CCEDA continues its series of Cortes Conversation Cafés on Thursday December 7th from 4 to 6 pm, at Gorge Hall in Whaletown. The topic of discussion will be “Enhancing Food Security,” and childcare will be provided on-site.
How can we support a vibrant local food system while allowing local growers and food processors to earn sufficient livelihoods?”
Currents interviewed organiser Kate Maddigan on November 28th to find out a bit more about the Café series and this particular event.
The next Conversation Cafe asks ‘what does quality and accessible education look like and how do we support it? Colin Funk, President of the Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA), will be the facilitator of this public meeting in the Pioneer Room of Mansons Hall from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 16.
“ People came out of the meeting feeling a lot more informed about this planning process and how it can be a force for better tourism outcomes on the island in the future. A process like this can be really useful and it doesn’t have to result in greater tourism. It’s how we can nuance that tourism and make it better for the island and just attract the right visitors,” explained Kate Maddigan, Economic Development Officer of CCEDA.
“The old model of tourism where you just focused on the visitors doesn’t work. How do you build tourism for the benefit of all and not just the visitors? How can tourism – the dollars that it brings, the amenities and infrastructure that can be brought – benefit residents first, along with the visitors. How do you build it based on what residents are looking for? It’s a new lens and it’s called regenerative tourism,” explained Anderson.
Sixteen Cortes Island business people, plus board members from the Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA), came out to the Conversation Cafe in Mansons Hall on Thursday September 14. They came from Whaletown, Cortes Bay and Mansons Landing. There were representatives from the construction sector, value added wood products, food production and cottage industries like cosmetics and jewelry. Some had been in business for years, and others were just starting out.
Colin Funk, President of CCEDA, was the facilitator.
