Local Prosperity 2015 (Annapolis Royal)

The first Local Prosperity Conference held in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia in April 2015 was two events combined into one. A one-day Up!Skilling Festival was open to the public and provided a chance to learn a range of ‘do-it-yourself’ skills, crafts and trades taught by experienced teachers. The main conference, Local Prosperity: New Economics for Rural Canada was a 2.5 day experience in vision, practice, and action. We explored the possible, learned from others, and prepared to return home and implement new community building tools.

This conference focused on how individuals, businesses, and communities can design and then implement a practical blueprint for a prosperous future and a healthy economy – a future that is cooperative, compassionate, and long-term. An economy that leads people to meaningful and dignified work, respects nature’s capital, and reflects a culture of both growth and harmony.

View the April 2015 conference Recap Trailer:

Conference Materials

*Click the links to view Panel Slides and Video Recordings

*Special thanks to:

  • Videographers Ethan Neville and Bruno Jennings
  • Audio engineers Dillon Tonkin and Kevin Thompson
  • Video editor Ethan Neville
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Thursday, April 9, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

Two internationally recognized authors and speakers on new economics will each provide a short address, followed by a conversation with a guest moderator and discussions with the audience.

Michael Shuman – “The New Principles and Practice of Local Economic Development”

Marq de Villiers – “Solutions for Small Communities Are Already Here”

Moderator – Gregory Heming (Centre for Local Prosperity co-founder)

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Friday, April 10, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

Main Hall – Opening Plenary Remarks – Robert Cervelli – “Setting the Stage: Next-in-class Tools for the New Economic Model”

Main Hall – Plenary Keynote Address – Michael Shuman – “The Coming Rural Renaissance, and the Tools of Local Economic Development that Can Accelerate It”

Friday Breakout Sessions

# 1 – Localizing Community Investment (Room 307)

MODERATOR: Michael Shuman

PANELISTS:

# 2 – Local Complementary Currencies (Room 322)

MODERATOR: Alice Maggio, Local Currency Director for the Centre for New Economics

PANELISTS:

# 3 – Shared Community Resources (Room 321)

MODERATOR: Susan Witt (No slides)

PANELISTS:

# 4 – Local Energy Production and Distribution (Room 303)

MODERATOR: Dana Morin, Fundy Tidal

PANELISTS:

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS BASIN CONFERENCE CENTRE – 761 Broadway Ave, Cornwallis Park, NS

Banquet address: Steven Joudry First Nations and Rural Communities: Balance requires moving from isolation & marginalization to integration & collaboration.

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Saturday, April 11, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

Main Hall – Plenary Keynote Conversation: Two internationally recognized authors and speakers on new economics will each provide a short address, followed by a conversation with a guest moderator and discussions with the audience.

Moderator – Robert Cervelli

Saturday breakout sessions

#5 Small Farms and Food-sheds as Economic Drivers (Room 303)

MODERATOR: Joan Brady, Director, National Farmers Union

PANELISTS:

#6 Value-added Fisheries as a Resource of the Commons (Room 322)

MODERATOR: Sheila Bird, Our Lobsters, Our Communities

PANELISTS:

#7 Rebuilding the Value Chain from our Forests (Room 321)

MODERATOR: Will Martin, President, NS Woodlot Owners and Operators Association

PANELISTS:

#8 Arts & Culture Economy (Room 307)

MODERATOR: Allister Surette, President and Vice-chancellor of Université Sainte-Anne (No Slides)

PANELISTS:

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Sunday, April 12, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

Main Hall – Plenary Keynote: Gregory Heming – “Economy and the Politics of Place“

Main Hall – Sunday Plenary Session – Governance in the New Economy: Living A New Narrative

The shift to a local, restorative economy must be matched by a shift in our model of local governance. This shift will require a grassroots democracy comprised of citizens familiar with and loyal to a particular place. It will be a model of citizenship and livelihood that is fair, equal, bold and visionary.

Moderator: Teresa MacNeil, Chair of the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia

Panelists: John Ferguson, CAO, Municipal County of Annapolis

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Speakers

Coming soon.

Delegates

Conference Locations

Up!Skilling Festival Schedule

Thursday, April 9, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS BASIN CONFERENCE CENTRE – 761 Broadway Ave, Cornwallis Park, NS

8:00am – Registration opens

9:00am – 4:30pm UP!SKILLING FESTIVAL AND EXPO: People, skills, and projects that make theory happen (see schedule below)

The Up!Skilling Festival is open to the public and costs $25 for the day (or the fee is included in registration for the full conference). Preregistration is not required to attend, but appreciated (preregistration is now open – see Registration page). Lunch is available to the public for an extra fee.

This festival will share and teach skills that uplift and empower: heritage skills once common and new skills emerging. The day will include 5 classroom sessions to choose from, with classes given by experienced Skillers teaching a wide range of practical trades, crafts and skills. There will be a tools/skills/services exchange, displays and will connect local people and wisdom with conference goers in an energized event. Become a ‘Do-It-Yourselfer’ and learn valuable skills that you take home and immediately put into practice.

Please download our fun new poster. Share it, forward it, and post it locally!!! Up!Skilling Poster

UP!SKILLING SCHEDULE

8:00 Registration opens (stays open throughout the day), Set-up for skillers and displays

8:45 – 9:00 Mi’kmaw Smudging Offered – outside at Main Entrance

9:00 – 9:30 (Plenary Room 117) Welcome, Opening Remarks – David Wimberly – MC, Mi’kmaw Opening Ceremony and Honour Song, Welcome – Councillor Alex Morrison

Opening Remarks – David Wimberly -Up!Skilling Coordinator

9:45 Last chance to order lunch on site ($11.50 or included with full conference registration)

9:30 -10:30 Session Period One

Lobby – SEEN Skills/tools/services exchange & display, Ross Farm Museum display – all day

Room 117 – Learning By Hand to Craft Community -Lee Schuette

Room 119 – Straw Hat Weaving – Monique Veinott

Room 120 – Herbal Medicine Making – Megan Tardif-Woolgar

Room 121 – Spinning Yarn: from Your Own Wool – Victoria Graham

Room 104 – Natural Beekeeping Based on Biodynamic Principles – Part 1 – Klaus and Shirley Langpohl

Room 103 – Seed Saving: Intro & Advanced – Owen Bridge

Room 102 – 3D Printing for a Sustainable Local Economy – Dana Perry

Room 101 – Skiller Demos and Tables All Day: Quilting – Diane Jubie, Wooden Barrel Making – Walter Larder, Knitting Socks (Luxury Socks from Natural Handspun Fibers) – Annie Jenkins, Porcupine Quill Artistry – Marlene Joudry & others galore!

10:30 -10:45 Break

10:45 -11:45 Session Period Two

Lobby – Displays

Room 117 – open

Room 119 – Wooden Bowl Carving – Lee Schuette

Room 120 – open

Room 121 – Knot Tying – Evan Cervelli

Room 104 – Natural Beekeeping Based on Biodynamic Principles – Part 2 – Klaus and Shirley Langpohl

Room 103 – Soil Fertility and Organic Amendments – M. Lynn Cornish & Dr. Jeff Norrie

Room 102 – Essential Oil Distillation & Soap Making – Kim Craig

Room 101 – Skiller Demos and Tables

11:45 -12:45 Lunch, Entertainment, Remarks and Thank Yous (Plenary Room 117)

David Wimberly – MC

Harp Music – Timothy Habinski

12:45 – 1:45 Session Period Three

Lobby – Displays

Room 117 – Furniture Making: Specialty Windsor Chairs – John & Jane Fowler

Room 119 – Wooden Bowl Carving – Lee Schuette

Room 120 – Making Meads – John Cummings

Room 121 – Growing with Heritage Seeds- Ashlea Viola

Room 104 – Adventures in Lutherie – Timothy Habinski

Room 103 – Rain Gardens: home storm-water management with a twist – Gini Proulx

Room 102 – Growing Shitake Mushrooms on Logs – Marcella Edwards

Room 101 – Skiller Demos and Tables

1:45 – 2:00 Break

2:00 –3:00 Session Period Four

Lobby – Displays

Room 117 – Furniture Making: Specialty Windsor Chairs – John & Jane Fowler

Room 119 – Heritage Kitchen Skills- dried fruits, canning, freezing, root cellars, herbs, oils, etc. – Carol Dibble

Room 120 – 10 Common Medicinal Plants & How To Use Them – John Cummings

Room 121 – Lunar/Solar Wisdom for Building, Planting and Harvesting – Gregg & Alexandra Clause

Room 104 – Attached Solar Greenhouses for Food and Energy Self-Reliance – Phil Ferraro

Room 103 – Porcupine Quill Artistry – Marlene Joudry

Room 102 – Edible Landscaping: Fruit Trees and Shrubs – Crystal Godfrey

Room 101 – Skiller Demos and Tables for the entire day

3:00 – 3:15 Break

3:15 – 4:15 Session Period Five

Lobby – Displays

Room 117 – Attached Solar Greenhouses for Food and Energy Self-Reliance – Phil Ferraro

Room 119 – Making Tool Handles on a Traditional Shavehorse – Ken Maher

Room 120 – Rug Hooking – Kris Murdock

Room 121 – Lunar/Solar Wisdom for Building, Planting and Harvesting – Gregg & Alexandra Clause

Room 104 – Rain Gardens: home storm-water management with a twist – Gini Proulx

Room 103 – Knitting Socks (Luxury Socks from Natural Handspun Fibers) – Annie Jenkins

Room 102 – Drumming and Voice for Interactive Community Building & Healing – Kadijah Photiades

Room 101 – Skiller Demos and Tables

4:15 – 4:30 Grand Conclusion and Send-off – Rousing Energetic Drumming – Kadijah Photiades and friends. All invited to join in!!!

4:30 Up!Skilling adjourned

Presenting Skillers

Klaus Langpohl – Natural Beekeeping

formerly from Austria, and his wife, Shirley, love their life next to the shoreline of beautiful St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia. They have been studying about, learning from, and partnering with honey bees for the past nine years. They created Bello Uccello Honey Bee Sanctuary (www.bellouccello.wordpress.com), a Demeter certified biodynamic apiary, discovered some unique natural methods to promote the “life enhancement of the hive”, and share and explore, in their Natural Beekeeping Workshops for Beginners, based on Biodynamic Principles, the amazing World of the Honey Bee.

Evan Cervelli – Knot Tying

Evan began learning to tie knots when he was young through scouts and rock climbing. When he was 15, he began sailing with the Nova Scotia Sea School on a traditional wooden sailboat. Sailing has provided Evan lots of opportunities away from the internet, where the only form of entertainment is knot tying. Through work at the Sea School, Evan has been exposed to traditional sailing methods that do not rely on modern technology such as winches, cam-cleats or electronics. Evan is well practiced at knot tying, splicing, whipping, serving, grommet making and rope handling. In 2008, Evan took a Chinese decorative knot class when he was visiting Taiwan and enjoys decorative knot tying in his spare time. Evan is also the Event Manager for the Local Prosperity Conference.

John Cummings – Mead Making & Medicinal Plants

As a herbalist and farmer living on Gaspereau Mountain, Annapolis Valley, John has been practicing herbal medicine for 9 years, apprenticing with some of North America’s most respected herbalists, including Rosemary Gladstar, and recently completing a 2 year Therapeutic Clinical Herbal Medicine program with Cherokee herbalist, David Winston. He is currently in the process of creating an organic medicinal herb farm and herbal product company, Green Man Botanicals. This herbal path has been infused with herbal mead making as a pastime, especially revelling in fruit (melomel) and herbal meads (metheglin). John will be sharing his knowledge and passion for making herbal meads as well as leading a workshop on “10 Common Medicinal Plants and How To Use Them.”

Dana Perry – 3D Printing

Dana is a dynamic and engaging facilitator whose 3D workshops address the on-the-ground realities that are possible with 3D printing. The only limitations we face with 3D printing and design is the human imagination. He shares the knowledge and experience he has acquired with his work with the Nova Scotia Community Access Program (NSCAP) and personal interest in the realm of 3D printing. The workshop covers basic principles of 3D printing and design explained in layman’s terms.

Victoria Graham – Spinning Yarn

Victoria has lived on Brier Island for 40 years and has been an artist all her life. She always played with different mediums until she found her passion which is fibre, more like wool lol. She started rug hooking 13 years ago and then I started spinning her own fibre 5 years ago. She intertwined these two things into a business – Hooking by the Sea Retreats. Victoria runs a B&B and gift shop plus a fibre farm. Her work is classed a UNESCO Experience, as things are done the old traditional way – processing fibre locally and teaching how it is done. Her demo will be on processing, skirting, carding, and spinning wool, with the potential for class participants to try drop spindles. She will discuss the different breeds of sheep and alpacas’ fibre, and have wool available for purchase. She looks forward to meeting everyone as she will take you back in time!

Kris Murdock – Rug Hooking

A rug hooker for the past 7 years, Kris lives a peaceful yet very involved life in Bear River with her husband Gavin and two rescue dogs, Oliver and Mia. She rug hooks mostly with recycled and found 100% wool but occasionally treats herself to beautiful new materials from Moose River Rug Hooking Studio in Clementsport where you will find her most Tuesdays with her group of “hookers”! She will demonstrate how to cut wool, various types of frames and hooks and will offer the opportunity to try it for yourself. Careful tho…you might get hooked!

Annie Jenkins – Knitting Socks

With a back ground in electronic engineering, you might be surprised to find her crouched over an antique piece of textile equipment. She was fascinated from the moment she first discovered antique circular sock knitting machines. Mostly self taught, she was making wearable socks within a day of purchasing her first machine, and it wasn’t long before she started restoring machines for others. Annie enjoys teaching people how to use, and care for these versatile machines, as well as making luxury socks from natural handspun fibers. Although her husband refuses to wear any long underwear that she might knit him, her 2 children are always eager to try on anything that comes off the machine… especially if they helped to make it!

Diane Jubie – Quilting

I started making quilts in the early 1980’s. In the mid 80’s I had a child and I was also teaching, so I didn’t do much sewing again until the mid 90’s. I have made a few hundred quilts, mostly on a 1930’s featherweight sewing machine that only does a straight stitch. Five years ago I bought a new machine and that has opened up a new world for me. I have been learning to do machine applique and use some fancy stitches on some quilts. I like my quilts to look old because I live in an old house. I sew with civil war reproduction fabrics almost exclusively. I am now trying something new to me, sewing a quilt totally by hand, it’s so slow, but nice to sit in the tv room with my husband and still be able to sew. — Rather than as a workshop Diane will show her quilts, and how to quilt, on a one-on-one basis during the day.

Ken Maher- Making Tool Handles

Ken works with the Annapolis Heritage Society as an interpreter at the Sinclair Inn Museum in Annapolis Royal. In his role as “human speed bump” to attract passers-by, he works outside at a traditional shavehorse, carving ash handles (helves) for axes, hammers and other hand tools. In his spare time he also makes small furniture and decor pieces, using salvaged wood and hardware.

John Fowler – Furniture Making (Windsor Chairs)

is originally from a small rural farm near Cornwall, England, and he specializes in Windsor Chairs (www.windsorchair.ca). John will provide a demonstration rather than a workshop, using a draw horse and hand tools, along with logs cut fresh from his woodlot. From the logs, he will shave spindles and other chair parts. The public may have the opportunity to try their hand with some of the tools. Finished chairs will be displayed along with a slide show on aspects of John’s work.

Carol Dibble – Heritage Kitchen Skills

Carol has lived in Bear River, Nova Scotia since the early 1970’s and lived several years off the grid. She is mainly self taught, although credits her grandparents for knowledge of how to root cellar, garden and feed a family. Throughout the years living in Bear River she has taken a great interest in growing her own food, putting it away safely and teaching others how to dry, can or freeze food safely. She enjoys creating from nature and hopes to inspire others to do the same. Homesteading skills are good ones to pass on to our children and grandchildren for a healthier and more environmentally sustainable world.

Kim Craig – Soap Making

Kim has had an interest in and has been working with herbs since the early 1970’s. She is a certified aromatherapist who has incorporated her love of all things natural into a line of soap, skincare and herbal remedies. Kim distills hydrosols and essential oils from herbs she grows in her gardens and ethically wildcrafts from the surrounding woods and meadows and incorporates these into her products.

M Lynn Cornish – Soil Fertility and Amendments

Growing up in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Lynn was attracted by the beauty and agricultural of the Annapolis Valley, where she has lived for most of her life. She obtained a BSc. in Agricultural Soils at the Faculty of Agriculture (Dalhousie), and a MSc. in Biology at St Francis Xavier Univ. She has worked for Acadian Seaplants Limited for 20 years. Lynn has been owner/operator of Garden of Eatin’ Farms in Paradise for over 25 years, and her fascination with science, soils, seaweeds and plant production has given her a great appreciation for balance and nature. She will discuss improving soil type and health for optimal plant production, as well as organic amendments and soil microbes.

Marcella Edwards – Shitake Mushrooms

Growing up in South Africa during apartheid, the experience launched Marcella on a journey across 4 continents, seeking that which is capable of restoring dignity to human beings. Living and working with 8 distinctly different human cultures has made clear to her that apart from access to nutritious food, clean water, and adequate shelter, we need good working relationships based on respect for self and all others. Marcella pioneered education that would meet the whole human being – and to a variety of community transformation projects aimed at sustainability, the ethnosphere of diverse places, and a great love of Appropriate Technology – the use of locally available resources while leaving a small footprint. Her workshop will demonstrate how to prepare a Shitake Mushroom log, so that you can make your own and enjoy a harvest of home-grown, high protein mushrooms.

Marlene Joudry – Matues (Porcupine) Quill Work

Marlene is a Program Facilitator, Coordinator, Instructor, Educator, Designer, Master Artisan, and Cultural Facilitator. Marlene is a member of the Mi’kmaq First Nation from the Atlantic Region. She has been producing independently Matues (Porcupine) Quill Work and also sharing her knowledge nationally and internationally. More information about Marlene can be found at this link.

Gini Proulx – Rain Gardens

Gini is a gardener, naturalist and botanist with interests in conservation and local history. She was a founding member of the Clements Garden Club, Annapolis Field Naturalists and the Tobeatic Wilderness Committee. She was named 2011 Outstanding Gardener of the Year for the NS Association of Garden Clubs’ Western District. In 2003 she was presented with an Annapolis County Volunteer Award and the 2003 NS Bay of Fundy Environmental Awareness Award for research and conservation of species at risk on Digby Neck and Islands Currently, Gini is a member of the Clements Historical Society and sits on the Board for the proposed St. Mary’s Bay Marshland Sanctuary. To remedy a storm-water drainage problem at home, Gini will describe native flowering wetland habitats, created bogs and marsh gardens to absorb excess run-off.

Phil Ferraro – Attached Solar Greenhouses for Food and Energy Self-Reliance

This workshop will introduce participants to the advantages of building a greenhouse attached to a home or workplace and provide a list of ‘Rules of Thumb’ for designing and managing a greenhouse for optimum performance and year round production. Phil has worn many hats throughout his career. He has a Masters degree in Social Ecology. His thesis was on the design, construction and management of attached solar greenhouses. He has built and managed numerous residential greenhouses throughout New England and Maritime regions. Today, Phil has a small experimental aquaponic greenhouse attached to his home in Charlottetown. Phil and his wife Nancy also run the Institute for Bioregional Studies Ltd. (IBS); a not-for-profit, charitable organization that offers global consultation services on community development, social enterprise, and ecological approaches to food production.

Lee Schutte

Lee trained in fine furniture making at Rhode Island School of Design. He has taught within university, community college, adult education, university preparatory and even jail environments. His work with young makers has evolved projects that engage interest and introduce the value of craft as an important part of their development. Since moving to Halifax in 2009 he has worked as Artist-in-residence at DAL Architecture. He is currently curator of Visitor Engagement at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Wooden Bowl Carving is excellent for young and old with participants making a wooden bowl while learning skills readily useful for a wide range of carving. Our modern archetypes have taught us the importance of keeping our skills and belief systems intact to ready ourselves for cultural shifts coming our way. Learning By Hand to Craft Community addresses new ways of engaging makers in the craft process: exploring how the development of organizational and analog skills from LEGO to Montessori to S.T.E.A.M are but a few building trends that provide challenges to promote innovation and passion through the craft process.

Gregg and Alexandra Clause

Gregg has been farming, woodworking and building for the past fifty years. He and his wife Alexandra are presently directors at a Retreat Centre near Bridgewater, NS. In 1970 he apprenticed with Alex Stewart, a copper and farmer in Tennessee, making buckets and butter churns from the old tradition which came down from The British Isles. Some forty years later Gregg learned that Alex had followed the Lunar Cycles with everything that he did when it came to wine making, farming, cutting timber, or coppering. Alex would say “there is a time to do everything”. This wisdom of time was always associated with wisdom that was passed down to Alex from his ancestors, who had been passing it down for hundreds of years. Some twenty years ago, Gregg happened upon a book called “Moon Time” which brought the rich heritage of moon lore from Austria. Finding very few people in North America to talk to about this tradition, Gregg went to Switzerland where he met wood cutters, instrument makers, and architectural teachers who were working with this tradition. Since this visit to Europe, he has been exploring this phenomena of gardening, cutting timber, and building by the lunar/solar cycles. It is trying things out and seeing how it manifests over time in your own back yard. It is a sense of joining the practically of the natural elements of our earth with the wisdom recorded from the stars, from just a moment ago and also from our teachers, friends, and ancestors. It is such a wonderful time in our human development to be able to play with the wisdom and knowledge of our universe. Could it be that we are waking up as if we have always inherently possessed this wisdom?

Kadijah Photiades

Kadijah is a singer/songwriter, visual artist, and percussionist with a passion for Middle
Eastern and West African drumming. She moved to Digby County 20 years ago and resides on beautiful Digby Neck. Kadijah has studied with many wonderful drum masters including Ken Shorely of Wolfville N.S., and Famoudou Konate of Guinea, West Africa. Most recently she took a six month intensive frame drumming course in Whitefield Maine and travelled to the mountaintops of Cyprus with a group of women frame drummers who are re­birthing sacred frame drumming after a silence of 1800 years. Kadijah is also a certified HEALTHrhythms instructor and gives workshops locally and throughout the Maritimes. She uses percussion as a tool for healing, celebration, community building and empowerment. She feels blessed to live in a community that utilizes her skills in a multitude of creative ways. For this workshop Kadijah will share stories describing some of the many ways she uses drumming in community and the participants will have an experiential percussion session which will culminate in a finale to end a wonderful day.

Walter Larder – Wooden Barrel Making

Walter works at Ross Farm Museum as an interpreter and has been with the museum for 30 years. He wears many hats at the museum but his main interest is coopering and the apple barrel industry. In his early years at the museum he worked as a cooper’s apprentice with the late Leon Turner, and has mastered the art.

Monique Veinott – Straw Hat Weaving

Monique works at Ross Farm Museum as an interpreter and has been with the museum for 27 years. Monique has a keen interest and has mastered many heritage skills at the museum. She is a member of the Nova Scotia Basketry Guild. Monique developed her skill as a hat maker from the late Jane Hiltz.

Local Prosperity Conference Schedule

Thursday, April 9, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

4:00 Exhibitor set-up

5:00 to 7:00 Local Prosperity Conference Registration opens

7:00 to 9:00 Main Hall – Conference Welcome and Openning Plenary Keynote Conversation

Welcome – Mayor Michael Tompkins

Two internationally recognized authors and speakers on new economics will each provide a short address, followed by a conversation with a guest moderator and discussions with the audience.

Michael Shuman – “The New Principles and Practice of Local Economic Development”

Marq de Villiers – “Solutions for Small Communities Are Already Here”

Moderator – Gregory Heming

Friday, April 10, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

8:00 Registration opens, Exhibitor set-up

8:30 Information Tables open

9:00 Main Hall – Opening Plenary Remarks – Robert Cervelli – “Setting the Stage: Next-in-class Tools for the New Economic Model”

9:30 Main Hall – Plenary Keynote Address – Michael Shuman – “The Coming Rural Renaissance, and the Tools of Local Economic Development that Can Accelerate It”

10:15 to 10:30 Main Hall – Introduction to Topic Tables & Networking Format for the Conference

10:30 to 11:00 Refreshment break

11:00 to 12:30 Breakout Workshop Period One (4 concurrent sessions) Sessions repeated in the afternoon

# 1 – Localizing Community Investment (Room 307)

# 2 – Local Complementary Currencies (Room 322)

# 3 – Shared Community Resources (Room 321)

# 4 – Local Energy Production and Distribution (Room 303) – see details of sessions at bottom of page

12:30 to 1:30 Box Lunch (Cafeteria) & Topic Tables Networking (Rooms 222, 223, 221, 220, 217)

1:30 to 3:00 Breakout Workshop Period Two (4 concurrent sessions) Morning sessions repeated

# 1 – Localizing Community Investment (Room 307)

# 2 – Local Complementary Currencies (Room 322)

# 3 – Shared Community Resources (Room 321)

# 4 – Local Energy Production and Distribution (Room 303) – see details of sessions at bottom of page

3:00 to 4:00 Refreshment break, Topic Tables Networking (Rooms 222, 223, 221, 220, 217)

4:00 to 4:30 Main Hall – Plenary Special Announcements & Day’s Overview

4:30 Adjourn

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS BASIN CONFERENCE CENTRE – 761 Broadway Ave, Cornwallis Park, NS

Ride share board will be posted

5:30 Cash bar (Champlain Hall, Annapolis Basin Conf Centre) – featuring Mellow Tones Jazz Trio

6:30 Welcome – Warden Reg Ritchie

100Km Banquet

7:30 Banquet address: Steven Joudry First Nations and Rural Communities: Balance requires moving from isolation & marginalization to integration & collaboration.

8:30 Adjourn

Saturday, April 11, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

8:00 Registration and Information Tables open

9:00 Opening Plenary Remarks

9:15 Main Hall – Plenary Keynote Conversation: Two internationally recognized authors and speakers on new economics will each provide a short address, followed by a conversation with a guest moderator and discussions with the audience.

Dr. Anders Hayden – “Green Growth and Beyond”

Susan Witt – “Community Supported Industry”

Moderator – Robert Cervelli

10:30 to 11:00 Refreshment break

11:00 to 12:30 Breakout Period Three (4 concurrent sessions) Sessions repeated in the afternoon

#5 Small Farms and Food-sheds as Economic Drivers (Room 303)

#6 Value-added Fisheries as a Resource of the Commons (Room 322)

#7 Rebuilding the Value Chain from our Forests (Room 321)

#8 Arts & Culture Economy (Room 307) – see details of sessions at bottom of page

12:30 to 1:30 Box Lunch (Cafeteria) & Topic Tables Networking (Rooms 222, 223, 221, 220, 217)

1:30 to 3:00 Breakout Period Four (4 concurrent sessions) Morning sessions repeated

#5 Small Farms and Food-sheds as Economic Drivers (Room 303)

#6 Value-added Fisheries as a Resource of the Commons (Room 322)

#7 Rebuilding the Value Chain from our Forests (Room 321)

#8 Arts & Culture Economy (Room 307) – see details of sessions at bottom of page

3:00 to 4:00 Refreshment Break, Networking at Topic Tables (Rooms 222, 223, 221, 220, 217)

4:00 to 5:00 Main Hall – Closing Plenary Remarks: Overview Report of Topic Table Discussions, Special Presentations

5:00 Dinner on your own – A Night on the Town

Sunday, April 12, 2015

LOCATION: ANNAPOLIS ROYAL REGIONAL ACADEMY – 590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

8:00 Registration and Information Tables open

9:00 Main Hall – Opening Plenary Announcements and Overview – Robert Cervelli

9:10 Main Hall – Plenary Keynote: Gregory Heming – “Economy and the Politics of Place“

9:30 to 11:15 Main Hall – Sunday Plenary Session – Governance in the New Economy: Living A New Narrative

The shift to a local, restorative economy must be matched by a shift in our model of local governance. This shift will require a grassroots democracy comprised of citizens familiar with and loyal to a particular place. It will be a model of citizenship and livelihood that is fair, equal, bold and visionary.

Moderator: Teresa MacNeil

Panellists: John Ferguson, CAO, Municipal County of Annapolis

Rankin MacSween, President, New Dawn Enterprises

Jack Novack, Professor, College of Continuing Education, Dalhousie

Dayle Eshelby, Municipal Councillor, Town of Lockport

11:15 to 11:30 Main Hall – Farewell Comments – Betsy Allard

11:30 Conference adjourns

Details Of Breakout Workshop Sessions (planned to date):

Session # 1 – Localizing Community Investment

This breakout session will explore the growing ways to attract local investment into local enterprise, including discussion on the how-to’s of CEDIF’s (Community Economic Development Investment Funds), identifying local angels and angel groups, entrepreneurial mentoring, crowdfunding, producer or worker owned co-ops, and micro-lending structures.

MODERATOR: Michael Shuman

Michael will moderate the session following his keynote address on the state-of-the-art for localizing investment into small communities.

PANELLISTS:

Linda Best, Farmworks. Linda will be presenting CEDIF’s, early lending and the success of Farmworks to food-related start-ups.

Andy Osburn, National Crowdfunding Association. Learn from Andy about the best platforms and techniques for crowdfunding in Canada and the region.

Andrew Button, Mashup Labs. Andrew will discuss business start-up mentoring and local support for early-stage entrepreneurs.

Jonathan McLellan, Nova Scotia Co-operative Council. Jonathan will speak on worker owned co-ops and the new Nova Scotia Impact Fund.

Session # 2 – Local Complementary Currencies

Exploring circulating local currencies, mutual credit systems, volunteer and service time banks, and producer/retailer promotional notes as ways to tip the ‘buy and do local’ equation in favour of the community, as well as local lending with local currency.

MODERATOR: Alice Maggio

Alice will provide background on the history of money, the current state of the art for local currency and mutual credit systems worldwide, and the values and benefits of local means of exchange. She will also introduce a number of projects being conducted in the Maritimes.

PANELLISTS:

Ryan Watson, CredEx. Ryan will present a promising new mutual credit system being developed in the region.

Michael Barton, Tatamagouche LETS System. An innovative mutual credit system and circulating exchange note.

Grace Murray, Downtown Truro Dollars. Successfully in its second year stimulating business activity in downtown Truro.

Session # 3 – Shared Community Resources

Sharing creates immediate wealth – embedded in the community. Creative new approaches to shared resources have been developed by many communities around the world. This breakout session will explore some of the best, including tool libraries, street banks, social transportation systems, food centres and food swaps, community social/business hubs, community gardens, harvest gleaners, community lotteries and other ways to build prosperity through the community commons. The session will also discuss the potential for community land trusts.

MODERATOR: Susan Witt

Susan will set the stage with a scan of some of the most innovative projects developed in communities worldwide, and introduce regional panelists at the front edge of building shared wealth. Susan will also share her depth of knowledge on community land trusts.

PANELLISTS:

Kelly Schnare, Halifax Tool Library. The library had an official launch in early October 2014 with over 600 tools for lending, and is quickly building membership. Kelly will discuss the ‘how-to’s’ of starting a library in any community.

Derek Gillis, Community Transit Nova Scotia. Derek will explore social-based transportation systems applicable to the region as well as a Nova Scotia pilot program which utilizes school buses for public transportation outside of school hours.

Frances Schagen, Kentville Development Corporation. Frances will describe the importance of community hubs, and provide excellent examples in our regions of different types of hubs and the important role they play in the community.

Session # 4 – Local Energy Production and Distribution

The ability to produce and store energy is one of the oldest forms of wealth. When the benefits of local energy production vest within the community, that wealth is realized firstly through import replacement, and secondarily through export of any excess energy produced. For example, some small local communities in Europe are now producing and selling 5 times more energy than they require. The session will highlight excellent examples in Atlantic Canada of local energy production, distribution and storage.

MODERATOR: Dana Morin, Fundy Tidal, Dana will give an overview of community energy initiatives in Atlantic Canada highlighting community energy initiatives, public and private distribution systems and challenges, community based applications for local energy production such as aquaculture and the diversity of Atlantic Canada’s energy story.

PANELLISTS:

Don Regan, Superintendent, Berwick Electrical Commission Don will speak on the benefits and issues to managing an independent electrical grid system.

Bob Ashley, CAO, The City of Summerside Bob will speak on Summerside’s success with energy storage, smart-grid technology and wind energy production.

Eric Christmas, Director of Operations, Beaubassin Mi’kmaq Wind Management Ltd. Eric will speak on First Nations local energy achievements and plans.

Session # 5 – Small Farms & Food Sheds as Economic Drivers

Local food consumption generates local wealth through local production. This breakout session will explore the fact that the number of farms in the region is increasing, and that there is a significant building momentum in small farms and local food production of all kinds. Small farms are becoming a viable economic driver in some regions. This phenomenon can be supported further through innovative infrastructure between producers and stores, restaurants and consumers, including more localized distribution hubs, grading stations, abbatoirs, co-operatively used licensed commercial kitchens and internet-based distribution networks. Increased consumer awareness and demand for local food is an important part of the equation – a well connected system is described as a ‘food-shed.’ Numerous studies have been done by other municipalities documenting the economic impact of shifting food consumption back to local sources.

MODERATOR: Joan Brady, Director, National Farmers Union

Joan will provide examples of how to activate and educate communities around food systems development and policy initiatives. She will introduce leading examples of local food systems, and panel discussions will pursue best steps forward for the further development of the ‘food-sheds’ in our region.

PANELLISTS:

Keltie Butler, Executive Director, Farmer’s Markets of Nova Scotia. Working at one of our front edges that link producers and consumers, Keltie will discuss proven ways to educate consumers, and promote and build local consumption.

Patrick Henderson, Really Local Harvest. Patrick will discuss the process of how a 12-farmer New Brunswick Co-op now provides locally-produced food to 22 schools.

Alicia Lake, Coordinator – Pan Cape Breton Local Food Hub. Alicia will describe the establishment of a virtual distribution hub for local food across Cape Breton.

Session # 6 – Value Added Fisheries as a Resource of the Commons

‘Fish is food’ – a simple saying that embodies the value of the resource. This breakout session will explore how innovative stewards of the fisheries are developing value-building community-oriented approaches to this important food resource, in the face of increased pressure towards commoditization, depletion and changes to the health of the oceans. Community supported fisheries (CSF’s) tied to owner-operators, community-owned quota and other emerging direct value builders for the fisheries will be discussed.

MODERATOR: Sheila Bird, Our Lobsters, Our Communities. While presenting the dynamics she learned from Nova Scotia wide community discussions, Sheila will explore opportunities, new ideas and next practices for this vital industry.

PANELLISTS:

David Adler, Off the Hook (Community Supported Fishery). As our first regional ‘CSF’, Dave will describe Off the Hook’s successes and how CSF’s can be developed further in our region, as well as the potential for seafood distribution hubs.

Michael Graham, College of the North Atlantic (Wave Energy Research Centre). Mike will present innovative new developments for integrated on-shore acquaculture systems and wave-powered water pumping.

Alen Newell, Trap-Caught Shrimp, Canso. Alen will describe innovations in live-harvest methods and new market opportunities, as an example of new approaches to increasing the value chain from the fisheries.

Session # 7 – Rebuilding the Value Chain from our Forests

The pressures our forests face are almost daily news. After generations of forestry a key question remains – how do we design a sustainable industry that doesn’t compromise the health of our forests. This session will explore potential for shifting the use of our forests to better support a viable future for our rural communities and environment. Creative solutions exist today – social innovation in forest management, high-end specialty products, more efficient value capture through aggregated and virtual sorting yards, co-op kilns and mills, stump to boiler community heat and power generation, etc. Panelists will share experience from some of these enterprises and discuss how they can be part of a more sustainable future for our communities.

MODERATOR: Will Martin, President, NS Woodlot Owners and Operators Association

Will Martin will highlight numerous creative examples of high-value forestry in the region and Canada, and introduce panelists from several of these ventures.

PANELLISTS:

Kari Easthouse, Cape Breton Privateland Partnership. Kari will describe the educational process of developing silvicultural plans for private woodlot owners.

Harold Alexander, North Range Timber Products. Harold will describe his 30 years experience running a small scale harvest and sawmill operation.

Jim Drescher, Windhorse Farm. Jim will speak on his many years of experience, and as the 6th generation, to steward an old-growth forest for integrated value-added production.

Glyn Bissix, Department of Community Development, Acadia University. Glyn will speak on community economic development of forests, and balancing multinational interests with local business development while increasing the value chain.

Session # 8 – Arts & Culture Economy

Heritage is essential to ‘place-making’, which acts as a unique place-based economic driver. The session will explore the importance of arts & culture in the economic fabric of vibrant rural communities, and how this can be used to increase a heritage-oriented sense of place – which increases tourism and provides many other benefits. We will discuss innovative activities that draw people in, such as theatre playhouses, home concerts, jam venues / sound studios and co-op art studios / galleries. New ideas for independent retail will be explored. For example, local governments and community activists can encourage ‘pop-up’ enterprises in existing empty store-frontages.

MODERATOR: Allister Surette, President and Vice-chancellor of Université Sainte-Anne.

PANELLISTS:

Marlene Ivey, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Design, NS College of Art & Design. Marlene will describe the importance of heritage and history in the unique identity of small communities.

Genevieve Allen Hearn, Arts Administrator, Kings County, NS. Genevieve will discuss the importance of cultural mapping and digital story telling in rural communities.

Marc Gauthier, Chair, Aberdeen Centre, Moncton, NB. Marc will speak on re-using existing architecture as an anchor, maker and marketplace for art and culture.

Shalan Joudry, Mi’kmaw writer, performance artist and oral storyteller.

Sunday Plenary Session – Governance in the New Economy: Living A New Narrative

The shift to a local, restorative economy must be matched by a shift in our model of local governance. This shift will require a grassroots democracy comprised of citizens familiar with and loyal to a particular place. It will be a model of citizenship and livelihood that is fair, equal, bold and visionary.

This Sunday plenary session will explore the role governance must play in allowing and encouraging a new economic model (small scale, local, restorative) to gain acceptance and traction. Realistic steps towards potential new policy and programming for various levels of government will be discussed. The session will discuss supporting the establishment of community hubs for social and business networking, sponsoring apprenticeships and mentoring for valuable local skills and other means of rebuilding and supporting the commons.

Jane Jacobs and other well known new economics authors have described the importance of ‘import replacement’ as the first means for a viable economy. Robust activity at import replacement quickly leads to export of those goods and services which were first developed for local markets.

MODERATOR: Teresa MacNeil

Teresa will provide an overview on how adaptive governance is essential for a new economic model, and she will highlight several best in class examples. The session will feature leaders in this area and engaged discussion.

PANELLISTS:

John Ferguson, CAO, Annapolis County. John will speak on what a municipality can do to encourage new ideas.

Rankin MacSween, President, New Dawn Enterprises

Jack Novack, Professor, College of Continuing Education, Dalhousie

Dayle Eshelby, Municipal Councillor, Town of Lockport

We will be building a resources library and hosting on-line connections to facilitate success in local economics ongoing from the conference.

“There is real evidence that real national prosperity — even global prosperity — begins at the local level and that by connecting entrepreneurs who are re-thinking their industries, funders who are investing in the local economy movement, and network organizers who can mobilize on a broad scale, we can — and will — create a stronger, more resilient, and fair economy.” – Business Alliance for Local Living Economies