Province Announces Celebrating Communities Award Winners

Six Nova Scotian innovators who demonstrate strong community leadership were celebrated today, Sept. 29, winning the 2011 Celebrating Communities awards.

The awards gala was the largest event at the 2011 Celebrating Communities Conference and Awards, which began in Yarmouth on Wednesday and wraps up today, Sept. 29.

"Congratulations to all the award winners and finalists who inspire similar innovation and collaboration in communities throughout the province," said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris. "You are all contributing in a significant way to the long-term economic prosperity of our province and our plan to grow the economy, jobsHere."

The three-day bilingual celebration, hosted by the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse, highlighted community development and job creation in the Acadian communities of Clare, Argyle and Yarmouth.

Delegates representing community organizations, advocacy groups, post-secondary institutions, governments, and the private sector, gathered to discuss the best in community development.

A lifetime achievement award was presented to Comeau's Seafoods Ltd. to recognize their long-term contribution to the economic advancement of the communities in the southwest area.

"We were very proud to highlight various initiatives taking place in some of the Acadian communities," said Julie Oliver, executive director of Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse. "We look forward to attending future celebrating communities events where further sharing of best practices can take place."

Complete profiles of award recipients and finalists are available at http://celebratingcommunities.ca .

The following is a list of award winners and categories:

• Excellence in Youth Leadership: Aaron Stevens, Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA). Mr. Stevens is a high school student who is committed to ensuring lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth feel happy and safe in their schools and communities. He is involved with his high school's Gay/Straight Alliance to raise awareness and funds for local organizations.

• Outstanding Volunteer Achievement: Rodrigue Lefort, Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee. Mr. Lefort chairs the Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee, which has been working to bring new life to the downtown area through beautification and business attraction efforts.

• Excellence in Social Enterprise: Affirmative Industries. Affirmative Industries has created three social enterprises -- Pet Stuff on the Go, Neighbourhood Dollar Plus and Mort's Convenience -- which offer employment and workplace training for individuals with mental and physical disabilities so they can achieve economic independence.

• Excellence in Community Development: North End Community Garden/Hope Blooms. This garden gives youth the opportunity to learn about nutritional choices and entrepreneurial skills through the management of a community garden and the production of Hope Blooms, a salad dressing, of which sales contribute towards an educational scholarship fund for volunteers.

• Excellence in Collaboration: Carolyn d'Entremont, Maggie's Place Family Resource Centre. Delivering programs in Cumberland County free of charge, this resource centre collaborates with many organizations to provide supportive programs such as pre-school outreach.

• Excellence in Client Service: Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED) Second Chance program. Through this program, youth can discover how to use entrepreneurial skills to build successful careers.