SAINT JOHN - An idea that had its origins in Saint John will be planted in Halifax later this week.
On Thursday Fusion Halifax will hold its first meeting, based on the model created here and then adopted in Bangor, Me., before travelling to Nova Scotia.
Fusion's mandate is to connect, engage and inspire people aged 20 to 40, unleash networking and volunteer opportunities and create a stronger sense of community.
"We're extremely excited to see Fusion launch in other cities of our region," said Kate Barnett, chairwoman of Fusion Saint John Inc., which began in 2004. "It's clear the Halifax team has enthusiasm, fresh ideas and passion for their city and we look forward to working with them further."
Last spring, Halifax resident Peter Moorhouse heard about the work the Saint John group was doing to encourage city council to implement an urban planning strategy and came to see what was going on, said Barnett.
"Within about a couple of weeks we were on conference calls talking about how they were going to execute this," she said.
Fusion Halifax will feature learning, lobbying and networking opportunities for Gen X, Y and millenials in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) with committees being formed on such current issues as sustainability, urban design and community engagement.
Included in the programs will be regular social networking opportunities and an ambassador program that will act as a retention and recruitment vehicle for both Fusion and the community as a whole.
"Fusion Halifax has been created for young people by young people and is meant to be a catalyst for networking and change in this community," said Moorhouse, Fusion Halifax's chairman. "We have such a diverse community and the time has come for the next generation to really get organized and make a difference."
The Halifax launch will begin with a late-afternoon networking event at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic on Lower Water Street. The launch, which sold out in 48 hours, will feature Danny Graham, leader of the Liberal party of Nova Scotia from 2002 to 2004, as the guest speaker and offer opportunities for attendees to network and learn about upcoming activities.
"People feel like they are a true part of the community when they are engaged and contributing," Moorhouse said. "Our new membership has told us that Fusion Halifax is needed now to attract and retain the next generation in our city. We look forward to seeing this group grow and thrive in HRM."
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