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Harold Verge
Finalist
Nova Scotia Community Economic Development Award
for Outstanding Achievement

November 26, 1998

Harold Verge's friends, colleagues and students often refer to him as the grandfather of community economic development (CED) in Nova Scotia. Harold has been it for nearly 35 years. And he's seen it work.

"I have long been convinced of the importance of recognizing the connection between social and economic conditions in a region," he says. "I've applied that principle to my work many times," he adds.

Harold applied this conviction to his work on Halifax's Encounter on Urban Development in 1969, before he created Bridgewater's development plan in the 1970's. Working with a multi disciplinary team over a year and a half, they put together a comprehensive, 15 year development plan for Prince Edward Island, a project that included everything from "power to justice to education to economic development. It was an incredible experience," says Harold.

Back in Nova Scotia, Harold worked on the concept plan for Sherbrooke Village and the Town of Louisbourg's Redevelopment Plan. He spent 10 years as a member of the Community Development Sector of Nova Scotia Voluntary Planning, a business and citizens advisory group to the provincial government.

Harold was a key player in the development of Nova Scotia's Regional Development Authority system, working both as a consultant and as a volunteer with Community Futures in Cumberland County, and in the establishment of Colchester County's early development organization. Later, he helped to plan the North Shore Economic Development Strategy and worked with the Halifax RDA to develop its five year strategic plan. Mostly recently, he instructed in the Nova Scotia Community College's CED Certificate program.

"Nova Scotians must deal with the critical issues and work together. In many ways they have to be masters of their own destiny," says Harold.

Now retired, he still plays an advisory role to many of Nova Scotia's CED practitioners. Harold Verge is a true pioneer of CED in Nova Scotia.