An informal Dundas community group is not waiting for the “new normal” to prepare specific local campaigns under three broad issues.

Dundas Works, which has held several community roundtable meetings on a variety of local issues since 2017, added a discussion board on its website to keep momentum going and build interest among residents in developing their own projects.

Jim Sweetman, one of the group’s founding members, said they want Dundas Works to continue despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have added the new “virtual” element in addition to planning more community roundtables when such group gatherings are possible again.

“It’s great to have discussion. We felt it was time for some action,” Sweetman said.

The discussion board is divided into three broad topics – environment, development and democracy – where anyone can register and leave their thoughts, ideas or suggestions.

Sweetman hopes those discussions lead to people finding a project or campaign they will participate in.

He compared the idea to the former Dundas Ontario In Transition group, that worked on a community garden, and Good Food Boxes – both campaigns falling under the general issue of food security.

“I’d hold that up as an example,” Sweetman said.

He also mentioned Dundas Rides, a cycling-focused group that developed out of Dundas Works.

Dundas Works founding member Bob James said the group is starting to talk about what the Valley Town will look like after the pandemic, and what kind of community people want. He hopes the online discussion forum helps develop some solid goals while public activity is at a minimum, so people are prepared for the future.

“Hopefully we hit the ground running, or walking quickly at least,” James said.

Each of the three broad topics has suggested campaign or project ideas to spark some brainstorming, but Sweetman said Dundas Works organizers are not dictating what the campaigns should be. Any campaign groups established will determine their own mission, goals and strategy. Draft mission statements were created by Dundas Works in the three categories as examples, based on input from past roundtables, in hopes of inspiring discussion and action.