Local Economic Trading System (LETS)
Sunrise Trail Community Development Co-op Project
The North Shore's
LETS Notes
to be re-unleashed!
The story of LETS:
"Local currencies" (which exist in parallel with Federal currency) have been shown to strengthen local economies (by increasing localized commerce) more than twice as much as the federal dollar does.
By using LETS currency, you can help build our local economy.
LETS has existed for almost two decades in the Tatamagouche/Earltown/Pictou/Pugwash region, but up until recently, LETS members exchanged "LETS Dollars" only via checks, member to member. LETS Dollars were pegged to the Loonie, and checks were exchanged between participating regional members and vendors. For example, a LETS member would write a check to member Sugar Moon Farm, for maple syrup; LETS member Sugar Moon Farm would then deposit that check, and later might write a LETS check to pay for services by a local carpenter.
Today, we now have LETS currency ("LETS Notes"), which makes such transactions lots simpler, and doesn't require official membership to participate.
$5, $10, and $25 denominations are available locally (currently in Tatamagouche through David Boise [david@prioritytax.ca]), or through the "roving bankers" who will keep you supplied with local currency: to offer tourists as change, to provide as a souvenir, to use with local vendors. These "roving bankers" will be contacting you, or send a query to sstephen57@gmail.com to get a "banker visit."
Note: LETS is an all-volunteer effort. Expect that level of customer service, please. ;-D
The Story of LETS Notes:
Working with the LETS Notes Committee, River John artist Catherine Hughes created a celebration of the local natural beauty of Nova Scotia's North Shore.
I was riding my bicycle west on the Sunrise Trail, on my way home from the library in the village of River John, when I noticed the beauty of the river going out to the Northumberland Straight, the late winter ice cracked from the force of tidal waters. I realized this view of Kajipukwek could be the basis for a design for the LETS Notes. I drew sections of the scene for each of the three Notes showing the river and estuary, and the land going from the village out to Cape John through the seasons.
The other sides of the Notes display drawings of ostrich ferns on the five, oak trees on the ten, and branches and leaves of sweet fern and bay bushes on the twenty-five. The musical notes represent a chickadee call, with variations. The denomination of each Note is written in Mi'kmaq, French, Gaelic, and English.
