Ongoing Projects

Sustainable Communities Initiative
A total of six communities will receive mentorship from the Coalition... more

The Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence is an important ecological, economic and social ecosystem of North America that supports key components such as salt marshes, beaches estuaries, forests and communities. It provides critical spawning, feeding and nursery grounds for numerous species of fish and shellfish, birds and animals. Communities along its coast depend on its resources for income, recreational opportunities and their quality of life. Daily, this quality of life is threatened and new approaches and solutions are required to ensure that our children grow to enjoy the same privileges we have.

The Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability (SGSLCS) and its members envision a future in which the region is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. In that sense we work to promote the long-term viability of our ecosystem. The Coalition provides a forum for partners who share the same vision and want to implement priority solutions to enhance the sustainability of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. These partners have complementary responsibilities with respect to the sustainability of the region. By pooling the technological, financial and human resources available, a common and focused action plan can be agreed upon with each partner assuming the responsibilities within his/her own area of expertise, interest or authority. Working on the basis of mutual respect between partners, the Coalition provides the forum for a rational sharing of perceptions and striving for consensual agreement.

The Coalition's mandate is to facilitate communications, networking and information sharing among its partners and to organize and facilitate inter-provincial, inter-regional and inter-sectoral meetings, workshops, or task forces to deal with sustainability issues. Coalition members also recommend priority strategies, policies and regulations for the region and monitor the progress of implementing these strategies, policies and regulations. As a group, they encourage partners and communities to build their capacity and achieve their sustainability goals. When necessary, they facilitate access to expertise within and outside of the region and promote awareness and education on sustainability.

The SGSLCS was formally established at its Founding Meeting in Summerside, Prince Edward Island in November 1999. This followed two years of broad consultation and planning and a consensus to form a multi-stakeholder regional body. Representation and membership is drawn from those portions of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, which form the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystem.

A number of broad strategies have been identified by the Coalition to support its Vision, Mission and Mandate. They include: building and maintaining the capacity of its members to lead and facilitate the realisation of sustainability; creating and nurturing an informed and engaged citizenry that can take direct action in support of sustainability throughout the ecosystem; building the science and research capacity of the Coalition and its members so that decisions are soundly based; identifying priority issues in the region and working toward their resolution in collaboration with all its partners; participating in a forum of interested stakeholders working toward the development and implementation of an integrated management and planning framework for the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystem, and;. encouraging harmonisation of government policies and programs so that they better serve the public and the goal of sustainability.

What's New

The new newsletter "The SGSLCS Messenger" will be available shortly to all our members. more

The 2003 AGM is coming to St. FX university this coming 11th and 12th of April. more