By Nancy Mattes, Director, Social Prosperity Wood Buffalo
Now that the Social Prosperity Framework for Building Prosperous Communities has the green light of approval from Wood Buffalo community members, we’re developing the infrastructure for the Implementation Phase which is scheduled to begin in June. The organic nature of our project combined with the commitment to address community needs meant that we could not begin this phase of the project without input from the community.
Although community buy-in is important, the involvement of engaged volunteers is even more critical to our success. In the next few months, volunteers will be recruited to serve on each of the five priorities. These multi-sectoral working groups will play a vital role in implementing the strategies and bringing about transformative change. For a community that is as « time starved » as Fort McMurray, we understand that we’re asking a lot from people who feel that they are already stretched to the limit. However, we cannot see any other way around it. The Project Team can do a lot to support and move this work forward, but without the engaged investment of community members, we cannot accomplish all that we aim to do.
For those who are ready to respond to the call, we can promise that you’ll be part of something special. Not only will you have an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to your community, but you will also be part of a national strategy to build prosperous communities. Consider the pride you’ll feel as Wood Buffalo’s reputation as a leader in social prosperity grows. We also promise to treat your investment as a precious resource, one that deserves respect and receives added value and benefits like educational and skill-building opportunities.
If you are ready to make a commitment and are willing to partner with us on this journey, we would love to hear from you. Please contact me or your Wood Buffalo contact, Kim Nordbye, at [email protected]. Thank you. We look forward to working with you!