How does Community Futures Fit In?
Community Futures is a resource for, and supports our islands' communities and residents, working out solutions to stimulate the local economy and build resiliency. Community Economic Development can only be successfully sustained when the communities and people work together.
An example is the All Islands Symposium in 2003 whose theme was "Connect, Integrate, Celebrate". This gathering was the result of a collaboration between Haida Gwaii Community Futures, the Gowgaia Institute and the Council of Haida Nations. Forty different groups made presentations to more than 300 islanders over the course of a weekend. An enormous amount of dialogue was stimulated, building new connections between organizations and people. Some key points that came out of it were:
- The key to successful economic development depends on integrating the economy with what's real in people's lives.
- It makes sense for Islands' communities to work together instead of in isolation.
Another example is the work Community Futures does with local groups to develop Social Enterprise. Social enterprises are viable businesses that create employment, address local social challenges and enhance overall community vitality. They provide a blended return on investment, financial and social, with excess surpluses reinvested in the community. Some Island examples include the Haida Gwaii Local Food Processing Coop, Mount Moresby Adventure Camp and the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society.
A final example is Community Future's role in providing access to capital for business development when that financing is not otherwise available. Small businesses operating in remote rural communities are seen as significant risks to traditional banking institutions and often cannot access capital for their business needs.
