MORE THOUGHTS: Bob Maher

1) Ways of Knowing (Zita Cobb)
The perception of landscape is quite different if you drive a car at 100km per hour on Hwy 101 and go from one 'urban' centre to the next. The in-between piece becomes 'dead space'. Compare this, with walking through the landscape on an abandoned railroad. Here the surrounding space is full of interest and alive.

We all wear different 'coloured glasses'. This influences what we do and don't see in our landscape. This is one of ideas behind Maitri Space Awareness.

2) Language
There is a wonderful book by Trudy Sable and Bernie Francis called The Language of the Land, Mi'kma'ki'. I highly recommend it, from CBU press. It shows how language influences what we are able and how we are able to describe our environment.

3) We talk about abilities. We should also talk about dis-abilities. A strong team contains a mixture of both abilities and disabilities.


PS ...

on post-secondary institutions and rural communities. I think that Nova Scotia must have the highest density of post-secondary institutions/per square kilometre than any other jurisdiction.
What an opportunity !

CLOSING OBSERVATIONS: Edward Wedler

Media celebrity and moderator of the "Focus on Future 'Doers' and 'Producers' panel, Shaun Majumder said "never underestimate the power of the story".  We heard a lot of stories. We love stories. We love stories because they entertain us and teach us. They "stick". For me this conference was about "the story".  I leave the Georgetown Conference ready to create, tell and show -- no matter how small or grandiose.

From Bob, my trekker colleague, I learned that a better term than 'youth' (in referring to our future entrepreneurs) was 'next-generation'. Next-generation entrepreneurs go beyond just youth. They include those ready to cut a new path to make things happen. They include those willing to try, to "just say yes" and not be afraid to fail. They also include the mentors and motivators for those pioneers.

Most conferences I have attended I know that when delegates return home the event quickly becomes history. No so with Georgetown. I felt in my bones we would return home to 're-jig' our projects. We would return home re-invigorated to persist and create something special. To get things done and lead by example.

Our trek was a story, yes, but it was part of something much bigger; a bigger story -- the Georgetown story.

CLOSING OBSERVATIONS: Bob Maher

Here are two lessons I gained from the Georgetown Conference:

1) Annapolis Youth Delegation.
Don't judge on the basis of age, sex, ethnicity. Diversity and inclusiveness are critical.

2) Wicked problems (from Zita Cobb) ...
can be solved by 'chunking them' into manageable pieces or tasks. Try to optimize the special skills and abilities of the group.Collaborate and be open.

Here is a third lesson:

3 How do you avoid being a victim of a "volunteer vampire"?
You maintain your independence as well as your integrity.

COMMUNITY PRIDE. MEADOWVILLE circa 1950.

QUARRYING BEAR EARLTOWN

WELL-MANAGED DECIDUOUS WOODLOT

GETTING READY FOR COLDER WEATHER

GULLY LAKE WILDERNESS

POTHOLE SECTION OF HIGHWAY 236

Deep ... deep ... deep are these potholes. The road edges were often broken and dropped off steeply. Not something you'd like to drive over at night -- especially in a motorcycle. A Pothole Map of Nova Scotia might raise awareness of where and how badly some of the highways are in need of attention.

WHERE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

Where rubber meets the road, for sport or for stopping sharply to avoid an animal or other vehicle.

GULLY LAKE KIOSK

COMMERCIAL BLUEBERRIES

WINTER RECREATION

WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK

This sign represented to me the resilience of rural life ... simple as that. While not exactly part of the "creative rural economy" touted in the media this reflects the willingness and ability to build a sustainable lifestyle in a beautiful environment.

FOREST MANAGEMENT

ROADKILL HIGHWAY. ANOTHER VICTIM.

Another victim along Highway 236. Note the boot at the bottom of the photo. I'd love to create a Roadkill Map of Nova Scotia.

EDGE SIGNS

NO, TO DRILLING & FRACKING

DEATH BY ROADKILL OR BIRD?

One of several type of dead animals seen laying beside the road on Hwy 236. No tire tracks were visible here so I am wondering if this was caused by a bird.

CROSSING THE SHUBENACADIE RIVER

Group of tidal rafters were just packing up as this photo was snapped with a boat still in the water. Note the current pass by those abandoned railway bridge supports across the Shubenacadie River. The current was swift and the wind strong. Walking over the roadway bridge (see shadow in the foreground) seemed precarious. The railing was not high.

RURAL ADVENTURES AND PLACES TO VISIT

Things to do for the body and mind. If a car was available these sites would be checked out. Anyone been on those tidal rafting adventures? Absolutely wonderful ... and you get to meet people from all over the world. Creatives dot the rural landscape. Gallery 215 intrigues me. Next time I come by ...

ROADKILL LITTER THE ROADWAY

Roadkill was common along Highway 236. You knew something was up as you approached a wicked smell. Looking at the ditch this deer was seen, hollowed out by scavengers and maggots. This made for unwelcome suppertime conversation.