Centre for Local Prosperity

By Eleanor Willner-Fraser, NSEN Community Engagement Volunteer

The Centre for Local Prosperity (CLP) is a non-profit organization that works at the intersection of economic localization and climate readiness. Founded in 2014, CLP has a 10-person board of directors, located primarily in Nova Scotia; an 11-person advisory group, located across Atlantic Canada and internationally; and a small team of staff, based throughout Atlantic Canada. The organization works across Atlantic Canada. It’s one of the lead Canadian partners for Project Drawdown, an initiative that identifies solutions to move us toward the steady decline of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

CLP runs conferences and community workshops, organizes discussions, and delivers presentations. Topics can include, among other things, local currency, living wage, transportation, and food and community hubs. CLP helps communities prepare for the climate crisis and regain control of their economy, encouraging practices like import replacement and community land trusts. It works with community groups, businesses, and governments to promote innovative community development initiatives and sustainable business practices.

CLP promotes a New Economic Model that prioritizes localization and treats natural resources as belonging to a commons. The organization aims to shift the economic conversation so that we think about prosperity differently and achieve a better balance between economic development and the preservation and restoration of nature. It engages in education and advocacy work, publishing reports on local economies, sharing stories of local resilience from Atlantic Canada and beyond, and producing films. 

CLP aims to bring together different people and their ideas and experiences, including through hosting retreats about climate change at the Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash. To date, it has held five retreats, with the 2020 event—Pandemic, Climate Crisis, and the Uncertain Future of Local Community—taking place virtually. Participants have included faith and Indigenous leaders and youth.

Visit the Centre for Local Prosperity’s website to learn more about the organization and access their reports. They are also looking for volunteers. You can reach out to info@centreforlocalprosperity.ca for more information. Tasks could include helping plan climate crisis retreats and a fall 2021 world leaders’ summit about climate change and nuclear proliferation or helping support institutions transitioning to local procurement. CLP is also looking for assistance with communications and marketing, including with their website and social media.