| Surrey
community planning council paves the way for new opportunities
March 24, 2004
SURREY, BC – Surrey Social Futures is embarking on the next
phase of an innovative program to meet the social and economic challenges
facing the Surrey/White Rock area. To help meet those challenges,
they’ve appointed Ron Trepanier of Whalebone Productions to
implement the recommendations outlined in their recent report, “Surrey:
The Hidden Opportunities.”
Mr. Trepanier has more than 25 years experience in the private
and public sectors, both nationally and internationally, working
extensively in community economic development and strategic planning
for businesses, community organizations, and various levels of government.
As a leading community economic development strategist, Mr. Trepanier
has worked with a variety of organizations on establishing partnerships
that have helped build local capacity in communities across British
Columbia.
Mr. Trepanier has held positions as the founding Managing Director
of the Community Futures Development Association of B.C. and the
founding president of the Canada/British Columbia Business Services
Society. He is currently a member of Industry Canada’s Small
Business Research Advisory Committee and serves as Executive Director
of the Leadership and Management Development Council of B.C.
One of Mr. Trepanier’s first tasks will be to establish a
steering committee that will bring together representatives from
a broad cross-section of stakeholders in the Surrey/White Rock area.
Mr. Trepanier will work with the steering committee to develop a
strategic plan and build community partnerships, ultimately leading
to the organization of a community-wide forum focused on raising
awareness of the community economic development approach and its
potential in creating positive change in Surrey. The forum is scheduled
for sometime in the Fall of 2004.
Established in 1991, Surrey Social Futures is a not-for-profit,
community and social planning council that provides a voice for
the creation of a healthy and sustainable community. It aims to
bring people together for positive social change through the promotion
and development of community-based social, economic and physical
planning for Surrey.
In 2003, Surrey Social Futures received funding from the VanCity
Foundation to complete a preliminary exploration of community economic
development opportunities in the Surrey/White Rock area.
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