In 2009-10, the BRWP hosted a series of community engagement workshops with local residents to share perspectives on what they value most about their rural landscape.  Discussion focused on key issues and concerns as well as what participants saw as important drivers of change in the watershed. Social,

economic, and environmental aspects of the watershed were discussed by residents who represented a variety of sectors including: forestry, agriculture, tourism, cottages, and industry.

The information gathered during the workshops was then used to collaboratively draft four future scenarios for the watershed.  The Bonnechere 2050 scenarios are creative stories that describe what the future could be

like in 2050, under certain conditions, and in response to key decisions and actions taken or not taken. None of the scenarios attempt to accurately predict the future or to represent an ideal vision. The overall aim of the scenarios is to stimulate discussions among residents of the watershed about the future of the area and to reflect on the policies, events, and processes that will ensure that what is valued today can be sustained

into the future.

Follow-up meetings with local artists and youth groups added new perspectives that were incorporated into the scenarios and a series of paintings by local artist Jerome Coulas that represent the four future scenarios were commissioned by the BRWP. These paintings will be unveiled at a community forum and arts exhibition taking place on April 15, 2011. Selected excerpts from the finished paintings are included the Community Engagement Series report and will be replaced in a subsequent version of the report with the complete images of the paintings.

 

Naturalizing Your Shoreline

posted Jan 6, 2011 4:09 PM by Admin BRWP   [ updated Jan 6, 2011 4:16 PM ]