On Friday, March 18, 2011, more than 50 LGBT community leaderts from across the province gathered in the Marriott Harbourfront for two days of an “appreciative inquiry” into the state of our community in Nova Scotia.
Representatives from Yarmouth, the Annapolis Valley, Pictou County, Amherst, Truro, the South Shore and Cape Breton to met with delegates from HRM. The Youth Project, the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia, the AIDS Coalition of Cape Breton, the Northeren AIDS Connection Society, Pride Cape Breton, Cumberland Pride, Southwest Nova Pride, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, Wayves Magazine, Allies at Dalhousie, Halifax Sexual Health Centre, along with NSRAP and other LGBT groups and individuals took part. This historic gathering, the first of its kind in 15 years, was made possible through a grant from the Department of Economic and Rural Development, and Tourism, with additional support from TD Canada Trust, the Marriott Habourfront, Wayves Magazine, and NSRAP.
We shared our stories, celebrated our achievements, and acknowledged the grim, ongoing reality of homophobia and transphobia throughout our province. Great skill and sensitivity was shown by our facilitators, Ross MacDonald and Jeannie Cockelle. By the end of our time together, we had collectively explored and discussed a number of initiatives in the areas of out history and education that can be folloedwed up to further strengthen our community.
For the benefit of our participants, our facilitators and our greater community, 2011 Community Development Conference report is available for download in .PDF format.