Background

Voluntary Planning is leading a process to help create a heritage strategy for Nova Scotia. The Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage and the Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage have commissioned Voluntary Planning to do this work on behalf of the Government of Nova Scotia.

Our heritage assets embody the elements of our past we value so much as a society that we choose to preserve them. Nova Scotians and visitors alike gain a greater sense of appreciation for the history of our province and our people by experiencing this heritage.

Other places in the world have successfully used heritage strategies to create a shared vision for the future of heritage as a way to strengthen their communities, their regions and their countries.

There are many challenges facing Nova Scotia's heritage sector and a comprehensive strategy can provide a coordinated response. Without a strategy some of our heritage assets could face an uncertain future and our province may not be in a position to derive the greatest possible benefits of heritage to our society.

The Task Force Process

A strong and definitive declaration of what Nova Scotians cherish most about their heritage will provide decision makers with the information they need to make the important strategic decisions of the future.

Our province's strategic plan for heritage must be founded upon what Nova Scotians value most. And this needs to be an inclusive exercise since what's most important or valued will definitely vary from one part of our province to another; from one culture to another. It's crucial to hear from all aspects of our society, since our heritage represents and portrays nothing less than our very identity as a people to the world.

Voluntary Planning has assembled a task force comprised of eleven diverse, credible, knowledgeable, and strategic-minded volunteers whose job it is to agree on the elements of a strategy for heritage once they have considered all possible factors and input.

These citizen volunteers will take up to a year to engage stakeholder organizations, other levels of government, and give all citizens the opportunity to provide input on the value of heritage in their lives and to their communities. The task force will also conduct research on best practices and interact with recognized heritage experts to gain further insight.

In advance of issuing its interim report in June of 2006, the task force released a discussion paper, called for public input and held 22 town hall meetings. The task force also met with representatives of cultural populations, stakeholder organizations and heritage specialists before drafting the interim report that contains a series of proposed recommendations.

To ensure that everybody has had the greatest possible opportunity to be heard and to give everyone a chance to provide feedback on the proposed plan - the task force will allow sufficient time for a second round of public submissions. Although there will be no additional community hall meetings at this time, the task force will review any comments received by phone, by mail or those received via the web site or email- on or before September 1st, 2006. They may also choose to meet again with stakeholders or seek additional advice from expert sources.

After reviewing all newly gathered input and after considerable deliberation among the task force members—changes will be made to the interim report and a final report will be issued.

The task force will present their findings to the government and opposition caucuses. Shortly thereafter they will release the heritage strategy to the public. Presentation to government and release of the same information to the public may not be done on the same day but will follow in close succession.

Following the release of the final heritage strategy report, Voluntary Planning and the task force have no further official role to play in either the finalization of Nova Scotia's heritage strategy or in the implementation phase.

Voluntary Planning will, however, continue to offer every possible support as the heritage sector, citizens and their government make plans to put into action what Nova Scotians have said they want to see happen.