Happy Community Project Blog
A collection of thoughts and reflections on how community leaders, advocates and volunteers can make the world a better place.
Recognition & Partners
We have proven the effectiveness of the Happy Community Project Tool Kit. Our success has been recognized internationally by several universities and organizations. Our partners are critical to our success.
You Can’t Keep a Good Idea Down
BlogWhen we were first exploring the ideas behind the Happy Community Project, we did some trial projects in Sackville Nova Scotia and in Needham in the North End of Halifax. We learned a lot in these projects and then took our learnings to Windsor NS. It has been a great success and has caught the attention of several universities, government agencies and research institutes.
In the meantime, we put both Sackville and Needham on hold. 7 months later, both Needham and Sackville have come back to life. Sackville is planning a major new launch on May the 7th led by Jason Craig. And Pauline Peters, Charles Bull and Brian Fraser have taken the ideas and reworked them into a potluck which brings the citizens of the Northern part of North end Halifax together for potluck dinners. … Read the rest
Acadia University Reasearch Results April 2018
BlogThe Happy Community Dance
BlogWhat Makes a Community?
A community is more than the sum of its parts – it is how all the parts interact with each other. And Communities have many parts.
Citizens, strangers, groups, NGOs, Business and Government all interact with each other in a intricate dance where everything affects everything. And just like a dance, when we all move to the same music, it’s a beautiful thing and when we all dance to different music at the same time flaying our arms and legs in different directions – well one part crashes into another.
So what binds us all to the same music?
A sense of belonging. When we all feel like we belong to the same community – when our citizens, social groups, NGOs, businesses and government share a common sense of belonging, then somehow, just like a dance, we all get in the groove and move to the same music.
This sense of belonging comes when we share … Read the rest
We used to remember
Ideas, Musings and DetailsThere are good reasons for this in some cases, but not nearly as many cases as we think. If we make our dependence too high on “they”, the “We” becomes diminished. When “We” doesn’t have to do anything but pay taxes and complain, “We” also doesn’t have the need to interact with neighbors. In … Read the rest
Get Involved
BlogWhat is exciting is that every day, more and more people are hopping onboard or asking how can they get involved. Our community has come alive with energy. Most people want to make a difference for their community and many are looking to the Happy Community Project as a way to do that.
We started off with some really big projects like Community Market, Community Garden, MAKERS, Ellershouse Breakfast, Tour de Hants, Youth Hangout and Avon Regional Food Centre. Each of these projects is already real or coming into reality. So we at the Core Group have been asking ourselves some questions about ‘what’s next?’.
How can we include more people in participating in the Happy Community Projects? After all, we are at our … Read the rest
In Just three months, this community has done more than most do in years
Blog50 people rolled up their sleeves and got a lot of stuff done on January 10th. 100 more people are helping them. What are they doing and how are they doing it?
Here is a short list ( well actually, it’s an amazingly long list of ‘we shoulds’ turning into ‘we did’)
The Collaborative Project Leadership conference
On February 6th at the Windsor Library, 30 people will share ideas, make connections and connect to resources – space is limited to 30 so register early if you are a doer or leader for one of the projects or want to start a project.
Youth Hangout Project
8 youth showed up and did an awesome job of developing the basic ideas for a Youth Hangout Project. This project is led by the youth for the youth. On January 26th 7:00 to 8:30 at Windsor Community Center, youth will come together and … Read the rest
Minutes for Farmers Market Jan 10
Blog, West Hants Happy Community ProjectHappy Community Project – Farmers Market
January 10, 2018
Present:
Adrienne Wood
Holly Lothian
Katie Andrews
Jamie Cornetta
Tara Gibbon
Monique Wood
Regrets: Catherine Manning, Steven Bouman, Kayie Godon
Agenda:
1) Summer Student Grants
2) Market Manager Training Video
3) Location
4) Public Washrooms
5) Not for profit discussion
6) Meeting with Keltie Butler
7) Call for Vendors
8) Follow-up meeting
Old Business:
There was a discussion regarding the existing Windsor Farmers’ Market co-operative and future of this co-op. It was decided to move forward separate from this. Jamie shared existing bylaws.
1) Summer Student Grants, START Program Employment
A provincial grant and federal grant are available for summer students. The deadline for these grants are January 26 and February 2, 2018. The START employment grant is also available. Due to the pressing deadlines for the summer student grants, it was decided to wait until next year to investigate these options.
The START program does not give … Read the rest
5 Great Projects that are changing West Hants Windsor
West Hants Happy Community ProjectWindsor has the oldest agricultural fair in North America and is a Market Center and is filled with talented artisans and crafters. It only makes sense that we should have a vibrant Community Market that provides an opportunity for every one to have easy access to the best of our community.
Tour de Hants
What a great idea for people getting together in active living and experiencing the rich cultural and historical aspects of our community. Every month, there will be a walking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing event that takes us to hidden corners. The first one is January 20th at Castle Frederick Farm
Welcome Newcomers
This project has the goal of making it easy to belong to our community. Welcome Newcomers makes it easy for people new to our community to integrate into our economic and social fabric and meet people who can become life long friends.
Food Hub
The food hub has two ambitious projects on … Read the rest
A new year – a new beginning with new hope
Ideas, Musings and Details, West Hants Happy Community ProjectA meaningful life is the foundation for happiness. When we have the power to make a difference, when we choose to make a difference, we feel good, no matter what else may be going on. The good news is people everywhere are waking up. We are recognizing that we have the power.
This was clearly brought to light in West Hants / Windsor in 2017. After years of disappointing political results, the community chose new representation. But we weren’t just satisfied with trusting a new group of politicians with their ‘they shoulds…’. Our community has moved past ‘they should…’ and fully embraced ‘we should….’ in recognition of our own responsibilities and power as citizens.
And we have discovered ‘we can…’
‘We can make the kind of community we want – an economically vibrant, culturally rich and socially connected community.’ And so West Hants / Windsor has launched a series of projects that are on their way to reality. Coincidently, the … Read the rest