Peter Corey Growing Personally While Helping His Industry Through Public Service
Peter Corey has made a number of contributions to public service and that was certainly a key reason for volunteering for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board a little over a year ago. But personal growth was just as important.
“I thought it would be really personally broadening,” says Corey, who works and lives in Woods Harbour, Shelburne Co., “I like the idea of being involved in things outside my workplace but still relevant to my work. I’ve really enjoyed the experience.”
Corey has helped revitalize small-scale aquaculture in places like Mozambique and the Congo, and he says that experience offers perspective on serving with an agency, board or commission.
“I’ve worked in Africa some and it got me thinking about this: we have a privilege presented to us as non-public servants to contribute directly to government business. It’s almost like the right to vote, and I think we need to act on that.
“It’s of value to us, and the greater process as a whole. Sometimes the frontline knowledge and real-time perspective might not be there in that office.”
While the contribution is substantial, Corey says the time commitment need not be, even in his current role as acting chair. In his case, the loan board meets, generally, every couple of months.
“It’s not terribly cumbersome. When we meet it typically takes a full day, but I think the time is worth it, getting out, getting connected with the broader industry, the issues, policy development and things happening in the background.”
He says rural members of agencies, boards and commissions can also deliver a valuable component and create a more broad conversation for decisions and policy.
“Clearly they bring perspective to the table that you’re not going to find, necessarily among urban representation alone. There’s big value there.”
For more information and current openings, visit http://novascotia.ca/abc . Applicants can submit a cover letter and resume by email, mail or fax.
