CCN Back Issues Vol 6 Issue 2

The old expression "Wooden Ships and Iron Men" has been used to help people imagine a golden age of Maritime trading and seafaring,a time when our region enjoyed a brief but glorious prosperity. When that period is looked at closely by historians, most of them will point out that this so-called "golden age" was something less than what we have all been taught to believe. But, there's something attractive in the image of a glorious past that today keeps the idea alive and well in the popular imagination.

Today, the vast majority of the boats worked out of Nova Scotia's harbours are devoted to the fishery, and many of them are still made of wood. And, the men who work those boats certainly work hard, though the word "iron" is no more useful in describing them that it is in describing those who put to sea a century or more ago. In fact, even the word "men" isn't always accurate: there may not be a lot of them, but today there are Nova Scotian fishing captains to which that word doesn't apply. We managed to track down three of them.

Sue Lindblad , who harvests lobsters out of Lismore , Pictou County, is one of them. Originally from Toronto, her grandfather had been head of the Foreign Exchange Department at the old Canadian Bank of Commerce, and her father worked with Toronto Hydro while her Mom enjoyed Toronto society. So how does a woman who comes from a family that had season tickets to the Toronto Symphony come to be plying the waters of the Northumberland Strait hauling lobster traps? It's an unlikely story.

Hasse Lindlad's family came to the River John area of Nova Scotia to farm dairy cows after World War II. When his parents moved on to Montréal in the mid-'60s, Hasse stayed on for a few years to fish lobster and scallops. But, a few years later, he moved to Toronto and joined the city's police force. "It wasn't very long after he arrived in Toronto that I met him," Sue recalls. "I was working in the Engineering Department at Bell Canada at the time, and we were married in 1971." They continued to live and work in Toronto for a couple years, but in the spring of '73 Hasse came back to Pictou County to help a friend fish lobster. "I moved to River John that summer," says Sue. "I'd never set foot in the Maritimes in my life. It was supposed to be a temporary move."

Renovations were being made to the Lismore fish plant and Hasse soon got a job there as foreman. In 1975, he bought a lobster licence. Not long after, Sue took a job heading up the office for a large fishermen's co-op. "Then," she explains, "in 1982, Hasse put his back out, so for the next few years I went out with Hasse and his hand to help out." By 1990, it was just the two Lindblads fishing Hasse's licence. "In 1992, I finally bought gear and a lobster licence of my own," Sue says. Next year's lobster season will be her eighth.

Colleen Burns fishes lobster out of her home port of Margaree Harbour . She also harvests snow crab, using Cheticamp as a base during that season. When, in 1991, her fisherman husband died tragically and suddenly of cancer at the age of 32, Colleen faced a dilemma. Mom to three growing boys between the ages of two and eight, her first priority was, of course, her children. She remembers considering selling her husband's licences: "That would have brought in some money, but I would also have had to find a full-time job, and that would have taken an awful lot of time away from raising my kids. So, I decided to keep the licences and fish them. That way, I'd be on the water for four months, I'd have every hope of having enough money to keep a good household, and I could spend eight months of the year with my boys."

Though Colleen had almost no experience on the water prior to her marriage, she had worked with her husband as a helper. But there was still much to learn. "My first year," she recalls, "I hired someone who knew much more than I did to run the boat, and I worked as his helper. It was quite a learning curve, but by the next year, I figured I was ready to try it myself."

It turns out that she was. She fished her licences through the 1990s, but sold them earlier this year and now works as skipper for the current licence holders.

Betty Hughes, like Sue Lindblad, fishes lobster out of Lismore, perhaps making it the only two-woman-fishing-captains port in the province. "My father, Grant Murdock, was a fisherman in Lismore," she says, "just one of many Murdocks who have fished from here over the years. And my Mom came from a fishing family in the Bouctouche area of New Brunswick to work in the Lismore plant. So, I guess I come by it honestly."

Honestly, but certainly not directly. When she was sixteen, her father died and the family moved to Waltham, Massachusetts so her Mom could be with family there. When Betty finished school, she worked for six years in a local aircraft parts factory, but in the mid-'60s, she decided to move home again. She met her current husband, Winston, a lobster fisherman, welder, and pipefitter, in the early '70s. Until 1984, she worked off and on in the Lismore fish plant, and then began working as a helper on her husband Winston's lobster boat. When she had a chance to buy a lobster licence and gear in 1994, she jumped at the chance. This past spring's lobster season was the sixth she's fished with her own boat and gear.

So, what has been the reaction among male fish harvesters and others at seeing women on the water skippering their own boats? Sue Lindblad says. "When I worked in an office and Hasse fished his licence, it was fine, but when I got my own licence, there were people who said there was no need for two licences in one household, that it was a no-no. Going out fishing involved a major drop in take-home pay for a few years, while I was paying off my licence and gear costs. Maybe some people thought that it was okay when I worked in an office, because that was 'women's work' anyway. But most people got over it, and the younger people have generally been very supportive of me."

"Now, my family – that's quite another matter," Sue continues. "I'can't say they approve of my lifestyle. When I first came here, my Mom pictured me living in a tarpaper shack. She's been down here, and she's seen differently, but there's still something of that Toronto attitude about fishermen, and about the Maritimes in general."

For Betty Hughes, the men's reaction has been a bit more positive. "Sure, I got a few comments I'd just as soon forget," she says, "but nothing serious, really. When we're fishing, we all leave the wharf at the same time, and we all have a friendly wave for one another working out on the water. But, I guess there are still some people who don't want to see a neighbour get ahead."

Of the three women, Colleen Burns may have received the best reception from her male colleagues. "All the people at the wharf had been friends of my husband, and they were all very sympathetic and helpful," she says. "They just seemed to feel good that I was going out with someone who knew the ropes and would teach them to me."

One question put to all three women got a unanimous response. Some writers, academics, and media outlets have questioned whether the word "fisherman" should still apply in this day and age. Commentators have suggested various alternatives, ranging from "fisherperson" and "fisherwoman" though "fisher" and "fish harvester." ( Coastal Communities News shuns the first three of these: the first two seem to simply offend both the eye and the ear, and the third is, in fact, a type of weasel. This magazine tends toward "fish harvester," though often lapses into "fisherman" when the use of that term seems to better suit the flow of language.) Sue, Betty, and Colleen all say the question is no big deal, but that they each refer to themselves as "a fisherman."

All three women enjoy the life they've chosen. "I'm supposed to be about ready to retire," says Betty, "but I guess I like fishing too much. If I ever do retire, there will be no more Murdocks fishing out of Lismore. I've got some arthritis, but I'm also stubborn. On a great day, being on the water is just wonderful, but on a bad day, of course, it's not so great."

Colleen has no regrets about taking up the fishing life. "Financially, it's turned out to be a wonderful decision. Being on the water is great. And, I've been able to watch my boys grow." "When you go out on the water," concludes Sue, "all your troubles stay ashore. Sometimes when you're ashore, you might worry about things. Once, I took a university course and I fretted about my marks, but when I got out there, all those worries disappeared. So, yes, I love the fishing I do."

These three are hardy women, and yet meeting them somehow defeats the stereotype of the "Hardy Fisherman" that so many Maritimers – and others – hold dear in their minds. And when it comes to that other stereotype, that of our past of "Wooden Ships and Iron Men," historians tell us that some of those "Iron Men" were, in fact, women in disguise. Somehow, now, that doesn't seem so surprising.

From Horse-and-Wagon to the Internet

Terence Bay is a small coastal village off the Prospect Road about 25 kilometres from central Halifax. Along with the adjoining community of Lower Prospect, about 2,000 people call this area home. And, like so many communities within easy driving distance of the "big city," there is a certain dynamic created by the mix of people who have lived and worked here for generations and those who have come more recently to enjoy the benefits of living in a small rural area, while still within easy commuting distance to Halifax.

Terence Bay traces its beginnings back to land grants made in 1852 to Irish and European families. The two most common last names in the village today are Slaunwhite (from Wurttemburg, Germany) and Jollimore (from Montbeliard, France). In 1873, Terence Bay witnessed the tragedy of the S.S. Atlantic, which, full of immigrants bound for New York, foundered on nearby rocks just off Lower Prospect. More than 560 souls perished, and 277 of them are buried in Terence Bay. Today, a cairn and small park overlook the waters that claimed so many so long ago. A local community group is working to raise funds to make improvements to the recently created park and build an interpretative centre there.

Ariella Pahlke is one of the many relative newcomers to Terence Bay. "I'm from the Ottawa area, and when I came here about eleven years ago to rent a rustic little house, my mind was really focussed on life in Halifax," she recalls. "But I found living here in Terence Bay was a very interesting experience, and I soon got involved with my neighbours and others in the community."

Soon after arriving in the community, Ariella began working with a group of women in Lower Prospect who called themselves "Women Down Prospect." After doing a number of projects together, including a literacy program in which the group produced a video and community newsletters, she helped found the Terence Bay and Area Community Access Program (CAP) Site. A filmmaker, Ariella is actively involved in both the CAP Site and the community.

The Terence Bay CAP Site first opened in Terence Bay Elementary School in 1998, but has since moved into quarters in a former fish plant. Now, people can drop in six days a week to check their e-mail and surf the internet. (The use of the CAP Site's half-dozen or so computers is cheap, but not free: individuals pay an annual $24 fee, while families can join for just $30. Or you can walk in and pay a toonie to surf for a couple hours.) The Site, which is working toward becoming self-sustaining, also offers basic computer and web design courses, as well as job-search and resumé-writing courses aimed particularly at young people. Over the next year, the Site's Board plans to create a resource and business centre, establish several satellite Sites in the area, as well as continuing to offer its current services to the community.

Barb Allen is another relative newcomer to Terence Bay. In the mid-1970s she left her native England to travel across Canada. "I really liked Nova Scotia," she recalls, "and I was attracted to Terence Bay by both its beauty, its closeness to Halifax, and its relatively inexpensive housing." She started getting involved in local issues in the 1980s while raising a family. "It was my kids, really, that got me involved in things," she recalls. As well as taking an interest in matters relating to her children's education and recreational activities in the area, she is a former Coordinator of the CAP Site, where she still puts in long hours as a volunteer. As Ariella says, "Barb is involved in just about everything that goes on in Terence Bay."

In contrast to Ariella and Barb, 92-year-old Alice Thomas remembers the Terence Bay of long ago. "I remember the first time I went to Halifax, when I must have been about ten or twelve," she tells me. It took us six hours to get there. We took a load of mackerel and blueberries to peddle in town with a horse-and-wagon on a terrible old road. Every time we came to a hill, we'd have to get out and walk up it. It was really quite an outing."

In 1927, Alice brought her fiancé from Halifax back to Terence Bay for their wedding, then spent the next 30 years in Halifax, where her husband worked in a bakery. When he retired in the late 1950s, they moved back to the village of her birth. "I've seen this community change," she tells me as we look out over the water from her comfortable living room. "I saw the first car here in the village, and saw electricity come in. And the fishing – it's just about only lobster now, but I remember the trawlers and the fish plant, which was owned by some Portuguese people. It would operate in fits and starts, but it never was a big success for very long. Things have changed so much," she tells me as she looks over the water to the far, barren shore. "Even those rocks over there, where we used to pick berries long ago, have changed."

Like other communities around the province, Terence Bay has seen a lot of people from away buying up land in the area. "A lot Europeans have been buying land round about," says Barb. "Some come for just a week in the summer, so those people don't get involved much in local matters. And land prices have gone up considerably."

The former fish plant that houses the CAP Site is owned by the Coastal Communities Economic Development Co-op . Formed in the spring of 1999, it soon bought the plant, which is now home to some local small-business operations. Though it charges rent to ensure its sustainability, the Co-op also has a public mandate to promote community economic development. As its current manager, Bruce Holland says, "It has been challenging to meet everyone's expectations of what the Co-op should be." Co-op membership is open to everyone, with shares selling for $250 each. It is currently in the process of renovating the plant and is conducting a membership drive to enable it to complete that renovation.

Another group active in the community is the Terence Bay Lighthouse Committee. Mary Thomas, Alice's daughter-in-law, is involved with this group, which recently fought a successful battle to assure that the public will continue to have access to the community's lighthouse, as well as to a nearby beach. "The problem began in the 1980s," she recalls, "when some people bought land adjacent to the path that leads to the lighthouse. They put up "No Trespassing" signs, kept a number of dogs, placed large rocks on the path, and generally discouraged people from using the path. Over the course of the next several years, their behaviour scared off a lot of people. The path began to grow over."

Alice remembers that in bygone years "people would take the path to the beach to visit the lighthouse, and to pick cranberries. Nobody was denied access." By 1999, though, that situation had changed, so people banded together to fight to have public access reinstated. The Committee consulted a lawyer, and old property deeds were checked that revealed the existence of a historic right to public access. This past summer, people gathered as a sympathetic contractor used his heavy equipment to remove the large rocks and spread gravel along the path. Police were called and were shown property deeds indicating the public right of way. The work was allowed to proceed. Today, it seems, the people of Terence Bay have won back the right to visit their local lighthouse, which the Coast Guard still maintains as an active aid to navigation. In time, though, the members of the Terence Bay Lighthouse Committee expect that this will probably change. "Our long-term goal," says Mary, "is to take over the lighthouse, and to make it a place for the community."

Tourism development is another issue for the people of Terence Bay. At one point recently, there were plans for a large hotel, but some objected that it didn't blend well with the existing community, and it didn't proceed. As Barb Allen says, "Tourism development has to have local, democratic input, and should be appropriate to the community. There are things going on like trail development, legitimate local crafts, and sea kayaking that blend well with, and into, the environment." Adds Alice Thomas, "It's great to have a bit of tourism development, but we just don't want it to get to be like Peggy's Cove."

All those busses and day-trippers travelling from Halifax along the Prospect Road to Peggy's Cove every day probably don't give a lot of thought to a dead-end road that leads off to the left at White's Lake. Most of them are focussed on the beauty awaiting them at Peggy's, or on what made-in-Taiwan product they might pick up in a gift shop there. Those few who do venture down the road to Terence Bay and Lower Prospect won't find anything in the way of mass-produced tourist trinkets. But they will find startling natural beauty and, if they look beyond the landscape to the people of this area, they will see a vibrant community working in many ways toward making the place they live a better place.

To contact the Terence Bay and Area CAP Site please call 852-2622. To contact the Coastal Communities Economic Development Co-op, call 852-5500.

Learning Not to Count on The Cat

The magazine you're holding in your hand didn't cost you a dime. Naturally, though, there are real costs associated with producing it. At the moment, those costs are being met largely through funding from Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) . On hearing that fact, some might jump to the conclusion that what they read in these pages somehow carries HRDC's "seal of approval," that the federal Department, or at least its local representatives, plays a big role in developing story ideas and determining what finally appears in print. As the Editor of Coastal Communities News for better than two years now, I can assure you that nothing is further from the truth. Yes, one of the people on our nine-person Editorial Board works for HRDC, but that person has never been other than helpful and supportive of my work and that of other Editorial Board members, who come from small coastal and rural communities across the province. I've not once been told, or been made to feel, that a story should be either spiked or slanted in a certain way to please "Big Brother."

That said, it is nonetheless not healthy for the long-term future of any magazine to be permanently so dependent on one source of funding, because that organization might change the way it does business or the manner in which it sets its priorities. So, the Coastal Communities Network, (CCN), which publishes what you are now reading, has been looking at alternative ways of funding the magazine. With support from both HRDC and the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development, we've been looking at finding alternative forms of structuring the way the magazine is produced and revenues are generated. One of the first things we set out to do was to ask our readers for their thoughts about the present state of the magazine and various ways we might make changes. Currently, about 9,000 copies of each edition of Coastal Communities News are mailed to just under 2,000 addresses. (Many people receive and distribute more than one copy.) We took about 500 of those addresses at random and tried to get corresponding phone numbers. This didn't prove to be easy: increasing numbers of people are using cell-phones (numbers for which are almost impossible to find), or are choosing to have unlisted numbers so as not to be bothered by people conducting magazine surveys, or selling snake oil.

In the end, we managed to contact 148 people who each agreed to take about ten minutes to complete the survey. Interestingly, only 30 of these were women, despite the fact that of the original 500 names, there seemed to be a relatively even split between men and women. The reasons for this are far from straightforward. Married couples often have their phone numbers appear in the name of the husband. And, many people, particularly women, go only by a first initial such as "J. Doe."

One of the first questions in the survey was "Overall, how would you rate the content of Coastal Communities News ?" The response to this question was encouraging: over 80 percent of people deemed the material between these covers to be either "good," "very good," or "excellent." Of those with another opinion, all but one rated the contents "fair." The sole dissenter to these assessments believed our contents are "poor." (As the Editor and one of the main people responsible for what appears here, I suffered a few fretful hours wondering who this person was, and what I had done to so offend him or her. After a while, though, I made my peace with the situation.)

The most popular of the magazine's regular features proved to be our "Community Profiles," with "Opinion" and "Making a Difference" articles in a virtual dead heat for second place. When asked to rate the quality of these features on a scale of one to ten, the most common assessment was "eight."

People were also asked what they would like to see more of in the magazine. The two most common responses were "more articles on natural resources" and "more articles on environmental issues." The survey also found that most people pass the magazine on to someone else once they've read it.

We also asked those surveyed about the qualities of the magazine that determined whether they would read what was offered in our pages. Perhaps not surprisingly, the headline (or title, as I prefer to call it) above any given story was rated as a crucial factor in determining whether the reader's eye would continue into the text of an article or fingers would immediately proceed with page turning. (I can't help but feel a bit self-conscious about this finding, given that the dreaming up of titles – okay, "headlines," if you prefer – is just about entirely my responsibility. I have days when a snappy title will pop into my head almost automatically. On other days, coming up with a good title seems like pulling hens' teeth. And then are those days when I think I've got a great title but, in fact, it's completely out to lunch. Because I can never tell the difference between "good" days and "out-to-lunch" ones, I always run my title ideas by someone, almost anyone, else. (In fact, in times of desperation I've found myself wishing my cat could speak, if only to confirm that I had, indeed, come up with a clever title.)

Our readers rated the magazine's layout only a bit less important than an article's title when it came to whether or not they would read it. The pleasing placement of graphics and photographs can, it seems, be as important as the quality of the text itself.

As well as asking several questions regarding the magazine's distribution, the survey also enquired about a number of alternatives to our current financial affairs. Almost two-thirds of respondents said they would be willing to pay an annual subscription fee, and more than 75 percent believed that Coastal Communities News should solicit more paid advertisements. Other ideas on reducing costs and/or increasing revenues received the following levels of support: producing fewer issues each year, 12 percent; jointly distributing the magazine with some other (un-named) publication, 32 percent; organizing a once-a-year fundraising campaign among our readers, 43 percent, and "other ideas," 13 percent.

Looking back on the design of the survey, and to the specific questions asked, I can't help but wish we had asked a few more questions, or asked some of them a bit differently. Since I've taken over the helm as Editor of Coastal Communities News , there has been a tendency for articles to become longer in length. In that time, I've received a lot of unscientific feedback about the magazine in all sorts of ways from all sorts of people. I've had people tell me they would prefer shorter articles, and have also heard from people (sometimes the same ones!), that they would like to see the magazine deal with issues in a more in-depth way. The question about the length of articles, however, was never directly asked in the survey. The closest we came was when we asked what readers would like to see "added" to the magazine. Only one respondent suggested "shorter articles," and that made me wonder how we might "add shorter articles." Looking back, I can't help but wish we had asked people what they would like to see "changed" in the magazine.

So, what does all this tell us? Well, for one thing, it tells us that most of our current readers are willing to lighten their pockets a bit in order to continue reading the magazine, and that, in general, they like the quality and content of the magazine. It also tells us, in a way, that "the devil is in the detail," that presentation can be every bit as important as content.

Where do we go from here, to make practical changes based on what we've learned? A number of things are obvious. We'll need to increase advertising revenues, bearing in mind our policy of accepting ads only from those organizations that have the interests of coastal and rural communities at heart. We'll be looking at covering more stories dealing with natural resource and environmental issues. And, we'll have to find other ways of generating revenues. We'll also have to make efforts to improve the physical appearance of the magazine and to pay attention to the "details." (I'll have to finally accept the fact that my cat cannot be relied on for much of anything.)

The survey has been only a part of a broader project to look at a number of possible changes in the way we operate. You'll not see huge changes in Coastal Communities News overnight. We will proceed cautiously in implementing any changes. We have yet to decide whether we will have to put the distribution of the magazine on a paid-subscription basis. The Editorial Board and the Board of Directors of CCN have given the go-ahead to launch a fund-raising drive among our readership, possibly early in the New Year. Over the next several issues, you'll likely see other changes in the magazine. So, thanks for your support, stay tuned, and keep on reading.

If you have any thoughts on our survey, or on Coastal Communities News, please share them with us. Call us at 445-7168, or e-mail at ccnews@ns.sympatico.ca.

The Wisdom of Geese

When you see geese migrating in a "V" formation in fall or spring, please think about the following basic truths that each of us can live by. Scientists have discovered that as each bird flaps its wings it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flapping in the "V" formation, the whole flock add at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

Basic Truth Number One – People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to make it alone, and quickly falls back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

Basic Truth Number Two – If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed in the same direction we are going. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the wing and another goose flies point. The good of the flock is of primary importance.

Basic Truth Number Three – It pays to take turns doing the difficult jobs. When people, or geese, are moving in the same direction, everyone benefits as a result of cooperation.

Basic Truth Number Four – Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. We need to encourage and participate in our leadership. At the same time, let us be careful what we say when we honk from behind. Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshot and falls, two geese fall out of formation and follow it down to protect it. They stay with that goose until it is either able to fly or dead. They then launch out on their own to catch up with the group or to find another formation.

Basic Truth Number Five – We should all stand by our fellow beings, whether we are geese, humans, or any other of God's magical creatures.

"All Creatures are Our Relatives"

On the evening of October 23, Mi'Kmaq and non-Natives, including members of the United Church and other faiths, met on Citadel Hill and at other places across the country. They gathered to pray for guidance from the Creator in the sharing of natural resources among the peoples of Canada. In Halifax, Noel Knockwood, Spiritual Leader and Captain of the Grand Council of the Mi'Kmaq Nation, led in the offering of the following prayer

From all religious groups in Atlantic Canada, we have united ourselves in prayer for peace between the Aboriginal fishermen and other fishers in the Maritimes. Let us not war among ourselves, our communities, our families over the harvest of our water resources in Burnt Church and elsewhere. Because of our struggle for equality, families on both sides have been afraid, hurt, and torn apart.

Our spiritual beliefs are rooted deep within our Mother, the Earth. Every part of the Earth is sacred to our Indian people. We say, with pride, that all creatures are our relatives because we all come from one God, the Great Spirit.

Grandfather, Grandmother God, the Great Spirit, You are the ultimate force that created this universe and all life within. You know that You have made the races of the world: the red, yellow, black, and white people, and each You have given a domain and a purpose. You have placed us on Mother Earth, for which we are grateful. You have given us the natural resources so that we could sustain our lives. You have instructed us to live in peace and tranquillity.

Yet we have violated your sacred instructions because we are fighting for the natural resources You granted to all of us. Please manifest Your intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom into the minds of all people. Together, we pray that we can bring a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict that has been tearing our communities apart.

We ask the French, English, Mi'Kmaq, Christians, Traditionalists, governments, and citizens to respect the land and the water upon which we were placed. Come, pray with me and understand that all of our prayers will be heard by the same God. Without judgement or condemnation, we pray that they will set aside anger and come together on good terms. We ask this in the name of our Father, the Great Spirit.

Grandfather, Grandmother, we the Interfaith Council of Halifax and others who have joined us in prayer, close by saying, as one body, one spirit, and one voice, we have offered our prayers.

Of Eagles, and Remembrance

When an eagle's born,
We know that it's time to learn
Learn the ways, of the olden days.
Circling round and round the eagle flies,
Teaching us to be wise.

In the blue sky the eagle flies,
Taking our Prayers and our heartfelt cries,
To the heavens up above,
Where the angels watch us with love.

Through the eagle's eyes,
The Spirits watch us with pride.
The Creator sends down angels
On the back of eagle's wings,
To help us and all living things.

An eagle watches over us,
All day and night without a fuss.
An eagle is an elder too,
To tell us just what to do.

As I walk down the road,
The memories are a heavy load,
Of what Remembrance Day stands for.
It stands for soldiers who fought in war,
To make this world safe for you and for me.

As I walk down this road,
I see children playing on the street.
The future generation is so sweet.
They don't understand what the future could hold,
So thank you, soldiers for being so brave and so bold.

It must have been so hard to lose a loved one.
It must have hurt a ton.
We fret over silly things, like if we dye our hair wrong.
But back then, people worried if their children would come home,
Or wives who faced the future alone.

War or peace is ours to decide,
From this fact, we cannot hide.
We cannot hide the truth anymore.
When we think of how people suffered in war,
It should show us that peace should be our only goal.

Women's CED Network Taking Root in Nova Scotia

Formed in 1998, the Women's Community Economic Development (CED) Network was set up in response to a series of meetings across Nova Scotia called Counting Women In CED. More than 1,500 women of different backgrounds met around kitchen tables and in focus groups and workshops to talk about CED. They stressed that women play many roles in community economics, and they were very clear about the things they needed in order to assure their full participation in the local economy. Today, the Women's CED Network offers many services and programs to address these needs.

"The response from women has been overwhelming," says Doreen Parsons, Provincial Coordinator for the Women's CED Network. "Our regional coordinators are out there in communities working side by side with other women to help them achieve their goals. The enthusiasm being generated clearly demonstrates the need for the services and programs we offer," she adds.

Home-based business support is one popular Network service. The Network has produced and distributed a woman-positive booklet on starting a home-based business. Antigonish County Coordinator Oona Landry worked together with the Antigonish Regional Development Authority and the Guysborough Business Development Centre to hold several information sessions for women. As a result, home-based business groups have started in both Antigonish and Guysborough counties. Annapolis County Coordinator Mary DesRoches has met with 19 aspiring home-based entrepreneurs, while in Cape Breton County, 22 women turned out for Sandra Dunn's session at the Every Woman's Centre in Sydney. Sandra is now working with a New Waterford group to set up a home-based business group there.

The Women's CED Network is involved in a variety of other social and economic development activities. Mary DesRoches teamed up with the Western Valley Development Authority and several women's organizations to host a "Women in Business Trade Fair" at Cornwallis Park in October. At the other end of the province, Sandra Dunn worked with women in Whitney Pier to set up Jewish Heritage Tours, an organization that targets the cruise-ship market. She works with individual small businesses to help them expand or get started, and is also helping to establish local cooperatives.

Affordable housing is one of the issues being addressed by the Women's CED Network in Antigonish County. In partnership with the Antigonish Women's Resource Centre, the Network has just completed a research project that explored different options for affordable housing. The next stage will be the creation of a series of workshops to offer information about contracting and housing development so women can take part in the creation of housing projects. Recently, the Network was selected for first-stage funding by Homegrown Solutions, a national foundation specializing in affordable housing. The Network is now preparing a proposal for a larger-scale project.

Introducing women to the sometimes intimidating world of computer technology is another important Network activity. In this area, the Network has been awarded funding from the Canadian Rural Partnership and Industry Canada to pursue a unique project. Technologically savvy young women have been hired to provide computer training to women at Community Access Program (CAP) sites. Called Women On-Line, the program is being offered in Cape Breton, Antigonish, Digby, and Annapolis counties. In Cape Breton County alone, more than 50 women signed up before the training sessions were even advertised.

The Network continues to expand its activities. A Learning Series was recently developed to support women's involvement in CED. More than 200 women from local communities in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island actively took part in its development. The Network has also created a partnership with the Shelburne County Women's FishNet to offer its programs and services through that organization. This two-year project is being funded by Human Resources Development Canada and the Fisheries Restructuring Adjustment Measures initiative of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The Network is also exploring projects related to women's access to credit and e-commerce.

The list of the Network's activities goes on. The needs of women are there, and their enthusiasm is infectious. Broadening the scope of the Women's CED Network and expanding to other regions is just a matter of time.

For more information on the Women's CED Network, check its site at www.womenscednet.ns.ca. For information about the Women's CED Network province-wide, contact Doreen Parsons at 857-1061 or Janet Rhymes at 433-0449.

Meeting of the Ages

What do you get when you put more than 100 young people from around the globe together to discuss ocean and coastal management, as well as broader environmental concerns? Well, you get spirit. You get energy. You get creativity. You get enthusiasm. And lots more, too.

From September 15-17, the Coastal Zone 2000 Youth Forum (part of a broader Coastal Zone Canada Conference) took place in Saint John, New Brunswick. More than 100 young people came from ten different countries and eight provinces and territories to present their work and take part in workshops and other activities. We learned about different cultures, formed strong networks, and realized that we aren't alone in our various struggles for change. And, perhaps most importantly, we had a great time doing it!

We examined the four themes of Aboriginal Practices and Perspectives, Coastal Health, Community-Based Action, and Oceans Governance. But the highlight of our two-and-a-half days together was the "Beach Sweep." As luck would have it, the Atlantic Coastal Action Program in Saint John held its annual Beach Sweep on the weekend of our Youth Forum. So, bright and early on Saturday morning (and in the pouring rain, I might add), we donned our "grubbies" and helped clean up local beaches.

During our time together indoors, the following very strong, clear messages came out of our Youth Forum.

Standing in front of the Main Conference on Sunday night in the middle of our "unconventional" presentation, looking out on that sea of largely older faces, I knew that our Youth Forum had been a success. We had a real impact on the rest of the Conference — our philosophies were heard, and they remained in the minds of many. I hope they will remain with you.

Maxine Westhead is a Marine Biologist and served as Chair of the Coastal Zone 2000 Youth Forum. For more information on the Youth Forum visit our website at: http://www.sybertooth.ca/czczcc2000/yf.htm.

Coastal Communities News is published bi-monthly by the Coastal Communities Network, a non-profit society registered in the province of Nova Scotia.

Coastal Communities News is made possible by the generous efforts of many volunteers, and by financial contributions from Human Resources Development Canada, and by donations and in-kind contributions from the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Culture, as well as from member groups and organizations.

We welcome all articles and submissions, from individuals and groups, with content in keeping with the role and nature of this magazine. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Except where additional credit has been given, all articles are prepared by the Editor and Editorial Board.

Our Mission Statement

The Coastal Communities Network is a volunteer association of organizations whose mission is to provide a forum to encourage dialogue, share information, and create strategies and actions that promote the survival and development of Nova Scotia's coastal and rural communities.

"A Large Voice for Small Communities"

CCN is made up of organizations rooted in Nova Scotia's coastal and rural communities, and it is the diversity of its membership that gives it strength. Your organization, and your community, can help CCN determine its direction and strengthen its voice still further. Join the Coastal Communities Network today.

— by participating in regular monthly meetings of the CCN membership. These are held in Truro (usually on the first Tuesday of each month), and allow representatives from member organizations to review what is happening in coastal communities across the province, plan actions on issues of common concern, and review progress on CCN-sponsored projects;

— by getting on our mailing list to receive regular copies of Coastal Communities News. Send us your name and address by mail or fax, or call us directly;

— by contributing written articles to Coastal Communities News, and so letting everyone know what's happening in your community;

— by taking part in CCN workshops and information sessions. Special events like this are held on topics of importance to coastal communities (for example, community economic development, co- management in the fishery, etc);

— by inquiring about CCN's resource library, which includes information, reports, and studies on topics that affect the future and sustainability of coastal communities.

CCN Coordinator:
PO Box 1613
Pictou, N.S. B0K 1H0
Phone:(902)485-4754 Fax:(902)445-7134
e-mail:coastalnet@ns.sympatico.ca

CCN Communications Office:
Phone: (902) 445-7168
Fax: (902) 445-7134
e-mail:ccnews@ns.sympatico.ca

"We All Leave the Wharf at the Same Time"

From Horse-and-Wagon to the Internet

Learning Not to Count on The Cat

The Wisdom of Geese

"All Creatures are Our Relatives"

Of Eagles, and Remembrance

Women's CED Network Taking Root in Nova Scotia

Meeting of the Ages

Coastal Communities News

Join the Coastal Communities Network

Our Mission Statement

"A Large Voice for Small Communities"

How to Become Involved
in the Coastal Communities Network

"We All Leave the Wharf at the Same Time"

From Horse-and-Wagon to the Internet

Learning Not to Count on The Cat

The Wisdom of Geese

"All Creatures are Our Relatives"

Of Eagles, and Remembrance

Women's CED Network Taking Root in Nova Scotia

Meeting of the Ages

Coastal Communities News

Join the Coastal Communities Network

Our Mission Statement

"A Large Voice for Small Communities"

How to Become Involved in the Coastal Communities Network

How to Become Involved
in the Coastal Communities Network