About Community Development :: Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission

Who We are

SNBSC, under its Community Development mandate, hosts one of 12 Community Inclusion Networks (CIN) established throughout the province in support of the provincial poverty reduction plan, Overcoming Poverty Together.

With the support of the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation (ESIC), these networks champion poverty reduction and social inclusion in their respective regions through a community development approach. Each network seeks representation from the four sectors: community with lived experience of poverty, non-profit organizations, private sector businesses and government. Each network develops a regional poverty reduction plan through consultation with local communities and then works to fulfill that plan by working with community resources and organizations to develop and deliver programming tailored to local needs.

The Community Inclusion Network (CIN) in our region was hosted and led by Vibrant Communities Charlotte County from 2012-2022, and is now hosted by the Southwest NB Service Commission (SNBSC) as part of the services offered under its Community Development mandate. Poverty reduction, working across sectors, fostering partnerships, building capacity, and leveraging resources have been key aspects of this work throughout.

OUR VISION is for everyone living in Charlotte County to have the opportunities, resources, and security to thrive and actively participate in their community.

Our Strategy

Informing Change: Collecting and sharing knowledge and best practices
Inspiring Change: Building a poverty reduction movement, celebrating successes
Building Capacity for Change: Supporting, connecting, and collaborating to empower community

Timeline 2006 - 2025

2006 - Fundy Community Foundation (FCF) hosts a community dialogue on poverty, involving 75 community members. As a result, the ‘Moving Forward Together’ committee is formed to address poverty related challenges in Charlotte County.
2009 - The Government of New Brunswick (GNB) begins a public engagement process called ‘Bringing The Pieces Together’, to give New Brunswickers the opportunity to become involved in reducing and preventing poverty.
2010 - GNB announces Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan, the Economic and Social Inclusion Act, the creation of the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation (ESIC) and a call for the establishing of 12 Community Inclusion Networks.
2011 - The ‘Moving Forward Together’ committee seeks to establish a Community Inclusion Network (CIN), FCF is chosen as the host organization for region 8 Charlotte County and the Charlotte County Community Inclusion Network (CCCIN) is formed. A community consultation process is initiated in order to develop the first poverty reduction plan for Charlotte County
2012 - CCCIN announces ‘Bridging the Gap: A Poverty Reduction Plan for Charlotte County’ to provide a roadmap for poverty reduction efforts over the next 3 years (2012-2015). Charlotte County Community Inclusion Network is incorporated, later to start using Vibrant Communities Charlotte County (VCCC) as it’s operating name.
2015 - ESIC/GNB announces Overcoming Poverty Together 2, after community consultations. This provides the provincial roadmap for poverty reduction for the next 5 years (2014-2019).
2018 - VCCC further develops a Strategic Plan and Theory of Change, consults then releases the Regional Plan for 2018-2020, and also begins work on a Strategic Plan for Food Security.
2019 - ESIC and CINs begin community consultation process for the next regional and provincial plans.
2020 - ESIC/GNB announces Overcoming Poverty Together 3 (2020-2024).
2021-22 - VCCC develops and releases the Regional Plan for 2021-2023.
2022 - GNB announces the integration of Community Inclusion Networks into Regional Service Commissions as part of local governance reforms across the province. VCCC begins the process of transitioning its work to the Southwest NB Service Commission.
2023 - SNBSC begins the process of strategic planning for the Community Development Mandate. VCCC as a non-profit winds down it’s activities, with some board members providing continuing leadership for the SNBSC Community Development planning.
2024 - ESIC and CINs begin community engagement process for the next regional and provincial plans.
2025 - ESIC/GNB announces Overcoming Poverty Together 4 (2025-2029)