Real Talk!

It’s early days yet, but I believe that Bancroft’s Chris Drost is doing a wonderful job as “Downtown Revitalization Coordinator”.

The group has recently compiled the results of a Residents Survey and collected information that will be useful in creating an economically stronger community, better prepared to meet the needs of its local residents and visitors. (Details may be obtained by contacting chrisdrost@xplorenet.com)

Drost recently chaired a meeting, bringing together various groups in the region, in order to clarify their mandates and explore opportunities for cooperative relationships. Committed to the project, Drost has announced the next step: “The Design Phase” of the revitalization project and is encouraging public participation.

Statistics gathered from the Residents Survey have been pivotal in determining focus areas for workshops that will be held on: Tues Oct 14 (Maynooth) and Wed Oct 15 (Bancroft) and Thurs Oct 16 (Coe Hill).

While, studies prove that rural communities are crucial to sustainable future development, globally, planners in this area have faced pressure as protectors of natural resources and service providers for residents, while experiencing downsizing and downloading of the responsibilities and governmental support.

It is a difficult job, maintaining activities, caring for the infrastructure and resources of our community. There is a definite regional disparity in economic growth and prosperity between urban and rural centres.

Back in 1961, the feds created ARDA (the Agricultural Rehabilitation and Development Act)- in order to boost the depressed economic climate in forestry/agricultural areas. Over the years, it grew to include fisheries and included some other non-agricultural programs. They looked at the “worst first”, seeking the most depressed regions in order to institute their plan. Their focus included 18% of Canadians.

Unfortunately, the link between federal and regional programs was weak. Programs designed by urban bureaucrats had few local counterparts that were able to carry the plans forward. The programs were limited in their focus and underestimated needs in social structure of the communities involved. These programs targeted specific communities and failed to respond to the bigger picture.

Pierre Trudeau gave us DREE (the Department of Regional Economic Expansion). DREE abandoned the “worst first” criteria and, instead, focused on areas that were stronger and showed the most future potential. They created initiatives designed to encourage urban growth centres and industrialize others. Their focus grew to include 50% of Canadians.

Canada was divided into “designated areas” and “special areas”. Designated areas were those once thriving, but experiencing economic downturns. Special areas were those considered remote and lacking in basic infrastructure.

This, again, created obvious disparities and in 1973 it was decided that this was a problem far too complex for one federal department. Funding was changed and greater responsibility was handed down to provincial governments. The “special area” designation was eliminated. Provinces would now share the cost with the federal government, with greater federal support to the poorer provinces.

By 1982, DREE was disbanded and its functions were absorbed into the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce- that then became the Department of Regional and Industrial Expansion. At the same time, The Ministry of State for Economic Development became The Ministry of State for Economic and Regional Development.

Regional consideration became increasingly less significant.

Most provinces created regional planning committees and agencies through their planning acts- that largely serve an advisory role. Ontario divided the province into 10 economic development boards that were charged with creating their own plans.

Programs and plans were started with eager anticipation only to be discarded, abandoned because they were lacking a complete solution. Many believe it is because they did not address the unique social and geographical aspects in regional development- and the way that each unique region is intertwined with the next.

I spoke to Chris Drost about this, recently. I mentioned a town-hall style meeting that took place a number of years ago (maybe 15). Back then, some group/agency/committee in our town had engaged a planner with the purpose of revitalizing our downtown area. They were extremely proactive and came up with a fantastic plan…

It would have been lovely.

At that time, at a meeting, I voiced concern that the plan could be difficult to implement because there were a number of absentee landlords in the commercial section of town. I wondered if leases would allow changes to buildings and thought that the plan might incorporate concepts that would be cost prohibitive to merchants.

I wasn’t being pessimistic, I was trying to be realistic. I suggested we needed to find a designer that could suggest cost-effective ways to enhance the downtown sector, as a stepping-stone, moving toward the final plan. I received a lot of frowns.

That plan must be sitting on a shelf, somewhere.

When I first visited this precious little town, the natural beauty surrounding it overwhelmed me. Over the years, letters to the editor of our local newspapers have complained about the placement, style and colours of new buildings…

Complained about the placement of certain businesses….
Complained about the lack of new business…
Complained about the infrastructure in the business section…

& loads of other things…

and we have committees to beautify, improve, recruit, support, design….

& loads of other things…

The region has been the subject of reports identifying serious poverty and all of the socio-economic effects that accompany this condition. & it’s all true.

Historic fluctuations have occurred as mining, timber and other resource driven industries have come and gone… recent voices claim that our economy is largely tourist driven, seasonal and susceptible to weather, gas prices and other global economic crisis.

For years we have heard that this area was going to “boom”… and right now, we are experiencing, again, all the signs….

Many of our residents are cynical… but our volunteer pool is strong and relentless… we have a number of successful local committees and organizations that do a fine job...

sure, locals may be a little jaded… maybe we are being driven to apathy because, like most rural communities, we are constantly reminded that the socio-economic climate here is a huge obstacle… & the struggles here seem, at times, insurmountable…

Everyone I speak to wants to improve things & we are proud and we ARE a community… we are all good people and even the grumbling shows awareness… and consciousness.

Recently, a Bancroft newspaper article about the revitalization project said, “No matter how statistically valid the results of a survey may be, their real usefulness is determined by how the information is used. Reports that sit on a shelf are a waste of energy and money.”

Chris Drost is making her results as public as possible. She has invited the public to participate in steering this project. Determined to see the project move ahead, we spoke of ways to rally community spirit and reminisced about good old-fashioned barn raisings.

It can be done.

Bancroft will revitalize.