← Click and drag to navigate →
Welcome to engagement training.
My name is Ken Donnelly and I have 30 years of experience in engaging communities on a wide range of topics. I have also worked with the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia and the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture for over 15 years, specializing in community engagement and sustainable aquaculture.
I am excited that you have decided to take this course on community engagement. During our time together, we are going to learn the what, who, why, and where about community engagement.
I know SeaFarmers are busy, hard-working people, and I know you don’t have a lot of time to take an extensive course on how to engage communities. So working with AANS, we have developed an online course that will teach you what you need to know to effectively engage with communities surrounding your existing and planned operations.
Some of what you learned in this course Will allow you to meet the required community engagement it is listed in the aquaculture regulations. We will specifically address what you need to do in order to get a new site approved.
You will also learn how to engage with your community to foster better relationships and support.
This training has been designed in a modular format because you may not wish to take all of the training at one time. Perhaps you just have to get ready for a public meeting that is scheduled for next week. If so, you can take a look at the structure of the course and go directly to the information that you need right now.
[Next Slide]
So what will we learn?
I am often asked why community engagement is important. Some people feel that they should just be able to go along with their operations minding their own business, and expecting other people to mind their own business too.
It sounds simple, but it isn’t that simple.
We are going to learn what community engagement is, why it is important, and why it is inescapable for you and your business. By gaining and understanding of community engagement, you will come to realize it is not as painful as it may seem, well when well done, you will find it easier to navigate the waters
We are going to learn about stakeholders. Some stakeholders are really important and it is very important that you reach out to them and engage them these people may be decision-makers did you need to have on your side the sun may be squeaky wheels who you will never get on your side. But you may at least reduce the amount of friction that they can cause for you. I will show you how.
We are going to learn how to develop a community engagement plan and execute it so that you can chemistry that you reached out to people in the community and listen to them and heard their concerns and tried to address them. It is not a matter of acquiescing to their every demand. But it is listening and making accommodations where possible, and explaining when it is not possible.
Finally we are going to talk about ongoing maintenance of community engagement. Meaningful and effective community engagement is not a one and done thing. By continuing to listen to your neighbours as you operate an approved facility, you will gain the respect and support. Maybe not from every single person, but from the community as a whole. And that is the goal of a good community engagement plan. Respect and support.
[Next Slide]
[CONTINUED IN NEXT SECTION]
