Regional Collaboration and The Economy of the Burin Peninsula

Gibson, Ryan and Vodden, Kelly (2010) Regional Collaboration and The Economy of the Burin Peninsula. Project Report. Memorial University.

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Abstract

In the fall of 2009, the Burin Peninsula Regional Council of the Rural Secretariat, partnered with the Department of Geography, Memorial University to explore opportunities and challenges to collaboration in the Burin Peninsula. The research will also investigate how theories associated with the new regionalism and collaborative regional economic development have been applied in circumstances comparable to the Burin Peninsula and explore the potential for transferring lessons and approaches from these models to the Burin Peninsula. The objectives of the research were: a) to suggest opportunities for positively impacting economic growth and diversification on the Burin Peninsula based on the experiences of other rural regions, and b) to address gaps within the academic literature, in particular the application of rural regional governance models and approaches to regional economic development within the rural Canadian, and particularly Newfoundland and Labrador context. The Burin Peninsula Regional Council is tasked with the responsibility to review and provide commentary to government on the long-­‐term regional sustainability of the Burin Peninsula. Through its work to date the Council has come to realize that to achieve long-­‐term sustainability for the region, communities, business and citizens alike will have to both think and act regionally. Community engagement sessions conducted by the Council in 2007 and again in 2009 further reinforced these issues and the need for communities and citizens to work together more, supporting one another and sharing services and resources where possible. The participants of these sessions believe that working together is a key part of the equation in both communities and the region as a whole becoming sustainable in the long-­‐term. The Burin Peninsula Regional Council identified three priorities in their 2008-­‐2011 Activity Plan: regionalism, economic growth and diversification, and demographic change (Burin Peninsula Regional Council, 2008). Through discussions with community residents and review of documents this report contributes to the understanding and discussion of each of the three priorities. This report summarizes interviews conducted with 16 individuals of the Burin Peninsula. Discussions focused on previous and current regional collaboration examples, barriers to collaboration, opportunities for economic development, and the future of the Burin Peninsula. The report serves to identify opportunities and challenges within the region and facilitate discussion to assist the Burin Peninsula region in cooperation, collaboration, and creating a prosperous future.

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