6/27/2018 1 Comment Why does your town exist? The existential mid-life crisis of community planning.Today, I was having an instant messenger chat with Zack Haigh. The initial conversation kick-started a few days ago as we were sharing about our time at Urban Systems so far. We're both new here and our relationship seems to have started on that similarity. Zack is a Junior Planner in Courtenay, BC and I'm a Junior Adviser in Victoria, BC. Some projects take a few hours, some a few weeks and the opportunity to learn and grow has been immense. Every project, for me, seemingly touches new ground and presents me with new challenges and problems. Currently, I've been spending some of my time researching Vibrant Communities.
The thing I find with 'vibrant communities' is that it's a complex concept with no agreed upon definition. My focus tends to be on the identity of place as I believe every place has a distinct personality. These identities are built on the narratives of social memory (past) and experienced in full in place (present), which makes it hard to measure. My problem is that often the narratives municipals spun are for the tourist, instead of local residents. It's a false image that lacks authenticity to enhance the visibility in the global market. A question Zack posed to me is "how do we make sure that we grow fast, but allow authenticity to come in and evolve?" Given that "one of the problems with modern planning is a failure to capture authenticity. Iterative planning over time really produces the most successful communities (think europe, who'se been building its cities for thousands of years), you simply can't recreate that 'IT' factor within a developments timeline." For me, I wonder that if we were to cultivate the personality, or culture/identity, of a place would it brings a regenerative sense of development for the people in place, the human and its environment? The problem of undefined concepts, like vibrant communities, is that research is challenging. You have to approach it indirectly as there is large variety of seemingly related terms. My keywords included place perception, vibrant communities, place making, community capacity, resilient communities, sense of place, among others. Eventually, I found an essay by Joanie Willet (2016) titled "The production of place: perception, reality and the politics of becoming." Like any good political scientist Joanie problematizes the process of place narrative, and in this case plays to my confirmation bias. Joanie talks about the fait accompli -- a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept -- in particular around tourism and regional development strategies. By exploring tourism, regional development strategies, and narratives we may begin to see a potential root of inauthenticity. Narratives, as a regional development tool, in regard to brand marking is about enhancing visibility of an area in the global market place (p. 347). As Joanie Willet points out "as an industry, tourism has done more than contribute to wealth and employment; it has also influenced how the region is perceived by Others and, over the course of time, the image of a region where residents can experience a good lifestyle has come to dominate despite the challenging local socio-economic conditions" (p. 438). The narrative contrasts regional poverty and perceived high quality of life and despite the positive spin population is still outflowing. The issue of inauthenticity is that it can become a narrative trap for rural communities that become a place stuck in time. They become places of leisure and relaxation without forward motion. Where instead of moving into the future the narrative's appeal is to the idealized past, or a romantic nostalgia for what once was. The problem for Joanie is that lifestyle, or quality of life, narratives are static instead of dynamic, and have no sense of becoming. Without future-orientation there is no movement infused with possibility. A point Zack Haighe considered important is that the use of regional narratives as economic development tools, we need to know not just what they are and how they are produced, but also how time operates within them and the futures that are made possible or closed off. For myself, understanding how I got to Urban requires me to reflect on the past and the episodic moments of memory that comprise my self-identity. The narrative identity is my internalized and evolving life story that integrates the reconstructured past and imagined future to provide me with a degree of unity and purpose. Through in-depth analysis, or introspection, I go through my emotions, experiences, past hurdles, and potential/actual outcomes that led to my personal growth. My ability to articulate and commit to positive outcomes is what gives me pride, happiness, and hope that allows to me to further develop and grow. Retroactive introspection done honestly helps me understand who I am, by looking at where I've come from and what I've overcome, which empowers me to create a narrative of becoming in my role as a Junior Adviser. I would argue that same introspective process is required for communities. However, they run on different timelines and social constructs that supersede the experience of single human being. Their episodic memories may span hundreds, or thousands of years. Or, they may be new and rely on the inner groups narrative that pulls people into the social system. The issue may be around goal-oriented policy because of the unpredictability of life and the complex interactions of our social systems. In absence of goal-oriented cookie-cutter policies of community development the point it would seem to be centered on values and purpose that forms unity in diversity. Outcomes are not a given. An authentic narrative of development may come from persistent self-reflection and introspection of the community, which is something that is overlooked in a rushed and extroverted culture. The concept of becoming implies that the present is filtered through memory of the past to create something new. As the past actively shapes how events, ideas, and objects are understood, which in turn affects how the future is built, is a complex process involving multiple elements and as such is unpredictable. Narrative identity's is entity's internalized and evolving life story whose imagined future provides life a degree of unity and purpose. Asking "why am I here" is process of cultivating meaning rooted in the past, present, and potential future. It brings out the existential mid-life crisis of community planning and the question of "why does your town exist?" It's the same existential mind-churning question I ask myself. Why do I exist? Thankfully, my role at Urban Systems does not fall under fait accompli, which can be frustrating, but I enjoy the constructive freedom. I am responsible for my own narrative. It is still something that needs to be negotiated with others, to find where I fit best, and is shaped through negotiations to form my dynamic self. My future self is worth pursuing. It's empowering and liberating and at times stressful. However, I've overcome challenges before and developed a comfortable and humble confidence that affords me growth, persistence, and ability to pursue what I find curious. My network is increasingly supportive and resourceful. I am thankful for everyone currently or previously involved. L'chaim.
1 Comment
6/4/2018 3 Comments A run in with deathI went to Lynn Canyon for the first time. Fences keep the tourists on designated trails while the locals find the secret passages into best areas. We hopped over a chain-link fence, ducked under a fallen tree, and came down to the waters edge after emerging from the tunnel of vegetation that hides the path. We dipped our feet in the rushing water.
Lynn Canyon has steep walls that are easily 100ft on each side. These walls host the natural colours of the forests. Water rushes through clean and clear. The park makes me understand why people come from around the world to witness our natural landscapes here in British Columbia. My friend group is adventurous. So, after taking in the landscape and the smell of cold water we decided to head up stream. Doing so requires bouldering up 10 -15 feet and making your way across skinny ledges that require you to hold tight to the wall. Eventually, we get to an impasse where the only way forward is to get wet. Our decision to cross the stream requires sure footing and the straddling of a few large slippery rocks until the water gets low enough that you feel comfortable walking. We stop here for a moment and decide if it’s worth going forward, or if we should go back. Seeing how we felt at play our group continued forward on what locals commonly refer to as the “the circuit.” The final section we had required lucid groping of the rock wall for good hand holds and exploratory feet to keep dry. It’s at the end of this section that I look forward and see my friend clear shook. He told us we need to turn around. There was a dead body up ahead. From his face you could tell he wasn’t joking. But, there’s a curiosity that apparently needs to be satiated when someone tells you there’s a dead body. We all went to look. The body was that of a girl. Pink shirt, lululemon shorts, clearly out for a run. Bruises were visible on legs. Her head rested at an off angle as she lay on her back. Fly’s danced around her as each of gets hit with shock. It’s hard to describe the feeling of unexpectedly coming across a dead body. We all left quickly, and without verbal consensus, made our way back to our backpacks hidden in the rocks back where we started. A slow and steady rhythm that brought us heavily to our starting point where Sean made the call to 911. Another friend and myself waited at the entrance of where we hopped over the wall and waited for emergency services. People walked by and some stopped to ask us questions as we were wet from water. They were curious as to where we went swimming and how we made it down to the water. These people were in a different world. Unaware that we had come across a dead body only 20 odd minutes ago. Later once we met up with the cops we had to help direct them into find the body. The spot isn’t easy to get to and we all thought she had to have fallen from the canyon walls above. We were allowed to leave only once we had given statements and once emergency services had confirmed the location of the body. How can you describe the feeling of coming across a dead body? I’m not sure. Only that it comes with a heavy dose of perspective and an intimate influence over the heart. We’re all mortal; but I often forget that. One day my day will come when I fall into the void. This day will also come for my friends, family, colleagues, and pets. I can only imagine how hard it would be to lose any of these unexpectedly. To be playfully exploring an area and to come across them strewn on the rocks. Empty of the pattern and personality that I came to know them by. The thought is sad. However, it comes with warmth. There is warmth in knowing that the people in my life are alive and well. There is warmth in the love I share with them and my ability to share with each of them openingly. There is the warmth of motivation to live a fulfilling life. To laugh. I’m reminded of some saying, paraphrased now here, that “all of life is the preparation of death.” We are born to die. The goal is to live all the way up until that unknown moment. Live a good life and be a better person than who that person was yesterday. So, with that being said I would like to express gratitude and appreciation to those in my life. My parents (Margot and Roger Gagne). My sisters (Erin and Jessica). My extended family (to many to name). My partner, Brooklyn. My friends (Kevin, Shaun, Tiana, Nathan, Ian, Batu, Abrar, Viktoria, Shelby, Camilla, Janelle, Mike, Tasha, Gavin, Alison, Josi, Erik, Kolton, Kyle, Hayden, Scott, Alex, Michael, Tiara, and countless others). My colleagues (Ehren, Dana, Mark, Tim, Dan, Laura, Shaun, Waleed, and Kris) |
AuthorRobin Roger Gagne is a freelance writer, web designer, and SEO wizard. Archives
August 2021
Categories |
Proudly powered by Weebly