Well, we have learned that there is a lot to consider in a name. When we started in 2004 as “Dufferin Social Prosperity Project”, our focus was on improving the quality of life of those who live and work within the boundaries of Dufferin County. Over the past 2 years of consultations, we have learned that our natural community extends beyond political boundaries. Our volunteers and citizens who see themselves as stakeholders in the outcomes of the project are as likely to live within Dufferin County as they are in north Caledon, Erin, or Alton. Also, we consistently heard from people that the meaning behind ‘social prosperity’ was difficult to grasp without extensive explanation. So, after considerable deliberation and debate, we chose to rename ourselves Headwaters Communities in Action. We believe the new name is more inclusive of our natural communities, and more clearly describes what we’re trying to do.

Our name isn’t the only new thing that has happened. We have developed a logo and web site to support ongoing communication with you. Our website is a great place to access information about the project, to find out who is involved and how you can get involved, and to share ideas. The web site is still in development. Connect with us and let us know what you like about the website and what you would like to see added to it.

On June 22, 2006, Headwaters Communities in Action hosted a successful “Building Momentum” event at Hockley Valley Resort. Community members and leaders gathered to hear key concepts and project ideas outlined in the “Building Momentum Report”, to help us identify the path forward and to learn from the experience of our keynote speaker, Don Eastwood.

The Building Momentum report describes our unique approach to creating long-term, sustainable improvement on quality of life in our region, needed structures to support working together in more collaborative ways, and a number of specific high impact projects.

The Recommended Path Forward
The key concepts and ideas outlined in the report were generated from consultations with community members, leaders and knowledgeable experts. Participants shared their reactions to these ideas and recommended that we narrow our initial focus to a few of them as a starting point for building community momentum.

Support galvanized around the following 2 ideas:

• to create a Regional Community Planning Process where leaders from every sector work together to create a clear plan for our future which balances economic, social and environmental considerations in an integrated way
• to develop a Regional Trails Network that provides walkers and cyclists with easy access to the natural beauty of the Headwaters Region, encourages physical activity and acts as an important magnet for tourism and recreation

“I’m excited by this project’s potential to let go of historic ways of accomplishing community objectives and creating new roles and models.”
Participant at the Building Momentum Event

Over the summer, Headwaters Communities in Action will take the feedback from the June 22 event, and develop a detailed plan of action around the core ideas outlined in the report. The summer will also be a time of reflection about the resources needed to support implementation of these ideas, and the leadership required to support the next phase of work.

In his keynote address at the June 22, 2006 Building Momentum Event, Don Eastwood, General Manager of Economic Development, Culture, and Tourism with the City of Toronto shared his wisdom about the ingredients for successful community collaboration and innovation. Don says, “We need to accelerate the collaborative process within the community to cope with, and find solutions to the increasing pace of change that is going on around us and placing pressure on our way of life, our way of doing business and our ways of seeing the world.”

Don shares his ground rules for successful collaboration. He sees collaboration as the catalyst for creativity, connectivity and continuity, critical elements to building an economically, socially, and environmentally prosperous community. Don showed us how these concepts were applied by grassroots movements to achieve innovative solutions to the problems faced by their communities.

We are very interested in hearing from you! Help us to improve our e-newsletter and web site so that it provides you with the information you need to stay connected or contribute to the efforts of Headwaters Communities in Action.
Please use our contact form and let us know:

• What do you like about the e-newsletter and/or web site?
• What would improve the usefulness of the and/or web site?