Members of Natural Resources Strategy Project Committee Announced
Voluntary Planning Board
November 16, 2007 1:04 PM
NOTE: A list of project committee members and their biographies follows this release.
Voluntary Planning announced today, Nov. 16, the members of the Natural Resources Strategy Project Committee.
The volunteer committee will lead citizens and stakeholders in discussions to lay the foundation and define the values for a long term natural resources strategy. The discussions will begin in 2008 with a focus on four key components: forests; minerals; parks; and biodiversity (the interaction among and within plant and animal species in the ecosystem).
"The committee members were chosen from more than fifty responses to a call for volunteers issued by Voluntary Planning in October," said Ron Smith, chair of Voluntary Planning's board of directors. "This group brings diverse perspectives and a range of experience to this public engagement process, and we are delighted with the overall level of volunteer interest in this important project."
One or two additional members may be added as the project progresses.
The project committee will host a series of community meetings. They will invite citizens and stakeholders to express their views through a variety of communication channels and will review worldwide research on reaching their conclusions for reporting. Information gathered through public engagement will be used in phase two of the development of a natural resources strategy. In phase two, an independent panel will conduct a more detailed analysis of the Voluntary Planning project committee findings. Phase three will be the development of the long term strategy itself by the Department of Natural Resources.
For more information on the Natural Resources Strategy project committee call 902-424-8644, toll free 1-866-858-5850 or see the Voluntary Planning website at www.gov.ns.ca/vp .
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Voluntary Planning has selected a volunteer committee to
help create the foundation for a natural resources strategy.
The project committee will lead Nova Scotians in a discussion
about four key components of the province's natural resources --
forests, minerals, parks and biodiversity.
For more information on the Natural Resources Strategy
project committee call 902-424-8644, toll free 1-866-858-
5850 or see the Voluntary Planning website at w-w-w dot gov
dot n-s dot c-a slash v-p.
-30-
Media Contact: Rita Fraser
Voluntary Planning Board
902-424-8644
E-mail: volplan@gov.ns.ca
NOTE: The following is a list of project committee members and brief biographies.
Robin Barrett
Beaver Bank
Robin grew up in what used to be rural Nova Scotia and has worked with his family’s forestry companies for over thirty years. He is assistant manager, woodlands and special projects for Barrett Lumber and president of HI-Q Developments. From this background Robin has "developed a deep respect for the people who make a living from the forest, for all the living things that abide there and the people who care passionately about both". Robin is a member of the boards of directors for the Forest Products Association of N.S. and the Wood Products Manufacturers Association and has served on committees reviewing and developing building industry standards.
Jeremy Frith
St. Ann's Bay
Jeremy describes himself as a farmer, self taught forester, logger, saw miller, woodworker, ecologist, community economic development activist, public speaker, direct marketer of organic farm produce and proponent of a responsible approach to economic/ecological integrated land management for rural communities. On his farm in the Highlands of Cape Breton he grows certified organic vegetables sold at the Cape Breton Farmers Market in Sydney and to local hotels and restaurants. In 2005 he was named the Department of Natural Resources' Woodlot Owner of the Year for the eastern region. Jeremy is the current President of the Farmer's Market of NS Co-operative.
Kip Grasse
Halifax
With 12 years of diverse leadership experience as a doctor of veterinary medicine and the recent completion of a graduate program focused on public and environmental policy, Kip brings to the committee a unique perspective on issues relating to biodiversity and the health of the animal component of the province's natural resources. Kip sees great value in resource management plans that balance economic growth and prosperity with long term sustainability and overall ecological health. Dr. Grasse represents the NS Veterinary Medical Association on the board of directors of the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty.
Donna Hurlburt
Lequille
A conservation biologist whose concentration is on species at risk and environmental decision-making, Donna's philosophy is that "there is rarely a perfect solution to an environmental problem, but rather a best solution for the issue at hand and the affected community." As a Mi'kmaw person she actively works with Aboriginal communities in the Atlantic region and countrywide, on issues pertaining to the environment and/or Aboriginal traditional knowledge. She is involved with projects pertaining to the resilience of social-ecological systems and the status and trends of Canada's ecosystems. Donna is a visiting professor with the biology department of Acadia University.
David Johnstone
Blue Rocks
David is the president of Cornerstone Strategies. He has recently returned to the east from Calgary. David's 32-year business career spans the personal and professional development, financial services, sales and customer service industries. A skilled and passionate facilitator, his past clients include Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Environment. In addition David has held several executive board positions and served on numerous strategic committees in the non-profit sector. He is currently active in Junior Achievement and with the South Shore Community Justice Society. Among his volunteer activities in Calgary was participation on several strategic action committees with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
Rick MacDonald
Bedford
Rick is a founder and the chief technology officer of CarteNav Solutions with products and services in the telematics, security and surveillance industries. In the forest industry, the products are used to manage activities like fire fighting and crop spraying and have also been used for wildlife surveys and airborne power line inspection. Rick has more than thirty years experience in research and development and executive management in several technology intensive industries including nuclear power, intelligent robotics, advanced software development tools, electro-optics, remote sensing and navigation. He is currently vice-chair of the Voluntary Planning board of directors and chair of the board of the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax.
Ken Pierce
Shelburne
Ken has 35 years of experience in construction and engineering with special emphasis on large Canadian and international projects including petrochemical, oil and gas plants, mineral processing, pulp and paper and nuclear plants. His experience includes project engineering and project management. Ken has witnessed how different governments have dealt with their needs and how local characteristics have allowed solutions unique to each jurisdiction. His volunteer activities have included serving on the Shelburne County Community Health Board, working with Scouts Canada, chairing the committee to restore the Sandy Point Lighthouse and serving as a director on the Loyalist Landing 2008 committee.
Clare Robinson
Halifax
Clare has a multidisciplinary educational and professional background in geology and conservation biology. She is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Nova Scotia. She is also a member of the Atlantic Society of Fish and Wildlife Biologists and volunteers with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society -NS chapter, where she is a member of the board of directors and the chapter representative on the national board. Clare's passion is land conservation and sustainable communities. She grew up in Mosher's Corner, Annapolis Co., and spent several years on land reclamation projects in the Arctic.
Candace Stevenson
Halifax
Candace's career includes 28 years with the province of Nova Scotia. At the time of her retirement she held the positions of executive director of the Nova Scotia Museum and executive director of Heritage and Culture. She has continued to be active in the not-for-profit sector as a consultant and a volunteer with several prominent boards and committees. These include United Way of Halifax Region, Clean Nova Scotia, Cultural Capitals of Canada and VSO Canada. She recently served as a task force member for the Voluntary Planning Heritage Strategy.
NOTE: A list of project committee members and their biographies follows this release.
Voluntary Planning announced today, Nov. 16, the members of the Natural Resources Strategy Project Committee.
The volunteer committee will lead citizens and stakeholders in discussions to lay the foundation and define the values for a long term natural resources strategy. The discussions will begin in 2008 with a focus on four key components: forests; minerals; parks; and biodiversity (the interaction among and within plant and animal species in the ecosystem).
"The committee members were chosen from more than fifty responses to a call for volunteers issued by Voluntary Planning in October," said Ron Smith, chair of Voluntary Planning's board of directors. "This group brings diverse perspectives and a range of experience to this public engagement process, and we are delighted with the overall level of volunteer interest in this important project."
One or two additional members may be added as the project progresses.
The project committee will host a series of community meetings. They will invite citizens and stakeholders to express their views through a variety of communication channels and will review worldwide research on reaching their conclusions for reporting. Information gathered through public engagement will be used in phase two of the development of a natural resources strategy. In phase two, an independent panel will conduct a more detailed analysis of the Voluntary Planning project committee findings. Phase three will be the development of the long term strategy itself by the Department of Natural Resources.
For more information on the Natural Resources Strategy project committee call 902-424-8644, toll free 1-866-858-5850 or see the Voluntary Planning website at www.gov.ns.ca/vp .
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Voluntary Planning has selected a volunteer committee to
help create the foundation for a natural resources strategy.
The project committee will lead Nova Scotians in a discussion
about four key components of the province's natural resources --
forests, minerals, parks and biodiversity.
For more information on the Natural Resources Strategy
project committee call 902-424-8644, toll free 1-866-858-
5850 or see the Voluntary Planning website at w-w-w dot gov
dot n-s dot c-a slash v-p.
-30-
Media Contact: Rita Fraser
Voluntary Planning Board
902-424-8644
E-mail: volplan@gov.ns.ca
NOTE: The following is a list of project committee members and brief biographies.
Robin Barrett
Beaver Bank
Robin grew up in what used to be rural Nova Scotia and has worked with his family’s forestry companies for over thirty years. He is assistant manager, woodlands and special projects for Barrett Lumber and president of HI-Q Developments. From this background Robin has "developed a deep respect for the people who make a living from the forest, for all the living things that abide there and the people who care passionately about both". Robin is a member of the boards of directors for the Forest Products Association of N.S. and the Wood Products Manufacturers Association and has served on committees reviewing and developing building industry standards.
Jeremy Frith
St. Ann's Bay
Jeremy describes himself as a farmer, self taught forester, logger, saw miller, woodworker, ecologist, community economic development activist, public speaker, direct marketer of organic farm produce and proponent of a responsible approach to economic/ecological integrated land management for rural communities. On his farm in the Highlands of Cape Breton he grows certified organic vegetables sold at the Cape Breton Farmers Market in Sydney and to local hotels and restaurants. In 2005 he was named the Department of Natural Resources' Woodlot Owner of the Year for the eastern region. Jeremy is the current President of the Farmer's Market of NS Co-operative.
Kip Grasse
Halifax
With 12 years of diverse leadership experience as a doctor of veterinary medicine and the recent completion of a graduate program focused on public and environmental policy, Kip brings to the committee a unique perspective on issues relating to biodiversity and the health of the animal component of the province's natural resources. Kip sees great value in resource management plans that balance economic growth and prosperity with long term sustainability and overall ecological health. Dr. Grasse represents the NS Veterinary Medical Association on the board of directors of the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty.
Donna Hurlburt
Lequille
A conservation biologist whose concentration is on species at risk and environmental decision-making, Donna's philosophy is that "there is rarely a perfect solution to an environmental problem, but rather a best solution for the issue at hand and the affected community." As a Mi'kmaw person she actively works with Aboriginal communities in the Atlantic region and countrywide, on issues pertaining to the environment and/or Aboriginal traditional knowledge. She is involved with projects pertaining to the resilience of social-ecological systems and the status and trends of Canada's ecosystems. Donna is a visiting professor with the biology department of Acadia University.
David Johnstone
Blue Rocks
David is the president of Cornerstone Strategies. He has recently returned to the east from Calgary. David's 32-year business career spans the personal and professional development, financial services, sales and customer service industries. A skilled and passionate facilitator, his past clients include Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Environment. In addition David has held several executive board positions and served on numerous strategic committees in the non-profit sector. He is currently active in Junior Achievement and with the South Shore Community Justice Society. Among his volunteer activities in Calgary was participation on several strategic action committees with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
Rick MacDonald
Bedford
Rick is a founder and the chief technology officer of CarteNav Solutions with products and services in the telematics, security and surveillance industries. In the forest industry, the products are used to manage activities like fire fighting and crop spraying and have also been used for wildlife surveys and airborne power line inspection. Rick has more than thirty years experience in research and development and executive management in several technology intensive industries including nuclear power, intelligent robotics, advanced software development tools, electro-optics, remote sensing and navigation. He is currently vice-chair of the Voluntary Planning board of directors and chair of the board of the Hospice Society of Greater Halifax.
Ken Pierce
Shelburne
Ken has 35 years of experience in construction and engineering with special emphasis on large Canadian and international projects including petrochemical, oil and gas plants, mineral processing, pulp and paper and nuclear plants. His experience includes project engineering and project management. Ken has witnessed how different governments have dealt with their needs and how local characteristics have allowed solutions unique to each jurisdiction. His volunteer activities have included serving on the Shelburne County Community Health Board, working with Scouts Canada, chairing the committee to restore the Sandy Point Lighthouse and serving as a director on the Loyalist Landing 2008 committee.
Clare Robinson
Halifax
Clare has a multidisciplinary educational and professional background in geology and conservation biology. She is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Nova Scotia. She is also a member of the Atlantic Society of Fish and Wildlife Biologists and volunteers with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society -NS chapter, where she is a member of the board of directors and the chapter representative on the national board. Clare's passion is land conservation and sustainable communities. She grew up in Mosher's Corner, Annapolis Co., and spent several years on land reclamation projects in the Arctic.
Candace Stevenson
Halifax
Candace's career includes 28 years with the province of Nova Scotia. At the time of her retirement she held the positions of executive director of the Nova Scotia Museum and executive director of Heritage and Culture. She has continued to be active in the not-for-profit sector as a consultant and a volunteer with several prominent boards and committees. These include United Way of Halifax Region, Clean Nova Scotia, Cultural Capitals of Canada and VSO Canada. She recently served as a task force member for the Voluntary Planning Heritage Strategy.