Shelburne County communities being engaged to talk about health care

The Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA), in partnership with the Barrington and Area Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality of Barrington, and the Town of Lockeport are undertaking a series of four community conversations in Shelburne County in November to talk about health care.

“Our Place, Our Time is an initiative born out of conversations held with community members, leaders, and NSHA staff in Shelburne County.

There is a desire to shift the conversation to be healthier and more constructive so innovative ideas can take root and grow.

It is about listening and taking action in a more positive way for a healthier future together,” reads the poster promoting the four meetings as well as the

Our Place Our Time website. “Health-care discussions in our communities have often been difficult, and challenging. Shelburne County is asking for more constructive conversations to build a renewed and collective vision for our future. The most powerful way to create a future is to imagine it together. Let's shine a light on innovative ideas and fresh thinking by identifying actions that can be taken now both individually and together.”

The NSHA began a community engagement process in June to address the nature of public dialogue about health-care conversations in the county based on some feedback received.

“There was agreement on a need to change the conversation about health care in Shelburne County to something more productive and forwardlooking. The current public discussion was seen as hampering recruitment of health-care providers and harming relationships with current health-care providers and staff who are also part of the community,” reads the website.

In June and July, community members, community leaders and health care staff were interviewed. A report was created from these interviews to examine the underlying issues associated with the health-care conversation in Shelburne County. The Themes and Patterns report is available on the website, which also contains avenues for input.

The community conversations are scheduled for Nov. 17, 18 and 19.

Meeting times and locations are:

Nov. 17: 1 to 3 p.m. at the Crescent Beach Centre in Lockeport;

Nov. 17: 6 to 8 p.m. at the Barrington Municipal Administrative Centre in Barrington;

Nov. 18: 6 to 8 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Clark's Harbour;

Nov. 19: 6 to 8 p.m. at the Shelburne Regional High School in Shelburne.

This community engagement effort is supported by a planning team including community members and representatives from Nova Scotia Health Authority, the Barrington and Area Chamber of Commerce, the Municipality of Barrington, and the Town of Lockeport.

For those who can’t attend in person, they can join the conversation online at www.OurPlaceOurTime.ca or by calling 1-844-983-1240.