Home and Away
Glad to be home, but thinking about Atlantic Canada post-Fiona
I first fell for Atlantic Canada in 2011, when I hosted a group of 12 lovely people who visited Pennsylvania to learn about trail towns. I suppose I actually fell for the idea of the place since I had yet to visit.
A couple of years later, I made my first trip to Nova Scotia. Then came New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island over the years.
And then this year, the biggie: the decision to spend the summer along the Bay of Fundy in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. It was one of the best decisions my wife and I have ever made. We had the most incredible summer. I wish I had words that could convey what the experience meant to me and what it feels like to know parts of Atlantic Canada were devastated by Hurricane Fiona over the weekend.
I’ve been combing through trip photos (see the end of the post for trip pics) and searching the news for the many places we visited this summer. You wouldn’t know from the news so focused on the upcoming storm, Ian, but the damage was extensive. I’m not trying to center myself, but it’s weird and sad to know places you’ve recently visited are in shambles. Canadian friends, maybe you won’t even see this due to power outages, but you’re in my heart this week and so is the place you call home. And lots of others are thinking about you, too. People I know are reaching out to talk about it. They’ve felt the tug of the Maritimes by seeing my photos this summer. We hope you’ll rebuild in the most amazing ways.
For those who are wondering about how to help, I know it can be hard to know how to channel our donations. You’ll have to vet the various options yourself, but these are some I’ve seen in articles:
First, let me say, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean were hit hard last week. Here are some options for donating there.
Second, the Canadian government is matching donations made to the Canadian Red Cross. Other options I’ve read about are GlobalMedic and Humanity First. You can also check out local options. Places like Sydney and Neil’s Harbour, NS; North Rustico, PEI, and Port aux Basques, NL were especially impacted.
Curiosity Series Kicks off Next Wednesday
On Wednesdays in October, I'll be hosting the Curiosity Series, four small group discussions that tackle one curious question each week. The topic for the first session (Oct. 5, 7 p.m.) is “What if we told communities they didn’t need to change a single thing about their place?”
Now, if you know me, you know I have a lot of ideas about how communities can improve life for local residents as well as improve visitor experiences. But we also have to consider community authenticity in relationship to change and progress. Let's have an honest conversation about it!
One of the things that I'm MOST looking forward to with this series is the premise that nobody needs to be the expert (not even the host). If you want to take part in a curious conversation without any posturing, register for this free program today.
Other sessions include:
Oct. 12
Do we respect trail naysayers? Should we?
Oct. 19
How can we get people who are struggling involved in trails (and outside using them)?
Oct. 26
What’s changing in community development that might change our approach to trail towns?
Learn more about the entire series here.
Ending on a High Note: Trip Pics
