I guess we're kind of an ambitious bunch at the Agenda. We tried out two big projects this year - going on the road, and holding "unconferences" where the attendees are counted on to provide all the ideas for discussion and then present them. And then we decided to do both at the same time.

The "camp" model, the folks we hired to facilitate the process for us say, has worked well in large urban centres. Still, we decided to heck with it and we'd move from Ontario's metropolis to smaller centres. I was first among critics. "It cannot be done!" I said again and again and again.

But I was wrong.

Today we held our first "Agenda Camp" in Windsor.  We had a disparate group of participants: manufacturing workers, former manufacturing workers who had been laid off, students, small business owners and Halloween enthusiasts (seriously - one discussion was about how to make Windsor the Halloween capital of Canada).

We had a variety of takes on what the future of Windsor should be, and the future of all manufacturing centres. Some had specific solutions - a move to developing green technology was a popular suggestion (somewhere, the ghost of Stephane Dion howls "WHERE WERE YOU A WEEK AGO?"). One student led a discussion asking why he should stick around in Windsor after he graduates. That student wants to. It was fascinating.

There were great discussions on the unions. Many people associated with the unions wanted to know what they could do to shake the reputation of being a large portion of the problems facing the manufacturing industry. They were sincere and nuanced discussions. Many participants, our own Steve Paikin included, commented on how strangely touching many of these discussions were.

I'm heading off for dinner now, and many of the AgendaCamp participants are still hanging around, having drinks and continuing the discussion. It may seem like a pitch, but today's events were really something to see. If you can make it to one of the four remaining AgendaCamps you should make the effort to check it out. It's kind of surprising how rewarding the experience is.