One Cape Breton. One Unama’ki.
One Approach.
‘Envision Cape Breton/Unama'ki as one big SHIP…
Our journey as captains and crew is to foster friendSHIP to build a relationSHIP, to sail us to partnerSHIP. Finally, we grow our Island with leadership'.
- Steven Michael Googoo, Wekoqma'q Band Councillor One Cape Breton Conference 2017
in November 2017, leaders from across Cape Breton/Unama’ki came together to talk about our shared future in a first-of-its-kind forum.
Working together to grow Cape Breton - Unama’ki began much as Band Councillor Steven Michael Googoo described in his concept of how we lead our Island forward. It begins by gathering together in friendship, discussing our history as an Island, and discussing the present realities in each of our 10 communities within Cape Breton/Unama’ki.
We did not begin on our Island leadership adventure alone. Danny Graham of Engage Nova Scotia and his team facilitated our first One Cape Breton: Future Forward Leaders Summit, held in the Town of Port Hawkesbury on November 23rd and 24th, 2017.
through an integrated and collaborative approach began in 2017, and it can inform the way we go forward now and into the future.
If you would like to learn more about the 2017 One Cape Breton - Unama’ki Conference click on the link:
Engage Nova Scotia Report to Participants
One Cape Breton - Port Hawkesbury 2017
A small action with big impact
The first One Cape Breton/Unama’ki Future Forward Leaders Summit lead to some project outcomes. A commitment was made to have another leadership meeting in the Spring 2018. A report was to be completed by Engage Nova Scotia and shared with the One Cape Breton/Unama’ki leadership. Also, a small action as a united group was pursued.
Elder Magit Poulette asked the entire One Cape Breton membership to take collective action in order to add “Unama’ki” to the sign that welcomes visitors to our Island. It presently reads, “Welcome to Cape Breton.” Our Island leaders were happy to commit to Elder Poulette’s request. The Council’s formally wrote letters to our Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil in 2018 with the simple request.
We’ve asked for the sign at the iconic entrance to our Island to be amended to read, “Welcome to Cape Breton - Unama’ki.”
Friendship. Relationship. Partnership. Leadership.
(Elder Magit Poulette, Spring gathering 2018)
This is a small action that will have large impact with regard to acknowledging our Island’s First Nation history, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, to include the Mi’kmaw name for our Island.
The request was moved forward by our Island leaders, as well as our Strait area leaders on both sides of the Strait of Canso Causeway. All leaders were extremely supportive of Magit’s idea.
We’ve had a positive response from the Premiers office. The consideration we hope, will soon be forthcoming, with the instillation of the new sign, to welcome people to an Island we are so proud of.
One Cape Breton - Membertou 2019
A Collaborative Growth Project Launch
The One Cape Breton Conferences (Port Hawkesbury 2017, Membertou 2019) demonstrated the importance of Island-wide collaboration.
The Membertou gathering identified an Island-wide project to connect and welcome visitors by considering our gateways and how these can be improved. Some of the gateways mentioned were: the entryway to the Island via the Canso Causeway, the airport gateways at the McCurdy and Allan J Airports, and the other port-related gateways like the NFLD ferry terminal and more. Engage Nova Scotia and the Cape Breton Partnership and have been key partners in the One Cape Breton Movement.
A plan to better connect and improve our Island transportation gateways was solidified in Membertou, attended by local elected leaders, First Fation and municipal staff, development stakeholders, and others (Chambers of commerce, Nova Scotia Community College, Cape Breton University, etc). Many more stakeholders will be asked to join us as we move forward with this plan. If you wish to join the conversation please contact: info@1capebreton.ca
We have a plan, and we will move forward with an inclusive, collaborative, integrated, Island-wide process.
A focus on our Gateways.
Welcoming visitors to our Island by air, land, and sea. Moving ideas forward, making a commitment, collaborative action.
A Collaborative and Integrated Approach
Here are some ideas we can build on when we talk about
working together in a collaborative and integrated way.
Bring together people and ideas to create an effective team.
Explore diverse ideas together in a collaborative way.
Organize or structure team to function cooperatively.
Foster the inclusion of different groups as equals.
Identify collaborative goals, vision, mandate, or values.
Create plans, actions, goals to fulfill the vision and mandate.
Identify measurable outcomes, results, and goals.
Employ collaborative processes at all stages of planning and action.
Create an environment to grow, alter, and (re) evaluate for success.
Big Ideas Happen
When we can all get to the table and talk about the path we can take, in an integrated and collaborative way, the destination will always be a stronger Island for us all.
A Growth Plan.
We want to grow our Island, welcome more people to visit, and ultimately, invite more people to make Cape Breton their home.
Some steps we can take.
Identify Stakeholders.
Create a vision.
Identify and unlock barriers.
Create a working relationship/partnership.
Create targets to maximize synergies, build on strengths, and achieve goals.
Create a timeline and a matrix to measure the success of the sustainable development goals.
When necessary, we can repeat steps to incorporate new goals, evaluate, and amend to meet the changing needs of our Island, our stakeholders, and our vision.
Paddle together.
We can’t have ten people in a canoe, with half paddling one way, half going the other. If we all paddle one way together, we’ll get there in a period of time.”
— Chief Rod Googoo, Co-chair, One Cape Breton, 2017
Next Steps.
Connect, engage, and grow our Island.
We are inviting our local government leaders of Cape Breton - Unama’ki, along with a diverse array of stakeholders, to engage in a plan to grow our Island in new and wonderful ways. We invite our Provincial and Federal partners to support our One Cape Breton movement.
Join the conversation
*Banner photo, and Membertou photo credits: Anita Clemens