Some of you may be wondering why I became so interested in NB. For the first 24 years of my life, I was pretty content to accept the state of our province. I hadn't known anything different, and was unaware of the relative situation of NB compared to the rest of Canada. But something changed. While I was in Zambia, I remember wishing that I was Zambian. A Zambian with the same access to education and opportunities I had as a Canadain, but with the ability to understand and gain trust at a deeper level. And now I'm in NB. And I'm from NB. I've spent most of my life in this province. I am in tune with the underlying cultural norms and unconsciously I understand considerations that go into forming decisions. I am truly affected by my actions in this province. My family is affected by my actions (to some degree). I am finally fully accountable for my choices and feel the burden of being a foreigner lifted. Now, I can truly attempt to participate in appropriate development to see NB reach its full potential.
That's why I care about NB.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
EWB conference culture shock
I've just arrived back from the EWB National Conference in Toronto and feeling some culture shock. The conference itself felt similar to a family reunion - the one with the side of your family that you like ;) There were times where I felt as though I was completely in love, surrounded by so many people very dear to my heart. I definitely recommend taking opportunities to move away from your current bubble of life. Not forever, but just to remind yourself that the world is much larger than your own environment. The change of scenery will make you appreciate what you have that much more.
I want to thank my second family (you know who are) for continuing to push my thinking, showing me such compassion, and inspiring me to keep growing. I miss you already..
I want to thank my second family (you know who are) for continuing to push my thinking, showing me such compassion, and inspiring me to keep growing. I miss you already..
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Think tank in NB??
Good morning,
Here's an article from the Telegraph Journal calling for the creation of an independent body to measure NB's progress against other provinces and potentially other states in the US.
Check it out:
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/539329
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Here's an article from the Telegraph Journal calling for the creation of an independent body to measure NB's progress against other provinces and potentially other states in the US.
Check it out:
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/539329
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Wine and development
I found this article in the Economist a few days ago and was impressed by the seemingly collaborative effort of government, private sector, and academia to promote an industry in the Midwest Region of the USA. Check it out:
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11977032
I'd love to hear about similar efforts in NB. Please share if you know of any.
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11977032
I'd love to hear about similar efforts in NB. Please share if you know of any.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
A brief history of NB
Hi everyone,
I wanted to post this short blurb on NB's history so that we can have a better understanding of the events leading up to our current situation (info from Wikipedia). Have a look and let me know what you think...I'd love to start some dialogue over this.
New Brunswick, one of the four original provinces of Canada, entered the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867. New Brunswick had many advantages with joining the Canadian Confederation. Its residents would be protected from the Fenian Raids with an army on their side and would get their wish of a railway linking Saint John to Montréal. The Charlottetown Conference of 1864, which ultimately led to the confederation movement, originally had only been intended to discuss a Maritime Union, but concerns over the American Civil War as well as Fenian activity along the border led to an interest in expanding the scope of the union. This interest arose from the Province of Canada (formerly Upper and Lower Canada, later Ontario and Quebec), and a request was made by the Canadians to the Maritimers to have the meeting agenda altered. Many residents of the Maritimes wanted no part of this larger confederation for fear that their interests and concerns would be ignored in a wider national union. Many politicians who supported confederation, such as Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley (New Brunswick's best-known Father of Confederation), found themselves without a seat after the next election; nevertheless, backers of the wider confederation eventually prevailed.
Following confederation, the fears of the anti-confederates were proven right as new national policies and trade barriers were soon adopted by the central government, thus disrupting the historic trading relationship between the Maritime Provinces and New England. The situation in New Brunswick was exacerbated by both the Great Fire of 1877 in Saint John and the decline of the wooden shipbuilding industry; skilled workers were thus forced to move to other parts of Canada or to the United States to seek employment. As the 20th century dawned, however, the province's economy again began to expand. Manufacturing gained strength with the construction of several textile mills; and in the crucial forestry sector, the sawmills that had dotted inland sections of the province gave way to larger pulp and paper mills. The railway industry, meanwhile, provided for growth and prosperity in the Moncton region. Nevertheless, unemployment remained high throughout the province, and the Great Depression brought another setback. Two influential families, the Irvings and the McCains, emerged from the Depression to begin to modernise and vertically integrate the provincial economy—especially in the vital forestry, food processing, and energy sectors.
I wanted to post this short blurb on NB's history so that we can have a better understanding of the events leading up to our current situation (info from Wikipedia). Have a look and let me know what you think...I'd love to start some dialogue over this.
New Brunswick, one of the four original provinces of Canada, entered the Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867. New Brunswick had many advantages with joining the Canadian Confederation. Its residents would be protected from the Fenian Raids with an army on their side and would get their wish of a railway linking Saint John to Montréal. The Charlottetown Conference of 1864, which ultimately led to the confederation movement, originally had only been intended to discuss a Maritime Union, but concerns over the American Civil War as well as Fenian activity along the border led to an interest in expanding the scope of the union. This interest arose from the Province of Canada (formerly Upper and Lower Canada, later Ontario and Quebec), and a request was made by the Canadians to the Maritimers to have the meeting agenda altered. Many residents of the Maritimes wanted no part of this larger confederation for fear that their interests and concerns would be ignored in a wider national union. Many politicians who supported confederation, such as Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley (New Brunswick's best-known Father of Confederation), found themselves without a seat after the next election; nevertheless, backers of the wider confederation eventually prevailed.
Following confederation, the fears of the anti-confederates were proven right as new national policies and trade barriers were soon adopted by the central government, thus disrupting the historic trading relationship between the Maritime Provinces and New England. The situation in New Brunswick was exacerbated by both the Great Fire of 1877 in Saint John and the decline of the wooden shipbuilding industry; skilled workers were thus forced to move to other parts of Canada or to the United States to seek employment. As the 20th century dawned, however, the province's economy again began to expand. Manufacturing gained strength with the construction of several textile mills; and in the crucial forestry sector, the sawmills that had dotted inland sections of the province gave way to larger pulp and paper mills. The railway industry, meanwhile, provided for growth and prosperity in the Moncton region. Nevertheless, unemployment remained high throughout the province, and the Great Depression brought another setback. Two influential families, the Irvings and the McCains, emerged from the Depression to begin to modernise and vertically integrate the provincial economy—especially in the vital forestry, food processing, and energy sectors.
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