Collaborative Work
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has a history of strong partnerships and collaborations with other governments, organizations and the community sector. This collaboration offers unique opportunities to address complex issues. This page offers a selection of some of the work that is currently underway or has recently been completed. We acknowledge that meaningful collaboration and deeper partnerships are important for an open government.
Collaborative Work (By Region)
St. Anthony - Port aux Choix
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Heritage Cluster
The Northern Peninsula Heritage Cluster is a network of local heritage organizations. In 2010, these groups began working together to provide a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of visitor heritage experiences and interpretation in the region. In April 2012 and after hearing about the Partnership Brokering model and approach, the Heritage Cluster Co-ordinator and Advisory Group for assistance with strengthening the partnership and sustainability of the organization, as it prepared to move into a new phase in its development. Using a combination of brokering techniques, review tools and community development approaches, OPE Regional Planners worked with the group to carry out an assessment of the existing partnership. Based on the findings they designed and delivered (with partner support) a series of workshops and planning sessions to help strengthen and build the partnership and the Heritage Cluster network as a whole.
Corner Brook - Rocky Harbour
Community-University Expo
In 2013 the Government of Newfoundland Labrador partnered with Grenfell Campus of Memorial University and the City of Corner Brook to bring CU Expo, a community-led international conference, to western Newfoundland. The conference showcased best practices in community-university and government partnership worldwide, and provided a platform to create new opportunities for innovative and successful collaborations which strengthen our communities.
Stephenville - Port aux Basques
Rural Secretariat Western: Issues, Barriers and Solutions to Accessing Healthcare Services in the Corner Brook/Rocky Harbour and Stephenville/Port aux Basques areas (2013). Health Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, MUN.
Available research indicates that people living in rural and remote areas of Canada face unique challenges accessing health services. Recently, the Western Regional Health Authority completed a Needs Assessment of the entire Western Region, including a telephone survey and focus groups. The present research was conducted by the Regional Council of the Rural Secretariat in collaboration with Principal Investigators at Memorial University. This research was designed to capture the voices of individuals and groups less likely to participate in telephone surveys and official focus groups. In addition to gaining more in-depth information on barriers to accessing health services and exploring solutions to improving access to services in the Western Region, this research aims to: inform policy advice to government on enhancing access to health service, identify potential solutions to issues identified by participants and disseminate results broadly.
Grand Falls-Windsor - Baie Verte - Harbour Breton
Understanding Land Use in the Grand Falls-Windsor - Baie Verte - Harbour Breton Region (2013). Janelle Skeard, MA candidate and Maggie Sutherland, MA, Department of Geography, MUN; Patrick Leveque undergrad student Department of Geography, and Dr. Kelly Vodden, Environmental Policy Institute, MUN, Grenfell Campus
Understanding Land Use in the Grand Falls-Windsor - Baie Verte -Harbour Breton Region From a regional perspective, members of Central West Regional Council (CWRC) of the provincial Rural Secretariat wanted to confirm anecdotal reports and better understand the land use conflicts and potential conflicts in Central Newfoundland. Council initiated a partnership with the Department of Geography at Memorial University. Under the direction of Dr. Kelly Vodden, Janelle Skeard, Maggie Sutherland, and Patrick Leveque an investigation on current issues surrounding land planning in the region was conducted. The report Developing Innovative Approaches for Community Engagement in the Grand Falls-Windsor - Baie Verte - Harbour Breton Region was used to guide the project especially regarding community engagement. Council collaborated with Memorial University's Geography 3350 class to compile case studies; Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador for ensuring input was gained from municipal leaders in the region; and ICECAP Youth Center along with Harbour Breton Community Youth Network to assist in capturing a regional youth perspective.
Gander - New-Wes-Valley
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Central NL Citizen Engagement
This initiative was a collaborative effort between the Gander - New-Wes-Valley and Grand Falls-Windsor-Baie Verte - Harbour Breton Regional Councils of the Rural Secretariat, Central Health, the Office of Public Engagement, the Grand Falls Campus of the College of the North Atlantic and the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University. The purpose of this project was to learn how to better engage and involve citizens of the region in providing input on matters that influence decision making which affects the residents of Central Newfoundland. Through this Citizen Engagement initiative the partners wanted to enhance open dialogue about community growth and sustainability by engaging rural citizens in discussions related to service delivery in their respective service areas. The information collected from citizens will be used for planning future engagement opportunities with a goal to improve future engagements.
Clarenville - Bonavista
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An Analysis of Municipal Readiness for Socio-Economic Development Opportunities in the Isthmus of Avalon Region. Michelle Porter, PhD candidate and Dr. Kelly Vodden, Department of Geography, MUN
Five communities in the Isthmus region of the Avalon Peninsula collaborated on this community based research project which has focused on providing a snapshot of regional readiness with regards to Industrial Benefits Planning (IBP) and local/regional gaps in well-being to be considered and addressed through the IBP. Project participants formed an advisory committee made up of representatives of each participating municipality (Sunnyside, Come by Chance, Southern Harbour, Arnoldʼs Cove and Clarenville), the provincial Rural Secretariat (OPE), Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Discovery Regional Development Board. Project actions have included: industrial benefits planning literature review; review of relevant studies, plans and reports to support the identification of strengths and weakness with regard to municipal capacity; interviews with community members, benefits experts and industry representatives; an assessment of the potential of IBP regional collaboration for the participating towns; a public meeting during which public input was collected; and a discussion paper, including suggested next steps.
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Regional Action Committee on Housing (REACH)
Established in 2009 this group of government and community organization representatives works to address and advocate for affordable housing and homelessness issues in the Clarenville-Bonavista region. The work of this group has raised awareness of housing issues and challenges throughout the region and its efforts can be linked to several other projects, initiatives and achievements over the past four years that have advanced the issue of affordable housing and homelessness.
Burin
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The Burin Peninsula Joint Council
The Council is made up of municipalities and local service districts on the Burin Peninsula. Some of the key activities of the Council are: to seek solutions to common problems; to increase the standard and quality of public services and basic amenities throughout the Burin Peninsula region; to foster harmony among municipalities and local service districts and to liaise with other organizations, departments, and all levels of government; to stimulate regional growth; to investigate new methods of delivering or providing municipal services based on the principles of fostering cooperation and improving efficiencies and effectiveness; and to act as a lobby group on regional issues and/or on behalf of individual municipalities and local service districts on the Burin Peninsula.
Avalon
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Active Labour Market Network
This network consists of partners within the Placentia region who initially came together out of interest in exploring a possible mismatch between labour market demand in the region and the unemployed and possible solutions for addressing this mismatch. The network consisted of representation from AES, CNA, MUN, the Avalon Gateway Economic Development Corporation and the Placentia and Area Chamber of Commerce. Since convening in 2010 the network has supported two community based research projects, the Applicability of the Local Labour Market Development Approach in Newfoundland and Labrador: A Case Study of the Avalon Gateway Region (Economic Zone 18) (2011) and an Analysis of Literature and Secondary Data Related to Community Based Learning Models (forthcoming).
Labrador
Let's Talk School - Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education School Board
The Innu Nation in Labrador formed their own education board (Mamu Tshishkutamashutau) in 2009, taking responsibility for the communities' elementary and secondary education programs. In January, 2014, the school board held community workshops in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish called ‘Let's Talk School'. These were designed to build upon a previous community consultation process, assisting in the identification of key issues and solutions relating to education in Labrador Innu communities. The objectives of these forums were to assist in the development of a school success plan, and also to build relationships between the school and community-at-large. There were roughly 70 participants at each session, bringing together a mixture of Innu and non-Innu participants including elders, parents, school staff, Band and Innu Nation workers, as well as school board staff and trustees. The OPE supported the design and implementation of these sessions, particularly though the use of interactive polling. The sessions were designed to provide an inclusive and interactive opportunity for all participants to share information and receive input into the school success plan.
Province-Wide Collaborative Work
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Community Youth Network (CYN)
CYNs are located throughout the province and are funded by the Office of Public Engagement. The mandate of CYNs is to provide a variety of programs and services for youth. CYNs were started in order to decrease barriers to education and/or employment for young people and to improve their quality of life.
Other Collaborative Work
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Community University Government Knowledge Collaboration
The Office of Public Engagement (OPE), Executive Council, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, recently led - along with partners Grenfell Campus, Memorial University and the City of Corner Brook - the development and hosting of the Community University Exposition (CU Expo) 2013 in Corner Brook NL. This initiative and the OPE's involvement grew out of a broader commitment to community based research principles and the belief that communities, universities and governments can best work together to address social and economic problems through knowledge-based collaboration initiatives.
The work of the OPE on CU Expo was important for a number of reasons.
- First, it represented the emergence of direct government support for the CU Expo movement and recognition of the role governments can play in working closely with scholars and communities on efforts of a knowledge mobilization, community-engaged scholarship, and community-based research nature.
- Second, the OPE has been supporting a community based research agenda that ensures community-driven issues are well researched and that the results are used to advise the provincial government on policy related to rural sustainability.
- Finally, the OPE was able to bring to the CU Expo significant expertise in public engagement and collaboration expertise.
