By Charlene Boyce
Did you know that in our community of Clayton Park / Bayers Lake, you can access community health programs, join guided nature hikes, learn to become a Welcome Ambassador for newcomers, or, if you are between 18-30, tap into a national youth program that provides free tech training?
There are resources, services, and programs available for women, men, seniors, children, newcomers, and those with special needs. You can buy affordable food at the Mobile Food Market every two weeks at the Centennial Arena or through Square Roots. There is a Buy Nothing group that allows you to gift or receive items at no cost.
How do you learn about and tap into the wealth of resources available? That is where Engage Mainland North comes in. Engage Mainland North (EMN) is a monthly community roundtable that brings together organizations, service providers and residents. It has been around since at least 2016, and while the people around the table have changed a bit, we remain committed to being a central resource for the community.
Halifax Public Libraries and Inspiring Communities are the current partners holding the space for EMN. The library has long been involved, providing space and leadership. Inspiring Communities came on board last spring when the HRM Community Developer and the Library sent a message to the network looking for a new convener. Inspiring Communities is a nonprofit equity-centered systems change leader in Atlantic Canada. The Inspiring Communities approach focuses on taking the time to develop trusted relationships, from which real change can grow. We are working to change embedded structures, power dynamics and approaches to problem-solving – that cannot, and will not, be done overnight. We envision equitable and thriving communities defined by place (geography) and by theme.
We nurture equitable thriving place-based and theme-based communities by prioritizing equity-deserving groups and residents in our initiatives across Nova Scotia and supporting them to lead decision-making on topics that affect them and matter to them.
The Engage Mainland North (EMN) Roundtable allows residents, community groups and service providers to connect and • Share information about programs & services in the community
• Share any opportunities or challenges that exist for the organization or within the community
• Note any resources they may be looking for
• Build connections
• Communicate volunteer opportunities within their organizations
Next Meetings
Hybrid (online and in person):
January 5, 2023, 1-2:30,
location TBD
For more information about the roundtable (or for the meeting Zoom link), contact Charlene Boyce at cboyce@inspiringcommunities.ca.
