Harris Centre Regional Workshop – Gander

Lead Researcher and Department
The Harris Centre, Memorial University

Collaborators and Students
Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation, Zone 14; Town of Gander, Gander Area Chamber of Commerce; Lewisporte and Area Chamber of Commerce

Funding Resources
Memorial University; RBC Blue Water Project

Summary
Regional Workshops offer the opportunity for Memorial University faculty, staff and students to meet with regional stakeholders, in order to discuss topics of mutual interest. The purpose of a Regional Workshop is to explore ways of creating sustainable social and economic regions, and to identify possible future opportunities for research, teaching and outreach.

The Harris Centre Memorial Presents/Regional Workshop in Gander, NL, was held June 14-15, 2011. Planning partners included the Kittiwake Economic Development Corporation, Zone 14, Town of Gander, Gander Area Chamber of Commerce, and Lewisporte and Area Chamber of Commerce. This workshop had two main goals: promote Memorial University as a resource for regional policy and development throughout the province, and stimulate discussion to generate future opportunities or research questions from the region.

On the evening of June 14, the Harris Centre hosted a 'Memorial Presents' public policy forum titled: Manufacturing and Regional Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Newfoundland and Labrador" held at Hotel Gander. The keynote speaker for the event was Professor Andy Fisher with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University. The panelists for the event were Shane Noble, General Manager of New Wood Manufacturers, and Bill Stirling, Vice-President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. Following the presentations, an informative and participative discussion took place as community participants offered their experience.

Forty-five participants attended the Regional Workshop on June 15. The sessions were divided thematically into Natural Resources; Culture, Heritage and Tourism; and Business and Innovation. Twenty-two follow-up opportunities were identified at the workshop. These opportunities will be developed with each community champion through discussion and planning. They will be circulated to appropriate faculty and staff at Memorial University, and they will also be available online in Yaffle, Memorial’s online research database.

A report on this workshop is available at:
http://www.mun.ca/harriscentre/outreach/regionalworkshops/Final_report_KEDC_RW.pdf

Dates
2011

Keywords
Regional workshop, Natural resources, Culture, Heritage, Tourism, Business Innovation

Locations
Gander
Lewisporte

Industry Sectors
Local, municipal and regional public administration (Public administration)
Heritage institutions (Arts, entertainment and recreation)
Tourism (Public administration — Provincial and territorial public administration — Other provincial and territorial public administration)
Tourism (Public administration — Local, municipal and regional public administration — Other local, municipal and regional public administration)

Thematic Categories
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Innovation (Business)
Natural Resources
Tourism and Recreation

Departments
Harris Centre (STJ)