Media Release

For Immediate Release

June 19, 2008

Workshop to help green citizens map communities

As governments, developers and neighborhoods debate development plans for Halifax and other Nova Scotian communities, green citizens are taking steps to ensure the maps they’re using show more than street names.

The Saint Mary’s University Community-Based Environmental Monitoring Network is hosting a Green Citizens’ Community Mapping Workshop this Saturday, June 21, from 1 p.m until 4 p.m.

Community mapping is a process that residents can use to collaboratively create local maps to highlight local knowledge, issues and resources in their communities. The workshop will include a presentation about community mapping and provide hands-on exercises to help participants learn how to build green maps of their communities. The goal is to implement community green mapping initiatives throughout Nova Scotia.

“It’s a unique activity that engages and empowers a diverse group of people within communities to reflect important features, values, issues and goals,” said Jody Armstrong, a recent Geography graduate of Saint Mary’s and organizer of the workshop. “It’s also a process that has the potential to act as a vehicle to generate discussion with broader groups, such as developers and government.”

The workshop, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will be held in Room 265 of the Sobey Building at Saint Mary’s. For more information, please contact Armstrong at: jody.armstrong@smu.ca or public.engagement@smu.ca.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca