The following are the recommendations that were made by seven focus groups during the Summit in Bonaventure, QC. All participants were ask to answer an Open Spaces Question which was: "In order to be more effective in my community, association or agency, I (we) need to...." Categories were then created from the answers in which the participants were assembled into groups. Each group had to create recommendations according to the category that they were given. The following recommendations are as a result of these discussion groups which involve a variety of stakeholders.

1. Financing: A non-governmental diversified group with a financing challenge needs:

• Access to the foundations financial information
• Formation and assistance in proposal writing
• Lobby with all levels of government
• Look to the example of Qubec, as it seems better than the maritime provinces
• Promotion of tax credits for groups that participate in the subject of Social Economy
• Look to the example of N or the local CA, organizations that are authorized to keep funds and attribute them to local businesses

 2. Inclusiveness

• Demystify the notions of communities and municipalities to better integrate groups such as youth, retired, and those that have recently immigrated to the area.  The individual characteristics of these groups must be understood in order to allow these groups to work together in a cohesive manner.

 3. Governance

• Set up a communications strategy with strategic partners in the field
• Develop a workshop to share a common language with the stakeholders and funding sources (to understand the positions of all those involved)
• Greater recognition of the major players in the field

 4. Scientific Research

• Recognition of research and projects at the local level
• The integration of local groups into research projects
• Render the existing scientific research (literacy, natural resources) accessible to the public in a manner that may be understood and popular to the local communities

 5. Capacity

• Reinforce the principle of empowerment by promoting the importance of collective intelligence
•  Analyze the profile and occupations of the community to identify a common issue or idea that can be followed by a source of action to bring the community together
• Members should be sought after in a respectful and very welcoming manner, to ensure that they understand that each individual has something to contribute to the community
• Groups should be focused more on engaging in action and group discussion, rather than delivering speeches

 6. Partnerships

• Improve communications and networking between members of an organization, community organizations and government through more activities such as conferences, video conferences and more informative web site.

 7. Education

• Develop promotional and communicational tools that can be easily accessible to the population body
• Broadcast to the media