Reimagining Resources and Community Development : Lessons from Newfoundland and Labrador

Abstract

This book analyzes the experiences of communities facing major challenges relating to resource dependency and community sustainability, drawing on specific examples from the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It offers a methodology of self-analysis for communities facing similar challenges, inspired by the ups and downs, local strategies for self-analysis, and collaborative work toward new futures in this Canadian province.

Life in hundreds of small coastal settlements revolved around the cod fishery, until the fishery was no more viable. Communities have had to rethink their strengths, reconsider their assets, and imagine potential futures in the wake of events such as colonization and the collapse of the fishing industry. Their experiences are relevant for other parts of the world where formerly central resources are depleted or lose their value, and communities face the need for transition. The capacity to imagine different futures is rooted in the ability to critically consider strengths and weaknesses alike. The authors skillfully dissect and illuminate the conditions that can enable the reconsideration of local assets and narratives, toward a more sustainable future. The variety of these conditions, ranging from social memory to public debate, policy tools and institutional capacity, decision arenas, paths for participation, and distributed strategic leadership, are laid out clearly and illustrated vividly through vignettes written by individuals who participated in the events described. This book culminates in a flexible yet clearly structured method of self-analysis, useful for communities interested in rethinking their strengths and working toward new futures.

This book will appeal to students, scholars, and professionals interested in community development and redevelopment and offers a new understanding of the mechanics of local and regional resilience