BC rural development
Rural Seniors Summit on Long-Term Care (Video)
The BC Rural Centre is pleased to share the recording of the Rural Seniors Summit on Long-Term Care, held on September 25 at the Kaslo Golf Club. This community conversation brought together local speakers and community members to discuss seniors’ advocacy, aging and the future of long-term care in rural communities. The summit featured: Dan…
Read MoreRural Voices: Why Regional Economic Development Can’t Just Be a Metro-Centric Afterthought
The recent commentary in the Times Colonist, “Regional economic development matters now more than ever,” strikes a chord that often vibrates differently depending on whether you’re sitting in a boardroom in downtown Victoria or a community hall in the North Peace or the Kootenays. For those of us living in BC’s rural and remote regions,…
Read MoreWhat Canada’s Rural Development Action Plan Consultation Means for Rural British Columbia
The federal government’s recent summary of themes from the Rural Development Action Plan consultation outlines priorities that align closely with many of the challenges and opportunities facing rural British Columbia. Housing, broadband, local economies, health and childcare, climate resilience, Indigenous-led development, and streamlined, place-based funding emerged as top themes, and each presents actionable opportunities for…
Read MoreUnlocking Rural Resilience: How Collective Ownership is Shaping Our Energy Future
At the BC Rural Centre, we are always looking for innovative ways to help our communities thrive in a changing climate. Recently, we had the privilege of being invited to participate in a pivotal research project led by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). This collaboration focused on a critical question for rural B.C.:…
Read MoreThe Forest Will Burn
In Canada, forests burn regardless of human presence. In the face of climate changing, natural cycles of forest wildfires are being affected in ways we don’t yet understand. We must therefore prepare our communities as best we can through improved forest management techniques. Besides, utilizing the byproducts from sustainable and responsible forest management techniques –…
Read MoreNew Draft Guidance Released for Rural Initiatives in British Columbia
The BC Public Service has released draft guidance to help ensure government policies, programs, and services are responsive to the needs of rural communities. This guidance introduces a consistent approach for assessing the impact of proposed measures on rural areas, considering factors like population size, remoteness, and access to transportation. Key Changes and Initiatives: Rural…
Read MoreBuilding Climate-Resilient Rural Communities
CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT Scientific evidence shows that our climate is warming. Global average surface temperatures have risen by 0.9°C in the last 100 years, which can be attributed to increases in human driven greenhouse gas emissions (for example, by burning fossil fuels). This rise in temperature has been accompanied by observed increases…
Read MoreThe SEED Model for Sustainable Economic Development in Small Rural Towns via Outdoor Recreation
Abstract Rural small towns continue to face serious challenges, including population decline, high poverty levels, and insufficient infrastructure, among others. The sustainable ecosystem economic development (SEED) model provides a framework for remote rural communities to work collaboratively with government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits facilitated by project champions to develop and maintain healthy, sustainable economies. While…
Read MoreSupporting Rural and Remote Economies: What Canada Must Do Now
Rural, remote, and northern regions are important and should be supported, not just because of their economic contributions (they contribute to over a quarter of Canada’s GDP) but because people in all parts of Canada should have similar levels of well-being. This is fundamental to our nation’s territorial cohesion. Accordingly, there is a lot of…
Read MoreAgritech in BC receives $2 million investment
13 new projects will address challenges that affect food security in BC By: Eden Chipperfield, News Writer Agricultural innovation is taking root in British Columbia as 13 new projects to address food production challenges were announced at the Pacific Agriculture Show on January 26. Agritech — shorthand for agriculture technology — is the industry focus on innovations and advancements to promote…
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