Project Services
NEXUS Coastal is comprised of a team with knowledge in a range of study areas, which allows NEXUS to provide clients services in a wide variety of project areas. NEXUS Coastal provides clients high quality services with real, effective and verifiable results. NEXUS has provided clients services in the following areas:
▪ Environmental, Science and Ocean Related Expertise
NEXUS Coastal builds upon 25 years of project development, negotiation and administration experience in Canada, and internationally, in coastal resource planning, development and management. NEXUS has been involved in projects, which have ranged from the development of a Marine Science education and research programs in Canada and the Caribbean, to coastal resource mapping programs throughout Atlantic Canada. NEXUS provides technical and advisory support as well as facilitation services to governments, communities and industry so that they may cooperatively meet their mutual objectives for sustainable management of coastal resources.
▪ Policy Research, Development and Evaluation
The NEXUS team understands the significant role sound policies have in effective resource and environmental management within the Canadian economy. Policy includes the process of making choices and the outcomes or actions of particular decisions and, at its very core, policy is a response to a perceived problem. NEXUS has collaborated on policy review and planning at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. NEXUS believes that policy evaluation is a key measure that supports accountability, informs decisions on allocation of resources, assists senior management in managing for results, and supports improvements to policies through the development of best practices.
▪ Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Review
NEXUS Coastal has environmental assessment and regulatory review experience. Environmental assessments are designed to assess the possible positive and negative environmental impacts associated with a proposed project, consisting of environmental, social and economic aspects. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project.
▪ Community Facilitation and Engagement
NEXUS Coastal has provided facilitation and community engagement services in both organizational and community settings. NEXUS helps participants engage in constructive dialogue, with the goal of finding practical, synergistic agreements. The NEXUS Team’s project experience and educational background allows for a deeper understanding of the issues associated with a project, the challenges and the opportunities to be identified and mitigated or enhanced. The NEXUS approach to overcoming these issues helps break down barriers and build relationships between the project proponent and communities. The foundation of the NEXUS Approach is the belief that meaningful engagement is critically important for building opportunities for focused, open-ended conversation on the issues at hand. NEXUS has built a strong reputation for developing effective community engagement strategies.
▪ Aboriginal and Youth Engagement
The NEXUS Team understands the significance of, and the need to protect Canada’s diverse Indigenous cultures. NEXUS is committed to the recognition and protection of Aboriginal Rights for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in Canada. NEXUS Coastal has worked with many Indigenous communities across Canada on projects that worked to increase representation in resource management, strengthen community resource management capacity, increase cultural awareness and promote active participation in economic and political settings. NEXUS Coastal understands the importance of culture, language, self-determination and self-government to Indigenous people.
NEXUS has extensive experience completing Indigenous Knowledge Studies throughout Canada, including gathering information for multiple Mi’kmaq Ecological Knowledge Studies in Nova Scotia and an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit study in Nunavut.
Managed and implemented a community-based coastal mapping program for the Bras d’Or Lakes region of Cape Breton. This project involved organizing field data collection activities, designing information presentations systems (including GIS), and conducting community workshops throughout the Bras d’Or Lakes region.
▪ Meeting Planning and Coordination
The NEXUS Team has extensive experience in planning and coordinating meeting for diverse clients. We have the expert capacity to supervise and coordinate the strategic operational and logistical activities associated with the production of meetings for corporations, communities, associations, governments and other organizations.
Organized and facilitated multiple local, regional and international conferences for coastal communities and First Nations on a range of topics including fisheries management, harvester training and research. Also, organized and facilitated an international conference on First Nations Fisheries Management: Making Treaties Work.
The First Nations Training conference brought together all Mi’kmaq and Maliseet First Nations to establish a common training plan based on specific community needs. A coordinated Fisher mentorship program was developed and implemented as a product of this conference.
▪ Technical Writing, Research and Evaluation
The NEXUS Coastal Team is comprised of a multi-disciplinary group of educated professionals. Sound technical writing is essential to effective communications across a wide range of disciplines. NEXUS Coastal has experience preparing clear, concise well-written reports, proposals and other related documents for our clients, which communicates technical information to their target audience. NEXUS Coastal has designed, written and edited documents for communities, industry and government organizations. These have included, but are not limited to, technical reports, brochures, proposals, and educational materials. NEXUS has completed research on traditional knowledge systems, undertaking Traditional Knowledge studies, and completed natural resource management plans for clients.
