| Ste-Anne-de-Prescott: a little community with a big heartBrief backgroundSte-Anne-de-Prescott is a village where people roll up their sleeves and work together to achieve results beyond what one could expect for its size. In the 19th century, its inhabitants exhibited plenty of determination in getting Catholic church authorities to agree to let them form an independent parish, and then they built a beautiful big church with religious artwork by T.X. Renaud and a Casavant pipe organ. In the 20th century, the new village school included a large gymnasium. Now used as a community centre, it was appropriately re-baptized the “Action Centre” (Centre d’action in French). The creation of the park was also the result of community efforts. This is the only village in the eastern part of Prescott County to have founded its own credit union (caisse populaire). The agricultural sector has continued to modernize and innovate, with high attendance at the continuing education offerings at the local agricultural college (Collège d’Alfred), an association that provides financial analysis and management advice to its members (Groupement de gestion agricole), and an agricultural equipment co-op (Coopérative de machinerie agricole). Ste-Anne’s festivals and fetes demonstrate a creative spirit: for example, Antique Day features live demonstrations of old farm equipment. The most recent addition is a religious pilgrimage dedicated to Saint Anne, the only one in Ontario, an intercultural experience organized with an Italian speaking community from Montreal that shares the same patron saint. There is a soap box derby on the hill annually.Ste-Anne-de-Prescott: stronger than ever!A major threat triggers revitalisation In the spring of 2001, the community was threatened by the massive reduction in opening hours, and ultimate closing, of “their” credit union (caisse populaire), one of the largest local employers. Very quickly, a protest movement called S.O.S. Ste-Anne was established. It turned out to be a bitter struggle that pitted the board against the community, with both determined to win. S.O.S. Ste-Anne held 12 public meetings between February and June of 2001 (average fifty people per meeting) and organised two petitions forcing the credit union to hold open meetings. It raised public awareness through press releases and published nearly a dozen information bulletins to inform the population of the facts and issues, etc. It also engaged in popular education with seminars on topics like democracy and voter rights, on how to read financial statements and understand the effects of mergers in the financial industry, and on emotional issues like how to remain civil while confronting your neighbours. In the end, the board won and the credit union closed. The community was crestfallen, but because SOS Ste-Anne had helped people work together as a community, they were able to re-channel the protest energy into positive action. A new group called “Forum Ste-Anne” was founded to facilitate that process.The community does a self-examination in 2001 Forum Ste-Anne held open meetings which encouraged individuals, businesses and associations to visualize a promising future and then to pool their strengths and resources to build it. After being abandoned by the credit union they had founded, people were afraid that the diocese might close the church or that other businesses would suffer the same fate. Other worries about the future included how the young people tend to get an education and move away. Together, they identified the community’s assets and needs, and opportunities for action and improvement. They aspired to building a healthy, prosperous and attractive village with a good quality of life. Among the short term goals were a 4-Way Stop at the main intersection and holding a July 1st celebration, both of which were carried out. In June 2001, a strategic planning meeting was held on the future of the community of Ste-Anne-de-Prescott. Éthel Côté, a community economic development consultant, volunteered her facilitation services, and the discussion determined four priority areas for action: 1. economic development2. renovation of the church3. a restaurant in the village 4. more sports and leisure activities. Within the year, all of these projects made progress. Since then, they have all been accomplished: new play equipment and more organized sports in the park, the opening of a restaurant in the same building as the convenience store, the raising of $50,000 in six months to restore the historic artwork in the Catholic church, a new Knights of Columbus group and the founding of an Economic Development Committee. In parallel, the village saw increased volunteerism and the revitalisation of its festivals. For example, in 2003, the parish organised a pilgrimage dedicated to Saint Anne in conjunction with an Italian community from Montreal that also venerates this saint. In 2004 a soap box derby was held. Creation of an Economic Development Committee in 2002 The Economic Development Committee met for the first time on April 2, 2002. The purpose was to clarify its objectives and confirm that people were interested, see what information they might need, get their ideas for projects, etc. Couples (men and women) were invited to participate, thus encouraging women’s input to the process. About fifteen couples from a wide range of sectors and interests presented their reflections on the economic potential of the village and the willingness and capacity of their community to take action. It was clear that broad economic trends were not especially favourable to the local situation, but there were a lot of assets to build on and the recent community mobilization had stirred people up. The exercise confirmed the importance of: - preserving existing assets- developing and strengthening local resources – diversifying the local economy and creating additional jobs locally, for young people, among others- exploring and completing projects that contribute to sustainable development - and confirming people’s willingness to commit to their community. At the second meeting the committee was enlarged to include young farmers interested in diversified agriculture. Encouraged by the support of the Economic Development and Employability Network of Ontario (RDÉE in French) and close to a dozen private and community partners, and with financial support of the federal government, through the Community Planning Intiative for minority language groups in rural agricultural regions, a joint program run by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and Heritage Canada, the Economic Development Committee received the support it needed to undertake Phase I of that development process. Phase I in 2002-03 Establish the Community's Vision for the Future and its Priorities The geographic parish of Ste-Anne-de-Prescott consists of just over 500 inhabitants. The Economic Development Committee conducted a door-to-door survey of 242 families (with the very high response rate of 80%) to prepare a “snapshot” of the population and to seek people’s opinion on the needs, the strengths and the challenges of their community. Note that 150 different people, representing over one third of the adult population, participated in a variety of thematic public consultation sessions between January and March 2003. Two “Town Hall meetings” allowed dozens of people to validate the results, to draw inspiration from rural development trends across Canada, to formulate a long-term vision for Ste-Anne and to define a mandate for the Economic Development Committee. An information bulletin was and still is periodically issued to all households and businesses in the community to keep the population up to date with current projects and those planned for the future. Our municipality of East Hawkesbury became involved and has partnered many projects since then. Products resulting from Phase I, 2002-03:ü Business directory ü Tourist brochureü Advertisement in the county tourism mapü Newsletters mailed to all residentsü Databank of survey results Priorities resulting from Phase I, 2002-03:ü A 50 page report was prepared by Ethel Côté of L’Art du développement, highlighting future directions as follows:1- Diversify agriculture, the basis of the local economy, and begin processing crops to provide employment and create value-added products.2- Agri-tourism, utilising the natural resources of the area, the restored church and existing regional fairs, promoting bed-and-breakfasts, farm tours and selling produce directly from the farm, etc. 3- A green village, by studying the feasibility of a manure digester that would compost manure and capture the methane to generate renewable electrical power, and by encouraging experimentation in organic farming.4- Finally, supporting a variety of projects such as: high-speed Internet access, youth-oriented activities, etc. Ste-Anne-de-Prescott: another step in the right direction!
Phase II in 2003-4 / Agricultural Diversification Study Phase II was aimed at the diversification of agriculture. There were 20 dairy farms, making it the dominant local economic sector, but also vulnerable to any changes in that industry. Thanks to joint financing by the Economic Development and Employability Network (RDÉE) of Ontario and the Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program (CEDTAP), the committee undertook a market assessment with Sol-Air Consultants from Abitibi and the Coopérative de Travail Interface from Montreal. The study identified opportunities for diversification of agricultural products, for local transformation and sale of local products directly to consumers. A study tour to the Abitibi-Temiscaming region in Quebec opened peoples’ eyes to other models and resources. Gaston Gadoury, a consultant with experience in small Quebec communities, provided board training on the principles of community economic development and examples from other places. He helped the committee formulate a three year plan for its activities. . Already, a new bird seed business has been born and the committee has established a micro-lending circle that allowed another business to develop a new product line. Many small business concepts (sheep, mushrooms, a greenhouse, alternative crops, etc.) and one larger business concept (the manure digester) were examined. Phase III in 2004-05 / Study Alternative Energies / Introduce High Speed Internet Service / Launch Community Web Site The committee obtained funds from many sources to undertake a major feasibility study of a manure digester that would compost these biosolids into a safe, dry fertilizer. In so doing, it would capture the methane, which currently escapes into the atmosphere as a “greenhouse gas” under the Kyoto accords, and put it to good use as a renewable “green” energy source. The other big project is that we found the necessary funding to allow the construction of a tower to provide Wireless High Speed Internet service. The municipality is a full partner, the tower is at the community centre. The committee hosted the first ever meeting of local business owners and also convened a meeting of local farmers. And finally, this Web site was launched in February of 2005. Ste-Anne-de-Prescott is the village the furthest East in Ontario, near the Québec border half way between Ottawa and Montreal. This text was prepared by David Sherwood and Lucie Brunet, with excerpts from the report by Ethel Côté, consultant for Phase 1. The epithets Ste-Anne: a little community with a big heart (une petite communauté au grand cœur); Ste-Anne: stronger than ever! (plus fort que jamais) and Another Step in the Right Direction (Un pas de plus dans la bonne direction) are the titles of articles written about Ste-Anne by journalists in Le Droit, le Suroît Régional and l’Agricom newspapers respectively. Phase IV 2006-08 Complete and Publish Digester and Biodiesel Study Most of the committee's time and efforts went into managing the many consultants who worked on the big manure digester study, which was extended to look at biodiesel and other offshoots such as district heating. Although we proved the technology works and is well suited to dairy farms, the price currently paid by Hydro does not make digesters profitable. Nonetheless, one was built by a farmer who obtained special funding as a pilot project. The study can be downloaded for free from this web site. Other committee activities included beautification by putting flower boxes along the main street and hosting a youth camp with the 4-H club. At a smaller scale than in 2001-02, a community consultation was held to renew our vision and strategic directions. Phase V current and ongoing A "welcome wagon" type sub-committee was set up to greet newcomers, because the rural communities that thrive in the 21st century will be those who wisely combine the talents of new residents with those of the descendents of the pioneers. Later, this approach shifted to an annual Pot Luck with active outreach to new residents. The beautification aspect was expressed by a big "spring cleanup" of the village plus flower baskets on the street lamps with municipal cooperation. Under communications, we put an Internet connection in the community centre. The committee continues to monitor the health of local businesses, act as an information conduit and organize meetings. When it identifies an opportunity, it encourages people to take advantage of it and provides ongoing advice. It acts as a matchmaker by introducing people to each other. We remain on very good terms with the municipality. Our actions sometimes require discretion and are not immediately visible to the public. For example, at one point the village store closed and we helped find financial partners to re-open. The new owner did a major renovation and put up a handsome street sign and now the whole population is proud to shop there. So we encourage anyone who has an idea, or an obstacle to their project, to come and talk to us in private, to see if together we can find the solution. In 2010-11, most volunteer resources were mobilized by two big projects. First, the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the village in 2010 with more than 30 activities throughout the year. Then, in 2011, the International Plowing Match, in our municipality. Although it was at another village, as usual lots of people from Ste-Anne volunteered their time, wanting to be part of the experience. The event brought 70,000 visitors to our area. |