NEW GLASGOW
About 60 people gathered at NSCC on May 9 to take part in the “Vital Conversation” event hosted by the Pictou County Vital Signs Core Team. The event was the first in a series the committee hopes will be hosted around Pictou County.
“Our goal is to gather community input, which will help guide research for a Vital Signs report. We are inviting anyone that would like to host a conversation to contact us to learn more,” says Jessica Smith of the United Way of Pictou County.
These smaller “Vital Conversations” are currently being organized for other communities and groups in Pictou County, such as the arts community, LGBTQ community, seniors, youth, and the health sector.
The team is hoping that individuals in some of the smaller rural parts of the region might also like to host a conversation to ensure voices from their communities are included.
Smith adds that the committee can provide all the resources needed for someone to host their own conversation or can provide a facilitator to lead or assist the discussion. “We are able to provide as much or as little support as deemed appropriate by the organizer.”
The United Way of Pictou County and the Aberdeen Health Foundation have partnered with the Community Foundation of Nova Scotia to bring Vital Signs to Pictou County. Since 2006, Vital Signs has provided communities across Canada with an evidence-based approach to tackling local issues.
“The report will be a public document and available to everyone,” says Robyn Eaton of the Health Foundation. “Both the United Way and the Aberdeen Health Foundation have committed to using evidence from the report to inform decision making, and welcome the opportunity to collaborate across communities and sectors for greater collective impact.”
To learn more about hosting a Vital Conversation contact Jessica at 902-755-1754 or [email protected]. To learn more about Pictou County Vital Signs visit aberdeenhealthfoundation.ca/vitalsigns.
