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A Study Of Resiliency In Communities
Protective Factors
The concept of resilience involves the element of risk being mitigated by protective factors to produce a positive, or healthy, outcome. The previous section of this report presented the themes and sub-themes related to risk in the study communities. This section describes the themes and sub-themes related to the protective factors which emerged from the data.
As with risk factors, the data about protective factors was often mixed, reflecting the reality that communities are comprised of individuals with a wide range of experience, attitudes and opinions. As with the risk factors, the identified protective factors usually reflect a majority but not a consensual view.
The three dominant protective factors in the data were: community connectedness, social support, and community involvement and participation as illustrated by high levels of voluntarism and participation in community activities. Two additional protective themes were educational and retraining services, and communal coping.
Community Connectedness
It was anticipated that community connectedness, or a sense of community, would be a positive factor in community resiliency. Participants were asked, 'What kinds of things hold this community together?' The dominant picture to emerge was that of three communities in which strong feelings of connection were present. The data are presented in six sub-themes. Five identify the sources and indicators of this sense of community and its role as a mechanism for survival: shared history; values and cultural traits; cultural/social traditions; religion; knowing everybody; and communal trust. The last sub-theme addresses community connectedness as a mechanism for survival in hard times.
Shared history, values and cultural traits contribute to community connectedness
This community...is the fishery. Well, it was at one time. I suppose it still is (but) on a lower scale. I think that holds the community together. And people, their forefathers were here, and their grandfathers...And they worked hard in the fishery. I guess people like to hold onto that stuff.
I think it's the traditions...the sense of family. A sense of having been brought up in an environment where they always look out for their neighbours and their families.
Cultural/social traditions contribute to community connectedness
Language and traditional customs were often mentioned as important aspects of community life that bound people together.
For Acadians, cultural identity is the dominant tie that binds. Language is central to that identity.
I would say one thing that holds us together is our origin, our French culture...Number one is our language. That keeps us different from other people. It's our tradition.
From all three communities, written observations described and participants identified social/traditional events as strong contributors to community connectedness. There is also a time for those who have moved away to return and re-establish their connection.
Several participants observed the symbiotic relationship between community connectedness, cultural strengths and the ability to survive. Social/traditional events play a key role. They are both a product and a source of all three.
I think that the whole series of traditions that we have throughout the year keeps our culture and our language alive. These things bring people together for joyful events, which is very much needed, especially during hard times.
In Cheticamp, traditional Acadian events take place throughout the year. A major one is the six-day 'Mi-Carême,' a traditional celebration which takes place during the Lenten period in March. The community coordinator observed, 'Unlike some other traditions which are struggling to survive, la Mi-Carême attracts people from all walks of life and all ages...Local residents look forward to it, and others who have left the area come back home from Sydney, Halifax, Toronto, Massachusetts, and students come home from university.'
Next week we have la Mi-Carême. People are getting together and dress in costumes and go house to house. It's like a major celebration down here in Cheticamp. So it's kind of a vacation or a break from all the difficulties going on in the community...people can forget all their problems and have a good time.
Traditional Acadian celebrations did not appear to be so significant a part of the cultural life in Isle Madame, where French language and heritage are not as well entrenched as they are in the Cheticamp area. However, several participants observed that the summer festivals, which have a traditional flavour, bring people together. The community coordinator observed that the Acadian festival celebrates the culture with traditional food, dances and the appearance of Evangeline and Gabriel (the symbols of Acadian culture and history, made famous by Longfellow's poem, 'Evangeline').
There are festivals that bring everybody together. Usually people that go away come back to the festival.
The data from Dildo left no doubt that the annual summer festival, Dildo Days, is the most significant event which brings people together to celebrate their community. In writing about the festival, the community coordinator noted, 'Many people who have moved out of the community plan their visits home during Dildo Days.'
Everybody's there having a good time. The barbecues are on the go. It's something everybody looks forward to, and everybody gets together as people from Dildo. That's their thing. [It's] not people from Dildo and New Harbour and [other communities]. People do show up from New Harbour and stuff, but they're part of a Dildo thing then.
In speaking of community connectedness and camaraderie, some participants described social events that were not 'cultural' in a formal way, but they were strongly imbedded in the life pattern of the community. For example, daily gatherings at the coffee shop were mentioned by several participants from Cheticamp:
You can see things as simple as going out to the coffee shop every morning, seeing people get together and having a coffee and just chatting away. Or you would get 500 or a thousand people getting together at the hockey rink to watch hockey games and all that...or going out to a dance on Saturday night...different clubs in the area.
People feel connected through religious faith and their involvement with church organizations
The data from all sites indicated that the church plays a vital role in community life. Although a few participants were of the opinion that the influence of the church was waning, most who spoke of it observed that religion and church organizations played an important role in all the communities. In Dildo, there are a number of denominations, Anglican and Salvation Army being the main ones. In the Acadian communities, the Roman Catholic church predominates as the community coordinator in Cheticamp observed: 'Approximately 90% of local residents are Roman Catholics and most attend church services regularly and support the church and its activities. Going to mass celebration is like a ritual for them.' As Table 6 indicates, more participants were involved with church organizations than with any other type of local organization. As part of his written observation, the Cheticamp coordinator submitted copies of church bulletins from the three local parishes. These publications are a leading source of information about community events and services of many kinds. They are also a testament to the vitality and effectiveness of church organizations, thanks to the work of many volunteers.
The community has been pulled together through religion, too. People are Catholic here, and religion is a big thing.
I guess some religions are stronger than others, and have more support and more involvement. But I'm sure for people in the community that church might be the centre of their lives.
Knowing everybody is a source of connectedness
Lack of anonymity was a strong sub-theme in the data about community connectedness. On the whole, the lack of anonymity which is part of life in a small community was considered to be positive by participants of all ages. It contributed to the sense of belonging, and to the social support which was seen as a characteristic of all three communities.
Everybody lives together and that's a good positive thing [about] living in the community. So when you go to the restaurant, you know people and people know you. You have a sense of familiarity. That familiarity really makes your life more easy in Cheticamp.
A lot of people here are employed in the same industry...so they all know basically...how it is, how bad it is...so they can relate to one another what the major problem is.
People in the communities trust each other
A high level of communal trust was another indicator of community connectedness. Communal trust, or lack of it, can be demonstrated in different ways, and a question about trust within the communities yielded a variety of answers. However, a significant majority of the responses were positive, and often prefaced with a comment like, 'Of course, you can't trust everybody, but...' The most frequent evidence offered of communal trust had to do with leaving property unlocked.
You got boats standing around the wharf unlocked all the time. And there's not too many people who lock their doors before they go to bed at night, or their cars.
[Neighbours drive each other's children to school] and to hockey especially, and to organizations. And you trust them, and you know that they are not going to leave them there. And if they need a dollar for a drink, they're going to give it to them. I would say there's a large amount of trust.
Community connectedness contributes to community survival in hard times
Many participants linked the sense of connectedness with the community's ability to survive adversity. The strong perception of culture as a source of connection and community strength was evident.
When you're a fisherman, you have to face hard times and...bad weather, and you have to work hard, winter and summer. And a lot of that culture has bled down. Even though I'm not a fisherman, my grandfather was, and that whole mindset has come to me...People always had to work hard to survive, and I don't think Isle Madame was ever a rich community. Even when the fish plant was here...they always had to work hard and make do.
As bad as it can be, people always find a way to keep on going. They find it in the community. It's a personality trait of our community. There's really a character in the community that keeps everybody up. If you know people in the community, you won't let them down. You won't let them give up hope. You'll encourage them. You'll work with them.
For Acadian communities, cultural and geographic isolation contributed to the community's connectedness and survival skills.
Necessity is the mother of invention...What was the alternative of not coping? I mean, you had nobody else to go to. South of the Margaree bridge you had people who didn't understand you. You had nothing to the north, east, west. So if you didn't learn how to co-exist then you weren't going to exist at all.
For one participant, the cooperative movement, which is deeply rooted in her Acadian community, was a symbol of the community's collective values and survival skills.
These cooperatives had nothing to do with the scenery or the natural beauty of the area. The cooperatives evolved because of the will of the people to create and to control their own economy.
(Translated from French)
Summary:
The sense of community seemed to stem from linkages based on shared cultures, shared history, and community-level traditions and events. People knew each other ) a feature of communities with small populations ) and trusted each other. This comfort, safety and security derived from common values and experiences, and mutual faith in fellow residents and in God. Indeed, involvement with church organizations was another feature of these Atlantic communities which created bonds among citizens. Community connectedness was seen by participants to be a strength which contributed to community coping and survival.
Social Support
Research has shown social support to be a critical component of an individual's ability to cope with adversity, to be resilient. In this study of resiliency at the community level, questions were posed to reveal the extent to which the community as a whole, through its networks and organizations, provided support to its members in times of hardship. The data were overwhelmingly positive, indicating that social support was a protective factor in all three communities.
Three identified sources of lay support comprise the three sub-themes: the community as a whole, family and friends, and community-based volunteer organizations.
The community as a whole is a source of support
During discussion about lay support, participants often described a response on the part of 'the community.'
This community is probably the nicest community anywhere. You're going to get support from anywhere. You will not be left isolated.
In addition to very general statements about supportive communities, participants provided numerous examples of the kinds of support that were typical.
There is a huge support in Cheticamp for the elderly and the mentally or physically challenged. To the community these people, unlike other communities, belong to the community...In a small community like Cheticamp, [they] seem to be taken care of by the community, not specifically (by) their parents...And the old people's home...visitors go there all the time to visit people, relatives. Everybody knows who is in there.
A seniors' focus group in Isle Madame confirmed this support.
I think especially for seniors, you notice that because if you're a day or so where no one sees you, they're going to give you a call to see why you're not up and about or whatever.
A focus group of youth in Dildo acknowledged the support of their community.
I think there is a lot of opportunity (for youth) here in terms of if you want to do something, it's easy for you to start up some sort of club or an organization and get your friends involved. Or in terms of scholarships and stuff like that...Like the SUF (Society of United Fishermen) try to support young people...For a small town, and considering the economic things in town, there is a lot of opportunities and encouragement.
Participants also expressed support in times of tragedy or disaster.
An explosion in Cheticamp:
There was a boat explosion on the harbour...There were people who ran for help, and people put themselves in (dangerous) situations and they were willing to do whatever they had to do. And it didn't stop that day. It continued on, and everybody was interested in what they could do. I don't think the level of that kind of support can be improved.
A storm in Isle Madame:
Well, because of the storm everybody got together. There were two people lost and they all got together and looked for them. Everybody was helping everybody tie the boats. They helped when it came time to rebuild...They helped us get started again...We had the support of the community. I think everyone that had hardships that day was very well supported by the island here. A house fire in Dildo that claimed the lives of two brothers: I know the family didn't want for food or anything like that, clothing, this kind of stuff, when their home burned. It was a closeness...and all the community kind of felt the sorrow and grief and they pulled together in all kinds of ways to support this family. They got a new home...
The unfailing support for fundraising campaigns and benefits was often mentioned in all communities and supported by written observations. Many of the fundraisers are to support local organizations.
You see a lot of people supporting fundraising on the island. And I think when there is one in Arichat, you see people from Petit de Grat or West Arichat, everywhere, coming to support it...And I think you see then that there is a commitment to work together, like to try to support people locally. An example of that is the school. They needed curtains and computers. A fundraising drive was organized and those items were bought. Another example of that is the radio, the community radio station. There's support for every aspect of the radio from the community. And that same support can be found for the hospital...
Family and friends are a significant source of social support
Family members, friends and neighbours were frequently cited as sources of support.
Most of the people in this community would break an arm trying to help you out. I think family support is one of the leading things that keep us going at times.
Participants offered examples of a variety of supportive actions by family and friends.
A few years ago we just could not afford the $3,000 to have a new roof put on. We called a couple of neighbours and we had the roof done. In return, one of the neighbours needed all new windows, and everyone pitched in labour free...That support is certainly there...neighbours, family. I'll just give you an example of support. When Dad was down at the boat last year, he was fibreglassing, and a lot of the fishermen came around and helped him fibreglass his boat. And one guy gave him an anchor; another guy gave him something else for the boat. It was really good. Like everyone was together. Somebody dies. Your kitchen is full of food for the next week and a half. Everybody in Cheticamp has an aunt or a sister or a neighbour to pitch in. If there is a death, a sickness, you're not feeling well, somebody's going to bring you soup, take your kids to hockey. Whether we realize it or not, there's an enormous support system. If someone in Dildo had $10 and you were hungry, you would get $5 of that. That is Dildo. That is Dildo all over. There's always somebody around to lend you a couple of dollars until you get your cheque...Because we're on the lower end of the scale, we got clothes, hand-me-downs. Around here, that's one of the really nice things about it...Helping to raise kids I found around here was really nice. One of the reasons I'm on the island is to raise my kids.
Local volunteer organizations are acknowledged sources of support
In all three communities, participants testified to the role played by volunteer organizations in providing support of many kinds. Support provided by organizations is defined as 'communal support.' In response to questions about communal support, participants mentioned a variety of organizations and the ways in which they support their communities. Church and service groups were prominent among supportive organizations cited in all communities. Organizations raise money; they contribute to the health and well-being of the community; they work toward improving the local economy. They are also seen as playing a role in bringing the community together.
Service groups are a big part of our community. I think it's the backbone of our community. Whenever there's a problem, it seems like they're always there and they join together and do what they can in every way.
Participants in Isle Madame mentioned parish and church organizations, the Social Action Centre, a palliative care group, a literacy group and a seniors' support group.
I find the CWL (Catholic Women's League) is a good example...We do all kinds of things. We support the women's shelter. We help students get grants in the summer months to help them out. We cater for weddings so we all have to work together. We do fundraising for the parish. We do a whole lot of things.
Participants in Cheticamp mentioned church organizations (and their services for youth, seniors and the needy), service organizations (including the Kinsmen, Kinettes, Knights of Columbus and the Legion), the Search and Rescue organization, Seniors Helping Seniors and a low-income housing program.
The Kinsmen have been very helpful and generous toward the (seniors') home...They were the sponsors of a program that enabled us get this grant from the government to buy the minibus. And every Christmas they make donations for equipment for the residents. And now they are the sponsors of TV bingo on the cable station, and we always get a share of the profits of that.
In Dildo, participants singled out the fire department, church organizations and their outreach groups, and the two large service organizations in the community, the Society of United Fishermen (SUF) and the Lions Club.
A lot of people think of the Society of United Fishermen as a union organization and that it's there just for the fishermen, but it's not. It was started by a Reverend Gardiner, and the purpose of the organization was to help people in the communities. Years ago, if there was someone in need of something, they'd get together and the fishermen would send them, say, a load of wood. This was the purpose of the SUF...and you didn't have to be a fisherman.
Summary:
Although participants referred to family and friends as sources of support, similar to research on protective factors at the individual level, aggregate and community-level support was prevalent. The community itself seemed to offer support for specific populations at risk, and for stressful situations and crises. Voluntary organizations played a key supportive role in all three communities, as did churches and service organizations. Thus, at the community level, lay sources of support were much more prominent than professional sources of support. Indeed, formal agencies were rarely mentioned.
Community Involvement and Participation
It was anticipated that the extent of citizen involvement in the activities, organizations and development of a community would be related to its resilience. Participants were asked about levels of voluntarism, and about participation in public activities and events of various kinds. Again, responses were mixed. Levels of participation in the community development process were reportedly low. However, it is clear from the data that high levels of voluntarism and high levels of participation in other types of community activity were protective factors in all three sites. There were six sub-themes: organizations offer opportunity for citizen participation, voluntarism is alive and well, a few volunteers do most of the work, volunteers represent a cross-section of the population, recreational activities and events have high participation rates, and a burning issue attracts a crowd to a public meeting.
Organizations offer opportunity for citizen participation in community process
Community involvement through local organizations has long been a part of life for many people in the three communities. The demographic questionnaire completed by all participants asked for a list of volunteer organizations with which they were involved. Table 6 was compiled from that information. It illustrates the many and varied opportunities for volunteer involvement in these communities. For participants in this study, the four areas of greatest involvement were church, community development, culture and service organizations.
1Five non-residents not included.
During the consultations, participants in all three sites readily named local organizations that offered opportunity for involvement in the public life of the community. Foremost among these were church organizations, cooperatives, school organizations, service organizations and community development organizations.
When people want to help or contribute to the progress of Cheticamp, they'll take part in the Cheticamp Development Commission or the co-ops. An organization, it's made up of citizens of this community...so they have their say in that way. Because nothing goes ahead in any organization without a majority vote. And if you don't like what this organization is doing, you don't support them.
Participants were asked whether organizations welcomed and encouraged public input. While there were negative responses about the openness of organizations and their attempts to encourage public input, a significant majority of the data were positive.
I'm President of the Lions Club right now, and every [opinion] from outside and inside the club is looked at [seriously]. I think it should be looked at that way. Those are the people that you're relying on to raise your funds for whatever project you're working on, so their input definitely makes a lot of difference in the decision.
It's welcomed all the time...We make presentations to any organization or group...meet with ten or twelve people at a time on a regular basis and promote the involvement, of getting involved with community development, sitting on the board, making decisions, having input.
Organizations encouraged participation and input by advertising their meetings. All communities have local cable TV which is used for this purpose (although the signal in Isle Madame apparently does not reach all parts of the island). In Isle Madame, several participants observed that the best way to publicize an event is by word of mouth. In Cheticamp, church bulletins include information about community events.
You're always advertising public meetings. A citizen can't come back and say, 'I didn't know about this,' because in nine chances out of ten, things were advertised...so people are given a fair opportunity to voice their opinion.
Voluntarism is alive and well
There are high levels of voluntarism among the participants in this study (see Table 6). During the consultations, participants were asked about levels of voluntarism in their community as a whole. Overall, the data about voluntarism were positive. There were, however, some differences among communities. While approximately two thirds of the responses from both Dildo and Cheticamp were positive, and almost vibrating with energy, the data about voluntarism on Isle Madame were evenly divided between negative and positive. From all communities, however, data indicated that many people who had lost employment were finding meaningful work as volunteers. As the Community Coordinator from Isle Madame observed in writing about the Community Opportunities Pool (COP) in his community, 'The fisheries' downturn, plant closure, and dependence on government funds had many people feeling a little down about their lives. That is where the COP program would come in and make these people feel like they were finally needed and doing something very meaningful.'
I think it's great. I think it is a very high level. Whether it's a concert or a theatrical, musical event. Like for festivals, I'm sure they are going to find all the volunteers that they need. I think the participation is wonderful...really good.
Yes, we do have a higher level of volunteer service on the island here. In fact, we just won the award through Recreation for having the highest numbers in Richmond County, which is quite an honour.
A few volunteers do most of the work
In all communities, participants often observed that there was a small core of very active volunteers who took the initiative, and a much larger group who would respond when asked to support a cause. Interestingly, some participants interpreted this as a positive indication of volunteer activity in the community, while others saw it in negative terms.
Positive
Once a year, we have a door-to-door fund raising for our foundation, and I have never had anybody refuse...But no, they don't want to be on the board of directors. I think a lot of people are afraid of - and maybe education has a lot to do with it as well. They have never had any experience so they are afraid of what it might entail. But when it comes to volunteering, oh yes.
If you ask people to do something, they'll do it nine times out of ten. People are really good for that. You have to take the initiative, that's all.
Negative
If you look at the volunteers in this community, there is a lot of volunteer working going on, but it's by a very small group of people. It's very difficult to get somebody new to come in. Like the person who has been doing the collection for the heart fund has been doing it for the last 20 years.
Volunteers represent a good cross-section of the population
Responses to the question about population representation among volunteers were varied, and appeared to depend largely on the kinds of volunteer pursuits that participants were involved in themselves. According to a number of participants, women and older people were the most involved volunteers. Some reported that their organizations were finding it hard to recruit younger members. Some younger people observed that the older establishment in organizations was not very open to new ideas. Overall, the responses created a picture of active volunteers from all age groups, both genders and diverse backgrounds.
People come from all walks of life...We have people involved in the SUF who are very highly educated, and then we have other people who are not that educated...but they still have their input into the community. Whereas years ago, it would probably only be the...well-off people. But I think that is starting to change. Yes, we have [volunteers] who are on the TAGS program that come from different age groups, like the younger generation and up to as far as 50 years old...We have retired people that have lived in the community all their life and feel that they should be giving something back to the community. We have women; we have men. We even have youth from our area contributing by sitting on boards.
Recreational activities and events have high participation rates
Participants were asked about levels of participation in recreational activities i.e., sports and/or social and/or cultural events. Although there were opposing views, a large majority of responses in all communities indicated that recreational activities enjoyed good levels of participation.
Cheticamp
People go to dances and have a good time. And school activities, whether it's school plays or concerts or dances, different things...Yes, people are fairly into that. People like to have a good time, basically.
Isle Madame
We've always been a community that went to functions. The Acadian festival is a prime example down home. It's always packed...The Arichat festival is always crowded when the weather is fine...You'll never see a bigger festival for such a small community.
Dildo
Well, there are a lot of young people playing minor hockey, and a lot of their parents who are supporters in a way, like coaching and travelling, supporting fundraisers. Those types of things.
A burning issue attracts a crowd to a public meeting
The indication from many participants was that public meetings are not usually well attended. However, all three communities agreed that people will show up if there is a critical issue to be addressed. In his observation about an information session arranged by the local municipal councillor concerning the proposed reform to Employment Insurance, the community coordinator in Cheticamp observed, 'The location and timing for this meeting were strategic. The hall is very small and there were chairs for a hundred people. On Saturday afternoon in Cheticamp, there is violin music at the Doryman Tavern which is very popular, and on that weekend, there was also musical entertainment at Le Gabriel Lounge, a fund raiser for the local choir. Nevertheless...the hall was packed with people standing at the sides and back of the hall...I would have estimated at least 200 people.'
Unemployment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan... Changes in those types of things that people around here see as their only hope for survival. Those will get a reaction...Short of that, I don't see too many things that are bringing people out.
There's a kind of general malaise here with regard to meetings, unless there is a crisis. You have a meeting and four or five will come, but if there is a crisis, boy!
Summary:
Many local volunteer organizations provided opportunity and encouragement for citizens to take part in the public life of their community. Voluntarism was not only a primary source of support at the community level, but a key mechanism for involvement and participation. Only twelve percent of participants indicated that they were not involved in any community organizations. Volunteers reflected the diversity of ages and backgrounds of residents, and a few people did a lot of the work. However, in contrast to other communities, there was a trend toward increased levels of voluntarism as people hit hard by unemployment struggled to fill their time with meaningful activity. Public participation in recreational activities and in meetings about crucial issues pertaining to income support, employment and education was high.
Educational/Retraining Services and Opportunities
Participants were asked about availability and quality of educational services for the public school population, and also for the post-secondary and adult population. Overall, 70% of the responses about access and quality of public school education were positive, as were 57% of the responses about post-secondary and adult education. Five sub-themes described this protective factor: public schools in small communities offer a broad spectrum of educational opportunities, rural schools offer good quality education, schools play a significant role in promoting culture/heritage, attracting teachers to rural communities is not a problem, and availability of post-secondary and adult education has increased.
Public schools in small communities offer a broad spectrum of educational opportunities
Most participants observed that their local schools offered an impressive range of educational opportunities and resources for both elementary and secondary students. These ranged from pre-school and special education classes to classroom computers and business experience programs.
In comparison to other schools, Cheticamp is one of the better schools. In terms of opportunities for students, it's probably a flagship school, certainly in this county...You're not penalized or held back by living in Cheticamp through education...Whatever is offered in the urban centres in Cape Breton is offered in Cheticamp.
Computers in school are seeming to increase a lot...I've got a 10-year-old, and we purchased a computer a year ago...and he showed us how it started up. We were just amazed at what he's learned in school himself.
Participants in the youth focus group in Dildo described a recent change in the high school curriculum there.
You have to have Business to graduate now. And in one course, we have to make a business and keep it running for six weeks. And I think that is helping us because we can learn how to do résumés and business plans and stuff like that.
Rural schools offer good quality education
For the most part, data about the quality of the education offered in local schools were positive. Participants in all study communities also reported that the current generation of youth is staying in school.
It's been known that the people that have graduated from Isle Madame and went on to college were very well prepared. I would say that we are pretty well on top of the education system.
Two youth focus groups acknowledged that the quality of the learning experience was enhanced in a small school because of closer relationships between students, teachers and administrators. (They also observed that this kind of familiarity was not always a good thing!)
Group 1
Facilitator: What help would a smaller school be?
It's taking time for the students instead of just shoving them through the grades. There's better student-teacher relationships.
Group 2
What you lose in the facilities you kind of gain in the fact that you know all the teachers.
You have a lot of freedom in the school too. Like if we said in school tomorrow that we would like to start such-and-such a group, they would say,'Go ahead and do it.'
Schools play a significant role in promoting culture/heritage
In Dildo, research on local history had recently become part of the high school curriculum. Both Acadian communities had bilingual school systems. The role of the school in preserving and promoting the French language was acknowledged by several participants.
I feel that the level of education in Cheticamp school and the opportunity for people to learn both languages is maybe one of the best schools in the province. Maybe one of the best in Canada - Cheticamp school.
Attracting teachers to rural communities is not a problem
Participants were asked whether rural school boards had difficulty recruiting teachers. The consensus was that the problem was too few teaching jobs available, not too few teachers willing to come.
There are always new teachers graduating, especially bilingual teachers, [which they have] to be in Cheticamp. The teachers would be available if the money was there to pay (them). That's about the size of it. Availability of post-secondary, adult upgrading and retraining programs has increased
While the inhabitants of rural communities have long accepted the need to leave for post-secondary education and training, the current economic climate adds to the burden that this creates for individuals and families. On the other hand, the emphasis on education upgrading and re-training that has accompanied the fishery crisis has led to an increase in the availability of adult upgrading and retraining programs.
Now more than ever, [the high school] is opening the doors to local people, adults. And they're trying to create as many adult programs as they can.
I'm very familiar with all the training agencies in the area, the adult training centre, the community colleges and all that. The opportunities are there. There's not a course (offered elsewhere) that's not being offered in this area...I think a few years back there was no way that you would have convinced anybody to come down to Isle Madame to give a course, (in) tourism, for example. You would have had to go off the island. Now the courses are coming to the people. There's no reason that people can't take the courses that they want.
Many programs are funded by EI or by TAGS money which is accessed through Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).
That made a big difference to be able to access programs through Human Resources, and getting the proper funding for training and job search and mobility.
The literacy has been on the go for the last year and a half, I guess. And there's more training programs now because you're looking at...TAGS money. There's more dollars there.
The negative side of such programs is that they are funded for only a short period of time. Several participants were aware that TAGS training money had been scaled down in the past year, meaning that opportunities for upgrading and other training were diminishing rather than growing. For all three communities, community colleges are more geographically accessible than universities. Participants in the two Acadian communities cited the recent establishment of local branches of Le Collège de l'Acadie as a positive development.
Now they have access to Le Collège de l'Acadie, which is a big help. I mean the enrolment has gone up the last few years and I'm sure it's going to get better and better...They have a fairly good course selection. The only thing is, it is all offered in French so some people might be a little bit apprehensive. But once you go there and get used to it, it's not too bad.
Summary:
Overall, participants were proud of the public and post-secondary educational opportunities in their communities. They were convinced that their rural schools offered high quality education and attracted good teachers. Schools were acknowledged for their role in promoting culture and heritage. A notable trend, consistent with the closure of the fisheries and the widespread unemployment, was the expansion of upgrading and retraining programs. This acted as a protective factor during a time of risk, as it produced hope for meaningful employment, created a sense of accomplishment and served to empower residents.
Communal Coping
Communal coping is expected to be a primary attribute of the resilient community. As described in the risk factor section of this report, communal apathy and anger were among the challenges faced by all study communities. However, these negative data were balanced by a similar amount of data attesting to positive attitudes and behaviours which translated into a communal response toward solutions to collective adversity. Two communal coping sub-themes emerged: communities appear to be moving toward positive coping responses, and communities are coping with current challenges.
Communities appear to be moving toward positive coping responses
In all three communities, participants observed that attitudes and behaviours seemed to be becoming more positive as people confronted their difficult circumstances. There was recognition that dealing with change is a process.
I see that after they've projected and expressed their anger, the community draws together...but I would say that you have to get that anger phase passed. When everybody's demonstrating, it wouldn't be good to try to organize a plan. But somehow, the community seems to work things out. And...given time, their anger runs out.
[Blaming] was an initial reaction, and think it is still being felt to a large extent. But people have slowly come to face the reality. And there seems to be more movement now toward taking on their problems themselves and working them out as a group, in trying to resolve things...I am thinking of the fisheries people. There have been committees set up...
I think the crisis changed a lot of people. For example, when we got 65 percent of the people, members of the...Co-op voted to move that store to Arichat, I think that showed that there was an awesome change in people's thinking about what had to happen in Isle Madame...I certainly never hoped for that kind of result...But I think the crisis has focused people's attention to the point where they say, 'If we don't hang together, we'll all hang separately.'
Communities are coping with current challenges
From each community, there were recent examples of communal coping in which people collectively sought, and often found, solutions to shared problems.
Isle Madame
I think that the community is really into helping each other in a time of crisis. The fish plant strike, what happened there, there was a community group that got together along with some people in the community and the clergy, and set up a food bank and talked to the appropriate people to try to settle the strike. And after a lot of hard work and negotiations, it was settled.
We have lost our elementary school. I can't say people weren't fired up because they did, to the bitter end, try to keep our school here...They went on television...the radio...They had a very strong leader...who tried his darndest...There was just a piece in the paper in the last couple of days about them still not wanting to give up the school idea.
Cheticamp
We need a new hospital It looks like it is going to happen...There is still a lot of red tape to go through, a lot of problems to be ironed out, and obtaining the land next door and getting funding from the government, and all that. But it looks like it's going to happen within the next few years.
Right now, when they were talking about closing our school, we had several meetings...There was a committee set up basically to get information and to keep this school open. When they decided not to close the school, at least we have a moratorium for one year, the committee stayed on, worked together Right now there is a committee working toward getting an advisory council for the school. So they're very conscious about their school.
Dildo
The local COP (Citizens on Patrol) program...has, over the last five years, been instrumental in really cutting down on the number of crimes against people and property It's volunteer. They do checks through the community throughout the night...We were getting a lot of break-ins, a lot of property damage...From the high school, we approached the church leaders in the area...They called a public meeting and I guess, as they say, the rest is history.
A focal point of pride in Dildo is the new Interpretation Centre. It is a work in progress which involves the conversion of a derelict building into a heritage centre and tourist attraction.
You know, it was the SUF (Society of United Fishermen) that bought the building, but I think it's the community that's doing the work...The more I look at it, I think that building represents you know, because you have young people involved, you are meeting a community need. We talked about the rift that is created sometimes by the TAGS program. You don't really see that here, I think, because of that building. You have people who are on TAGS, you have people who are not on TAGS, people who are volunteers, working on that building.
Summary:
These communities showed evidence of communal coping that focused on managing emotions during stressful situations (emotion-focused coping) and on solving problems (problem-focused coping). There was evidence of more positive attitudes at the community or collective level (emotion-focused coping), as residents were fighting back and developing solutions to community problems (problem-focused coping). Instances of communal coping in which people collectively found solutions to shared problems were evident in all communities.
