For immediate release: Sept 21, 2011
The St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association was one of seven Nova Scotia community
organizations to receive a 2011 grant from the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia.
The grant was awarded for community building, and will be developed in partnership with the
Transition Bay St Margarets group. The proposed project will create opportunities for our
community to explore resilience in the face of future uncertainties in the economy, energy supply
and ecology.
“The uncertainties that the world and the Bay community face are difficult to anticipate,”
admitted Stewardship Association Chair Robert Ziegler. “Can any of us imagine what effect a
dramatic increase in the price of oil would do to our community? Or a storm surge that washes
out multiple sections of our coastal roads? It’s difficult, but it’s probably a good idea to think the
various possibilities through before something happens rather than after.”
The Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia awarded the grants for the coming year
through its Rural Innovation Fund. Backing for the Rural Innovation Fund, which will run for
two years, was provided by the Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development
and Tourism. The Rural Innovation Fund supports initiatives that support the resiliency and
sustainability of communities, that strengthen and build on resources within the community, and
that enhance community leadership.
“There are lots of things that we as a community can do to prepare for the possible challenges,”
said Robert Cervelli, a Coordinator of Transition Bay St Margarets. “Local gardening and
agriculture helps moderate the rising price of food, and fostering local economies helps keep our
purchasing dollars local.” The project, which will extend through summer of next year, will follow
the example of a number of Transition Initiatives worldwide — communities that have reduced
their energy dependence, fostered sustainable practices, and built local economies while doing so.
Overall the project has three phases, according to Cervelli. The first — over the course of the Fall
and Winter — is a series of presentations and workshops to learn about the best practices
achieved by other resilient communities. The second phase — to take place in late winter or early
spring — will explore specific risks facing the St. Margarets Bay area. And the third phase will
facilitate community conversations and collaborations around pilot projects.
“There is a general understanding especially about the economic and ecological challenges we
face, ” explained Ziegler, “If we wait for governments to act, it may be too late. If we act as
individuals, the effect is too little. If we act as a community, however, there is a chance that
significant change can happen in time.”
A film about Transition Initiatives and an introduction to Transition Bay St Margarets
will be shown at the Tantallon Library on Thursday 29 September at 7:00 p.m. All are
warmly invited. For more information, contact Robert Cervelli
(cervelli@originbiomed.com) or Robert Ziegler (bob@robertwziegler.com). To learn
more about the St. Margaret’s Bay Stewardship Association and its other projects in our
community, see www.heartofthebay.ca
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