Day 5 - 306 -- Effecting Change Together

Rather than prattling on about what housework I did or didn't do today, let me tell you about my outing last night. I went to a celebration of the 90th year of the university extension department and what they call the 100th year of the Antigonish Movement. The latter began with Father Moses Coady and later joined by Father Jimmy Tomkins. The celebrations involved a one-night only staging of the play, Tomkinsville. It has played on campus in the past and has been touring the province and other parts of the country since 2015. The complex story was told through a handful of characters and five actors. The playwright provided the narration, which was done through song. The minimalist staging helped focus the story on the people. The play told the story of coal miners in Reserve Mines on Cape Breton island. As with many mining situations of the early 20th century, wages were precarious with housing and the only store also owned by the company -- leaving the miners and their families in a state of perpetual poverty and both mental and physical abuse. Never getting out from under their debt seemed the only way to live life. Father Jimmy Tompkins arrived in town and set the place spinning. He started a community library and proposed working as a unit rather than individual households. When vegetables were too expensive, he suggested starting gardening plots, selling diocese land for the venture. From this, a local cooperative food store was opened by the townsfolk, which left less profit for the company. Rents were increased to make up the difference. Here the major community development change occurred. They formed a credit union, incorporated to apply for a loan and built their own homes -- each personalized to family size and wants. In the 1930s, they were highlighted around the world as a cooperative community housing endeavor. Mary Arnold from New York City provided her experience in cooperative housing to the project. Things did not go smoothly, but they did result in homes that still stand today, though the mine has long past closed.

The play showed the benefit of pulling together to improve situations rather than pulling apart. Similar projects have continued over the years. Even in the past 20 years that I've lived in the province, I've been part of community gardens, and have seen successes in affordable housing and strengthening local food security. Our local library is called the People's Place and serves as a community centre complete with community garden instead of only flower beds around the building. The legacy of Coady and Tompkins (who were cousins) lives on in this town and the university. Many other communities globally have benefited from this philosophy through partnerships with educators here, youth internships overseas, and certificate and diploma programs at the Coady International Institute on campus. Collaboration as the road forward allows each to take control of their own destiny (paraphrasing Father Coady).

The song for today may sound a bit out there, but the lyrics speak to supporting each other as teams. Enjoy!

Team -- Lorde