Coady Institute students to study Pictou County’s assets

Janice Fraser believes that a different perspective can be a positive way to gain new insight.

It’s part of the reason she’s excited she’ll have the opportunity to welcome people from various parts of the world to Pictou County on June 1.

The visit is part of a course Fraser and other community leaders from Canada and about 10 other countries from around the world are taking this spring at St. Francis Xavier’s Coady Institute called Asset-based and Citizen-led Development.

During their field study visit the participants will have a chance to learn about Pictou County and give their perspective on its strength and assets.

The asset-based approach is unique in that often when it comes to development people look at what’s wrong and try to fix it, says Gord Cunningham, assistant director of the Coady International Institute.

Asset-based is different because it focuses on what’s already strong and finds ways to build on those strengths. The other aspect the course focuses on is endeavors that are community-led rather than waiting on government or corporations to create positive change.

Fraser is a founding member of Pictou County 2020, which she created along with other women in response to the Ivany Report. The group has already examined what it believes are Pictou County’s strengths but she said it will be interesting to see how others view it.

“I’m really excited about the training,” Fraser said. “I’ve done 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. and community development my entire during that time the students career and really believe in of the course hope to talk with this strength- and asset-based people from Pictou County and approach.” learn what the community collectively

Without a doubt she believes sees as the main assets Pictou County’s greatest potential and strengths. rests with its residents. Some aspects they’ll consider is

Already there has been local an inventory of the skills and talents interest in the visit with support of the people here, a diagram coming from the Town of New illustrating the many and diverse Glasgow’s community development voluntary associations, a map of committee. Fraser said they the community’s main physical hope to have other municipalities assets and natural resources and participate as well. an illustration of the money coming

In the past, the Coady Institute into and out of our community. has held engagement sessions in places closer to home, but Residents interested in taking Cunningham is thankful for Fraser’s part can come for the full two help in bringing it to Pictou hours or drop by for as long as County. they’re able to.

“I see this as a great opportunity,” Cunningham hopes participants he said. in the course will leave with The event is being held at Summer Street Industries June 1 between

some insight themselves.