Innovation
The State of Rural Canada
The State of Rural Canada report provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse challenges and opportunities facing rural, remote, and northern communities across the country. While each region has its unique context, several overarching themes emerge from this fifth version of the report that paint a picture of rural Canada as a complex mosaic of…
Read MoreGetting the most out of B.C.’s challenged wood fibre base
It was in early-2023 when British Columbia Premier David Eby announced the Forest Enterprise Society of B.C. (FESBC) was to receive an additional $50 million in funding for forest enhancement projects in the province. The focus of the funding was to be on creating a higher level of wood utilization for wood fibre and wildfire…
Read MoreVirtual Care on the Front Lines
How Real-Time Virtual Support is helping to save lives and transform healthcare for remote, rural and Indigenous communities across B.C. Dr. Dean Johnston was in his neurology clinic in downtown Vancouver when he received a worrying call from a colleague about a patient more than a thousand kilometres away in Fort Nelson, B.C. “There were…
Read MoreIndigenous Education as the Impetus to Economic Resilience
Originally Written and Posted By Indigenous Prosperity Centre As we navigate the complex landscape of Indigenous procurement and economic development, a question that consistently occupies my thoughts is: What does economic resilience truly mean for Indigenous communities? Community development is at the heart of catalyzing economic resilience; the discussion today is mainly through the lens of…
Read MoreReal-Time Virtual Support
Relational Work Is the Work: Virtual Healthcare Transformation for Rural, Remote, and First Nations Communities in British Columbia The healthcare crisis across unceded First Nations territories in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in British Columbia (BC) is marked by persistent barriers to accessing care and support close to home. This commentary describes an exceptional story…
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…
Read MoreThe Clean Economy – Preventing Plastic Waste and Pollution
The Province continues to take action to support the clean economy by preventing plastic waste and pollution. People will not receive items like cutlery and condiments unless they need them and can expect to see options that support a healthier environment and cleaner economy. “We want to ensure people have the best options available to effectively…
Read MoreThe Rise Of Innovation Districts
A New Geography of Innovation in America Originally posted on Brookings.edu Written by Bruce Katz and Julie Wagner As the United States slowly emerges from the Great Recession, a remarkable shift is occurring in the spatial geography of innovation. For the past 50 years, the landscape of innovation has been dominated by places like Silicon…
Read MoreDigitalization and Housing
Framing Paper for “Bringing Digitalization Home: How Can Technology Address Housing Challenges?” OCTOBER 2022 | DAVID LUBEROFF, CHRISTOPHER E. HERBERT To stimulate these discussions, the Joint Center for Housing Studies, with support from Qualcomm, Inc., commissioned eleven papers by leading researchers familiar with how digitalization is changing (or could change) practices in five key areas:…
Read MoreBuilding Local Food Systems: A Path to Food Sovereignty
In today’s fast-paced, globalized world, the importance of building resilient and sustainable local food systems cannot be overstated. This is particularly crucial in rural, remote, and First Nation communities, where geographical isolation and limited access to mainstream markets often pose significant challenges to food access. However, by embracing the concept of food sovereignty and taking…
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