bringing in jobs for Frederictonians. Privates make roughly $50,000 / year and the taxi service and bars are profiting the most (taxi = $50 two ways, bars – evident)
How can we distribute this to benefit Fredericton?
Recommendations:
Diversify!!
1. Transit system from Oromocto to Fredericton through Lincoln – cheaper on military, more money to spend elsewhere in Fredericton, less emissions
2. Open “day cares” that can be branched into Oromocto
3. More shopping, more accessible, different variety!!
4. Visit other cities and note what we can assimilate.
Action Plan:
- Market analysis for transit between Oromocto and Fredericton - Market analysis for day cares, dog sitters, etc.
Integrating the university into the community
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Kelsey Patterson
Participants:
Katie O”shea (RC) Greg Ericson UNB Diana MacLean Margaret Dykeman- UNB (Faculty of nursing) Aimee Foreman Myrna Gunter Ollie Thibault
Summary of Proceedings:
Strengths Volunteer work (residence charities, nursing clinics) Huge communities (man power) what we could do Student nights/ discount Knowledge; fountain of knowledge, new opinions Students placements and Renaissance College Cleaned up College Hill Accessible housing Committee on this (City council) Weaknesses City doesn’t recognize Universities volunteer work Lack of communication Breaking the community after graduation (Cliques) Expensive housing Transportation- sidewalks, cross walks, plowing of sidewalks Isolating the multicultural students Education is not affordable- detracts our focus, causes equality issues Board of governors minutes are not available Town council sessions on university issues Bus system Unaffordable housing Opportunities Orientation week More public places on campus Integration international students Bring Fredericton to campus (games charities) Mentorship between alumni and students Increase awareness on university Involving students in governance Threats Slum landlords Students are seen as lesser- we should form communities Disengagement from city – lack of awareness Misnomers for discussions- make names more appealing and informing students, council discussion, etc.. Not realizing how busy student’s are- scheduling events so students can attend!
Recommendations:
1. Initiate dialogue with city (Municipal council, etc)
2. Involve the community more in Orientation Week
3. Look at inviting community members to events and have the city more open to going
4. That City discussions involving students are properly advertised and schedule for students. (Keeping in mind how busy they are)
5. Mentorships between alumni in community and current students
*6. More student voices on planning committees and community members on student committees.
Action Plan:
Have the Student Unions get in contact with local councilor- invite them to do an info session, get the VP external involved Alumni should start up a mentorship program More Alumni events- utilize grad house City holding info sessions on campus to give students more opportunities to get involved City hosts townhall social specific meeting for student issues
Let’s elect progressive thinkers, humanists, feminists and earth first visionaries to city council
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Marz Trahams
Participants:
Edee Klee
Joe Gallant
Myrna Gunter
Jeanne Geldart
Kate Rogers
Summary of Proceedings:
Changing the political culture of Fredericton (see topic) Municipal government and staff developed the way it did for a reason but it is time for a paradigm shift: What is needed has changed, lets learn how to lead board providing the leadership that is needed.
Recommendations:
Land developers and realtors and the like are probably in conflict of interest if they sit on council : Don’t allow it Elect a visionary council that instructs senior staff not vice versa Municipal government has huge effect on daily lives: promote citizen leadership from diverse walks of life and economic levels.
Action Plan:
Provide regular forums for citizens to build mentoring leadership skills, good thinking skills, speaking skills and the like. (city wide and ward wide perhaps?) Provide support – financial, personnel, resources, research etc. to candidates Elect a visionary slate of candidates and continue to give them support
Convener:
Janine Papadopoulis
Participants:
Anne Marie Hartford
Joe Crawford
Shauna Miller
Susanne White
Shaun Bartone
Edee Klee
Jack MacDougall
Summary of Proceedings:
When trees are prevented- plant walnut, fruit trees, raspberries, etc. Bylaws to incorporate development to include- garden space & green space Using our fish as a resource Buy local directory CSA-boxes community supported agriculture Landless gardeners (Public and Private space) Donate a portion to soup kitchen Using land for produce Farmers market (open more) Local foods Work with groups on how to Home-Ec back in schools Lobby for chairs to purchase local Select local North side – market Talking to city neighborhood garden Securing public land to develop community garden Promoting businesses that buy local Co-op shop where local produce/cheese meat and we can buy local March –celebrate food from field to table Providing spaces when developing garden spaces, play space Roof top garden Policies to encourage development with green space, play space Livestock
Convener:
Claudia Hitchcock
Participants:
Miguel LeBlanc
Ian Culligan
Cheryl McLaughlin
Donna Bowlin
Doris Roach
Marg Dykeman
Kim Russell
Bruce MacPherson
John Otteson
Sarah Casey
Shelby Mercer
Summary of Proceedings:
- Military – support - Seniors – M-H - Children falling through cracks - Collaboration of professionals, front line - Supportive housing – MH (Subsidized and on site support, low income housing issues) - Youth housing – additional support - Understanding (stigma) ie: advertising campaign - Youth access to support – awareness, no waiting list, gap age group, connecting representatives - Recreation – encourage the disconnected - Education; Connections between MH / Addictions; Desensitization (“badge of honor”) - Staffing / Resources – Volunteerism, empowering w/ education, more crisis unit - Knowing signs / watching behavior change - Awareness - Coordination between MH and Addictions - Treatment / Transitional Process - Empowerment – self-sufficiency - DSM4 – MH / Addictions - Integration of services – overloaded services - Proactive vs reactive - Housing first (Moncton – Pilot) - Identifying “at risk” people - Income issues - Social inclusion
Recommendations:
- City needs to be responsible for helping us w/ land - Land for treatment / transitional housing - Accessible (NOT in the Industrial Park!!) - UNB – New Community Health Clinic - Infrastructure to provide coordination - Encourage Fredericton to take ownership for change - Fredericton to take leadership to collaborate
Action Plan:
- Find the affluent who can influence (Champion – Business, passionate) - Business involvement – “Fredericton Social Innovation” one venue for influence - Collaborate the aware - City create “social policy” - Where are you? - “Health and Wellness Committee” modeling the collaboration
Convener:
Evan Pemberton
Participants:
Evan Pemberton, Jack MacDougall
Summary of Proceedings:
- City of Fredericton and other municipalities in NB / across Canada do not have protection from the competitive mandate set forth by the CRTC for telecom development - Costs the municipalities hundreds of thousands of dollars every year because of relocations and infrastructure (roads, boulevards, etc) - A wider Regent Street??
Convener:
Angela Carr
Participants:
Trish Mersereau
Elizabeth Dvergsten-Beauce
Marg Dykeman
Kate Rogers
Jane Buckley
Elizabeth McBain
Judy Coates
Eric Megarity
Tara Brinston
Katie FitzRandolph
Cheryl McLaughlin
Nick Scott
Mac MacFarlane
Lee Winchester
Shirley Cleave
Janet Smith
- Get familiar with each other’s services
- Network for Executive Directors (or equivalent): sharing experiences, could be regional and provincial, unique challenges, tips and tricks, professional development
- Non-profits without staff
- NBDEN an example of a network; Family Services Atlantic
- Within sector or between sector
- Forum / session for organizations: United Way – resource
- Link up with idea of volunteer centre … could be the manager of network
- Strong network – effective policy
- Core funding – ED network – lobby – unified voice
- FSI – bring networks together
- Inventory of NPO’s helpful
- Explore possibilities of merging NPO’s
- Facilitated by technology: contacts, projects, programs, profiles, translation, user friendly, funds (ie: Social Policy Research data base; Premier’s Council Status of Disabled)
- Name: Volunteer Centre vs Non-Profit Coordination Centre
- Advocacy – sharing ideas between organizations; connect on common issues
- Coordination of staff, education, advocacy (not just volunteers)
- Some NPO’s have few volunteers
- Sometimes a disconnect between staff and volunteers = All are human resources
- Some existing templates, rules and regulations
- Director Liability = responsibilities (legal and insurance)
- Board training = module / tool
- Insurance and risk management
- Confidentiality issues
- Sense of empowerment / momentum
- The more organized the NPO’s, the more ability to work with other sectors (Network for Healthy Living)
- Would you be willing to contribute money? Yes: necessity more than willingness; In-Kind contributions (models, templates, training session, grant proposal forms)
Recommendations:
- Work towards partnerships and shared resources, funding proposals - Mentorship and shared expertise - Electronic matching tools for volunteers - www.change.org (NPO’s Facebook) - Foundations search website - Begin to bring gov’t and NPO’s closer; A place for government to start the conversation; Collectively NPO’s could help meet gov’t mandates (evidence-based outcomes, align priorities with gov’t priorities – use same language/angle)
Non-organized recreational opportunities for teens
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Bernadet Samulski
Participants:
Shauna Miller Mitch Claybourne Lisa Roy Margaret Savidge
Summary of Proceedings:
Need more skate, swim, gym, etc time for youth. Free or at minimal cost. - wider variety of sports available (track year round, skate board parks). Better maintenance of x-country ski trails, more youth athletics that don’t involve team participation, more non-competitive teams, especially at middle schol level so that more teens have the opportunity to get active and to participate
Recommendations:
Set aside teen times at all facilities, youth recreation master plan developed, invest more money in health promotion (ie recreation for youth will keep youth healthier, lower crime rates. Make rinks truly “community facilities” not just hockey facilities. Mountain bike trails and parks developed.
Action Plan:
Develop website (or enhance and promote existing city website) that lists all opportunities for youth. Adjust schedules for the fall to increase teen opportunities.
Convener:
Katie FitzRandolph
Participants:
Brian Carty Susanne White Hart North Andrew Gunter
Summary of Proceedings:
The need for public and private philanthropic support. The arts can be perceived as elitist- but when we travel we seek out the arts in other places as a way of learning Look at the quote from Gabrielle Roi on the Canadian $20 bill: “Could we ever know each other in the slightest without the arts?” The artist creates in isolation, unseen vs the art itself which is shared A $1,200 grant supported a 17-minute film including 103 cast and crew- a $12/head investment in art participation, which resulted in some of the participants becoming further involved in the arts:the arts provide an amazing return on investment,- cheap support includes $ and encouragement The arts are perceived as “separate”, not integrated into people’s lives and community. Should be part of the design of communities, and people should be made aware of the arts around them. The idea of “The arts” carries baggage Art - anything that consciously adds beauty to the utilitarian? Visual, music, dance, craft, architecture, photography, diversity from many cultures
Recommendations:
Fredericton should, like Saint John & Moncton, dedicate 1% for the arts in all municipal construction over a certain value Accessible art classes so people can try their hand at creation with minimal investment and risk and have a chance to see themselves as artistic. The City’s ED ventures program is good for this A city wide annual focus on one of the arts, switching every year. 2011- The Fredericton Year of Drama! Public profiles of artists- their work, families, lives, a human face in the Gleaner. Could the old Gallery Connexion space offer summer exhibits geared to tourists? Draw on city’s rich photo archives? Or possibly York House? Possibly as a summer student project?The city spends $80,000 a year on the arts. What if it spent $200,000? We shoul focus on our hidden treasures, like the clock at City Hall. How about an annual art scavenger hunt organized by city tourism? Following on the salmon run in 2009 which did involve a lot of people trying to see all the salmon? Galleries in Euripe are often free, attracting more people. How about an ARts Blog? Or twitter?
Action Plan:
Focus on Hidden treasures (ie City hall Clock ) an annual art scavenger hunt for visitors and locals ie: the Salmon run Create an art blog? Twitter ?
Opening of a L’Arche Community for the intellectually disabled in Fredericton
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Margaret Savidge
Participants:
Olivier Thibault John Coates Alex Leblanc Jim Christopher Brian Duplessis Dana McDade Eileen Malone
Action Plan:
1. Attend affordable housing association 2. Get in touch with provincial government 3. Develop a firm offer of funding L’Arche Group - Next Meeting, March 7 6:30-8pm, Monseigneur Boyd Family Centre. St. Dunstan’s church, corner of Brunswick and Regent.
Convener:
Bernadet Samulski & Marz Truhms
Participants:
Edee Klee George Feenstra Brian Carty Marilyn Kerton Katie O’Shea Hart North Bernadet Smolski M.K. Trahms Mitch Peters Fiona Williams
Summary of Proceedings:
- “People drive cars – people are not cars” - Car culture is overriding other livable and green city ethos - Need to adopt a “slow city movement” - Fear that moving away from oil economy will be harmful but evidence elsewhere shows cities thrive when they do so - Resistance at City Hall … promoting periphery - People (not cars) first - Green consultants - Don’t refuse to listen to people like conservation council - Don’t empty downtown - Crossing over highway from Skyline Acres to UNB - Densification not sprawl - Globs of land occupied by parking - Not everyone will or are willing to give up on cars - Public education for citizen engagement - Tyranny of experts
Recommendations:
- Return to neighborhood school concept so students can walk - Make more demands on developers to provide bus access steps, bike racks, sidewalks - Stores on streets with parking behind - Discourage sprawl within City (ie: box store malls at Two Nations Crossing and Knowledge Park) - Any new bridge should be bike and pedestrian friendly - We subsidize cars – public transit subsidy shouldn't be vilified - Why burden students with cars?
Action Plan:
- Don’t widen major streets too much especially lower Regent - Smaller more frequent buses - Allow strollers on buses - Need east-west bus routes on both North & South sides - Plan a collector road system – enable bus routes - Bicycle access to all parts of city - More bike racks - Bus shuttle on Regent Street - Get rid of push button walk lights at major intersections - Traffic calming on Regent Street: Value the pedestrians safety
Convener:
Mavis Doucette
Participants:
Scott MacAfee Randy Dickinson Eric Megarity John Coates Kelsey Patterson Janine Popodopolus Miguel Leblanc Aimee Forman Mary Astle Susan Sam Eric Gionet Elizabeth
Summary of Proceedings:
Room to grow with Social Development Keep more allowable earnings- sliding scale Same amount of dollars earned for all 3 levels (keep them accountable!!!) if election changes will it be honored Rent Control (low income) Bill 35 Literacy- GED community engagement – funding, is there? can city access it? Meaningful wage- work done can business and city government get together incentives Guarantee income city take leadership role in pay equity City provides land for non-profits to build housing – is 20 enough? Engage all parties housing act come out of silo’s Program from city to walk though process immigrants- seniors act maybe lending staff Incentives to self empower Local inclusion board new people the understand the process to connect the dots… Open space for people living in poverty to understand the process to empower them which is client driven Nothing about is without us Support system more flexible before crisis happens Youth on committees Poverty Prevention not reduction Organizations include in programming clients not able to afford- develop an inventory Transportation- can we do more? Ex. Sunday- volunteers for appointments Volunteer liability Can organizations donate gas etc? Tax deduction for so many hours of volunteering- incentives non profit secretariat Registry for resources Partnerships – Reps for all levels Navigator (team) Database – ex. Chimio Child care – accessible, affordable – subsidize – the transportation to get child to caregiver How do we prevent seniors from poverty- plan for the future new category Current resources in creative new ways ie. School bus
Convener:
Fiona Williams
Participants:
Fiona Williams Christine Little Trisha Mersereau Mitch Claybourn Gary Glauser Karl McLellan Angela Carr
Summary of Proceedings:
- Help volunteers understand the responsibilities of volunteering (reliability, accountability, role in boards) - Help organizations give volunteers a good experience - Need good collaboration - Recruitment strategy - Volunteer Centre to coordinate people looking for opportunities / organizations looking for volunteers - Workplace encouragement of staff volunteering in the community - Target groups (ie: univ. students, retirees) – different groups have different ways of volunteering - Mentoring - Opportunity for “sharing” volunteers - A listing can reduce duplication - Point out positives that volunteers get rather than just what organizations need (ie: what you learn, who you meet, new skills) - People don’t know they are capable of being a volunteer - “One-off” vs. commitment over long term
Recommendations:
- Social marketing as a way to recruit - We need a coordination system like “e-harmony” to match volunteers and organizations (ie Frederictoninfo.ca expansion)
Action Plan:
- Street outreach workers - City committee on social issues (FSI?) - Secondment of City paid staff to work in community organizations (ie: new police doing shifts in shelter) - Look at property tax so rents can be affordable - Workshops for City staff - When City gov’t says “it’s not our mandate” they must also tell us how to address it at another level. - Front line workers have meeting w/ city council and employees to show them what IS out there. - Public awareness
Convener:
Janine Papadopoulis
Participants:
Priscilla Geisterfer Maria Goldfrab Jane Yeo Jim Christopher Judy Coates Gary Forward
Summary of Proceedings:
Language is a big effort Different mediums Small enough area you get in don’t want to leave Public spaces Proposal creating diversity by having a place to meet Certified trained diversity friendly place Multicultural place How do we keep people here Accessibility Employment Feeling like we belong Respecting difference Education Living in a dominant culture to hear others
Recommendations:
Thinking about being a diverse city with planning Creating a common place which includes allows for diversity (convention centre) table and chairs New welcoming diversity/ multicultural centre Taking this open spaces to the diverse community. Low incomes, immigrants, First nations and people with disabilities Long term planning meeting our diverse needs
Participants:
Bobby Despres Eileen Malone Melanie Pinet Donna Chiasson
Summary of Proceedings:
Need a “Stepping Stone” like centre for North Side: drop in Social/recreational/educational activities
A central contact for north side population
Resource/ information centre
Recommendations:
Access available resources Johnston Care between 11:30-1:30 , 5 days/wk Willie O’Ree one or two afternoons a week Create a plan of action- Hire Part time coordinator Access Funding: Fton community Foundation, Seniors Secretariat, New Horizons
Convener:
Participants:
Thelma Innes Anne Marie Hartford Christine Little Donna Chiasson Melanie Pinet Eric Megarity Ellen Malone
Summary of Proceedings:
Health Physical Activities, Prevention/ promotion
Housing- Zoning rules and regranny flats
Recreation – social inclusion
Transportation – Seniors free pass 1 day / wk- Dial a ride
Age friendly community – sidewalks, benches, crosswalks, public washrooms, senior advisory to council, Mobile- rec /physical activity to go to seniors buildings
Local cable giving info on services available
Radio program
Seniors over night program (caregivers get a good sleep)
Resource centre (mobile) (caregiving contacts/ directory info re housing/ repairs)
In home respite care
Care giver networks (NS) support
Students Placements (intergenerational opportunity Exchanges)
Convener:
Fiona Williams
Participants:
Fiona Williams
Mavis Doucette
Cheryl McLaughlin
Trish Mersereau
Jaul MacDougall
Gary Glauser
Summary of Proceedings:
- Create a city committee on social issues (doesn’t write a cheque but like the Affordable Housing Committee, provides guidance for municipal policy) … FSI? - Local impacts: the issues is in our community, public safety - Bill 35 - Link to services - Double property taxes (affects rents) - Affordable housing should always be on bus routes! - When soup kitchen open, theft decreases - Some people don’t know Fredericton has homelessness
Recommendations:
- Education for City staff - Support for people transitioning out of homelessness - Raise community awareness - Municipal gov’t being involved with “basic need” services in some way - All municipalities to share models of housing programs
Action Plan:
- Street outreach workers - City committee on social issues (FSI?) - Secondment of City paid staff to work in community organizations (ie: new police doing shifts in shelter) - Look at property tax so rents can be affordable - Workshops for City staff - When City gov’t says “it’s not our mandate” they must also tell us how to address it at another level. - Front line workers have meeting w/ city council and employees to show them what IS out there. - Public awareness
Transportation between Fredericton & Saint John for Radiation and other reasons to hospital/Day trips
Written by Timothy Ross
Convener:
Virginia Bjerkelund
Participants:
Lucy Dyer
Kevin McKinney
John Sharpe
Summary of Proceedings:
Transportation needed from Fredericton to Saint John hospital
Obvious organization donations provide
Fred Hospice hopes to do this when they are better established
John Sharpe of Partners for youth agreed to post a buddy sheet at admissions in Saint John ie. List of those who need transportation with contact info and list of those who will give
Convince will do same in Fredericton DECH
Convener:
Judy Coates & Anne Marie Hartford
Participants:
Anne Marie Hartford Donna Chiasson Christine Little Tara Brinston Jill Peters Angela Carr Elizabeth Dvergsten-Beauce Karl McLellan Geraldine Tibayrenc Mavis Doucette Judy Coates John Cockner Bob Fisher Jane Yeo
Summary of Proceedings:
- Central source to match volunteer skills with non-profits in need (ie: university pool – students), share resources, create partnerships
- Why don’t we have something? Bricks and mortar or virtual
- Coordinate community fund raising events – calendar
- Educate/groom/develop skills of volunteer organizers
- Link with people in community that need volunteer support (ie: drives for doctors appts)
- Resource for non-profits to find volunteers
- Help citizens to get involved by helping them connect
- Recognize volunteers for their involvement
- Help to integrate people with community
- Centralize training – credentials
- Volunteer Canada for support to get started; look to City Hall as one driver
- Cost benefit analysis to garner support volunteer centre (Enterprise Moncton report)
- Link in corporate support and make connections
- Way for non-profits to help each other out re: peaks
- Connect service clubs
- Coordination
- Issue: Demographic aging shifts, youth involvement not there – how to promote volunteering to develop pool of future volunteers
- Benefit: integrate citizens
- Link to schools – accreditation for students
- Board development – to retain knowledge base
- Draw in schools to support ideals of volunteering; Give them plan they can support
- Volunteer screening centralized
- Fredericton accreditation card
- Will non-profits financially support volunteer centre or self funding
- Strength in funding initiatives through coordinated representation
- Economies of scale: people, resources, purchasing, office space infrastructure (old Y)
- Source for research and share info on best practice
- Source to encourage youth by making it accessible / instant need to plant seeds! Give youth opportunities
- Possible branding option for city … Fredericton – A City that Cares (to give them hook to connect / support initiative)
- Source to support new non-profit to develop education / infrastructure
- ?? How / where other volunteer centres funded??
Recommendations:
1. Invite volunteer centres (Moncton) to come share learnings
2. How to share building / resources – variety of models
3. Use volunteer centre staff to lead initiatives of joint interest and gather expertise
4. Networking for non-profit
5. Link to churches
Action Plan:
- Contact Volunteer Canada, Moncton, Saint John - FSI as coordinating body to move this forward
Convener:
Myrna Gunter
Participants:
Eileen Malone
Marisa Rojas
Masha Gold
Leah Levac
Katie FitzRandolph
Mary Lou Babineau
Penny Ericson
Joanne Thomson
Dona McDade-Kerr
Mavis Doucette
Aimee Foreman
Marilyn Kerton
Summary of Proceedings:
Organize a city council 101 for women interested in becoming a candidate
Encourage and support Youth
Support candidates (Personally and Financially)
Create a network with the person. And establish support on-line.
Try to meet mentorship and leadership needs of the candidates
Develop a written protocol for women candidates. Federal, Provincial and municipal
Convener:
Shelby Mercer
Participants:
Mel Herrick Byron MacDonald Jessica Chantelle Sarah Caissie Allison Pineo Cheryl McLaughlin John Otteson Stephanie MacEachen Mary Astle Alex Leblanc Scott MacAfee Janet Smith Jane Buckley Eric Megarity Miguel Leblanc Brian Duplessis George Feenstra Garth Duguay Myrna Gunter Donna Bowlin Joanne Thomson
Summary of Proceedings:
- Sofa surfers, housing, high needs, emergency movement towards the 16-18 protective services - There is nothing for males 16-18 for transitional housing support or even emergency support. - Limitations – need someone to take them in, lower rates, etc - Non-compliance?
Recommendations:
- Transition housing for males 16-18 – public housing (4 bedroom empty units that can be used (part of SD in kind donation to match Service Canada funds)
Action Plan:
- Partnerships with Service Canada (large amounts of $)
- Letters of support and testimonials
- Stats to show need
- Refer to youth in transition model
- Service Canada dollars prevention and supportive services matching funding – who are partners? City of Fredericton, Province, etc.
- Refer to family services act, poverty reduction, connecting the dots
- Jan Smith – Youth at Risk action team support
- ** Priority Action**
- This can move forward ASAP. We have commitments in place, funding units, support already in place.
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