TRANSITION TOWNS ~ have you heard about them? Do you want to know
more and consider how Orillia could move forward?
The worldwide Transition Initiative is inspired by the international
Transition Town movement that has been growing rapidly from its early
beginnings in Kinsale, Ireland and Totnes, England since 2005.
The Transition paradigm is not one of prescriptive solutions. Instead,
it offers a model for how a community can be engaged to find local
solutions by drawing on local knowledge and talent using a positive,
solutions-focused approach. Consideration is given to building a
better sense of community in the process of bringing people together
to address the problems we face together. In this, the Transition Town
model views these challenges as an opportunity.
Increasing resilience is a core theme of Transition. Resilience
describes the ability of a system to absorb shocks without
catastrophic consequences. Economic resilience is enhanced by
localization of the production of essential goods thereby reducing the
potential impact of transportation problems due to oil shocks. It is
enhanced by teaching people how to grow more of their own food and by
educating people how to make choices that increase energy efficiency.
It is enhanced by teaching people how to become more self-reliant and
to reduce the cost of living by re-discovering old skills
(“re-skilling”). An economically and socially more resilient community
will be better able to handle the challenges that lie ahead.
Transition Town Peterborough was officially recognized by the
Transition Network as Canada’s first official Transition Town, with
official recognition by Peterborough City Council in May of 2009.
Similar efforts exist in a growing list of Canadian Communities
(Barrie, Guelph, Dundas, Oakville, Ottawa; Victoria, Richmond, Nelson,
BC). There are many who believe that the City of Orillia should be
included in this growing, progressive movement.
On Wednesday, May 26th at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church’s
Wisdom Circle gathering, everyone is invited to come and learn more
about Transition Towns and to discuss steps to move forward.
St. Paul’s is on the NE corner of Coldwater & Peter Streets with the
entrance off Peter Street closest to the parking lot.
