Pictou County guide book aims to attract health-care providers
A comprehensive guide to Pictou County to aid in recruiting medical professionals – and people in general – is now available, thanks to a community effort to prepare the document.
The 92-page Welcome Home to Pictou County, Nova Scotia, is now available online, with a limited run of print copies throughout the community. The idea came through the work of Healthy Pictou County, a physician-led effort to attract and retain health-care providers and students to the area.
“I really needed something tangible, in one place, that I could send to prospective physicians, other health-care providers and their families, all over the world,” said Nicole LeBlanc, project navigator for Healthy Pictou County. “We’re so proud of this document that showcases all corners of our community, and gives people a good starting point to see what we’re all about. As you’ll see, we have so much to be proud of, and I think that this guide gives us a refreshed appreciation for our home as we have so much to offer.”
Healthy Pictou County received funding for the project through Communities, Culture and Heritage’s Healthy Communities Fund, and partnered with the Pictou County Chamber
of Commerce, Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores (DEANS), and the Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network. The group solicited content from Pictou Landing First Nation, the six municipal units and community organizations, individuals and businesses.
The piece was designed by Advocate Creative Group in Stellarton.
The guide is available electronically for anyone who wishes to use it on their websites, or for sending to those relocating to Pictou County.
“It’s wonderful to have a comprehensive place to share what makes our community so special. It’s intended to be a piece to give you basic knowledge, and inspire you to explore further by looking online or visiting places and things here in the community,” said Sarah MacIntosh Wiseman, CEO of the Pictou County REN. “It’s a great resource not only for Nicole’s work in physician recruitment and retention, but also for employee recruitment and retention efforts at large and small businesses, and local efforts to encourage new businesses to relocate to Pictou County.”
The group hopes that people from the area will also find a new appreciation for the community when leafing through the pages.
“Even as someone who has lived in Pictou County for over 35 years, I learned something new every time I went through it,” said Jack Kyte, executive director of the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce. “From a chamber perspective, it is a wonderful tool for smaller organizations and businesses to showcase our community, and we’re thrilled to have this guide available for all.”
The group worked with local writers, organizations, businesses, experts and people from all over the county to prepare this piece that shows not only those considering or new to our area, but those who have been here, a new appreciation for our community.
The electronic version of the document is available at www. healthypictoucounty.ca, the Chamber, REN and DEANS website, and the electronic booklet is available for anyone in Pictou County who would like to use it. Printed copies will be distributed throughout the community through a limited print run.
"I really needed something tangible, in one place, that I could send to prospective physicians, other health-care providers and their families, all over the world."
Nicole LeBlanc Project navigator for Healthy Pictou County