Challenges
One challenge that surfaced was a breakdown in communication between community leaders. Several leaders of community initiatives were present and had drastically different views on issues related to housing insecurity in Peace River. This showcased a disconnect between different actors in the community around housing accessibility; some members have identified improving the scale of affordable and accessible housing services provided as a pressing need, while other community members do not feel as though it is an immediate issue.
Another challenge which was discussed is decreased engagement by youth in the community around social initiatives. Several factors contributed to this, with two key factors being increased digital communication limiting in-person engagement, and limited services and opportunities within the relatively small community resulting in individuals leaving for larger cities. This was described as a problem for multiple towns and counties in the area. Limited resources around mental health support were identified specifically. Access to mental health resources can be limited in remote communities, forcing individuals to either leave their community and existing support networks for other communities with better services, or remain within their community with inappropriate.
Another challenge that surfaced was the interplay between municipal, provincial and federal jurisdictions. Tension was felt between all three levels of government, and this has led to challenges in delivering different social programming. Clearer communication means and explanations are required for their success.