The News
The latest articles and news relating to rural living...
Affordable Home Ownership Expert Coming to Kelowna
The BC Rural Centre invites you to a free public lecture featuring Lisa Byers, Executive Director of the OPAL (“Of People And Land”) Community Land Trust on Orcas Island, Washington State. Lisa will discuss how…
Saving Rural Communities
Saving rural communities — what are the obstacles and the opportunities facing rural towns and regions today? In this thought-provoking video produced by NET and Harvest Public Media, Brian Depew, Executive Director, Center for Rural…
How Wells-Barkerville Saved Its School
While many rural communities in BC have fought for their schools over the years, it’s doubtful any community has fought more fiercely than the citizens of the tiny town of Wells (population around 220),…
Rural Schools — Successes & Challenges
Rural schools — it’s difficult to imagine a thriving rural community without one. Yet across the rural landscape, declining populations led by an outflow of young people to the cities threaten the existence of many…
Rural Schools, Why They Close & How They Can Be Saved
In this BC Rural Centre report, we look at why rural schools close, and highlight experiences drawn from rural BC communities as well as elsewhere in Canada where rural schools have been saved. See…
Haida Gwaii homes to get high-speed fibre optic internet
A $4.9-million project will connect hundreds more Haida Gwaii homes to affordable high-speed internet, reports Andrew Hudson of the Haida Gwai Observer. Thanks to funding announced Tuesday by the Canadian and B.C. governments as well…
Affordable Housing in Rural Communities
Affordable housing is a pressing issue in many small rural communities, this webinar features Lisa Byers, Executive Director of OPAL (“Of People And Land”) Community Land Trust on Washing State’s Orcas Island. Providing affordable housing…
Escape the City! A Quick Video May Change Your Life!
Tired of the urban rat race? Wish you could afford your own home? Want to walk to work? Wish you had access to world class skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and climbing? Like the idea…
Affordable Rural Housing: OPAL’s April’s Grove, San Juan Islands
Affordable rural housing — providing it is a challenge across North America. An organization located just south of BC’s Gulf Islands has shown it’s a challenge that can be met. From a small group of…
Affordable Rural Housing & Community Land Trusts
Affordable rural housing is an issue in many small, remote communities. Community Land Trusts can be an effective approach to tackling this challenge, providing affordable, appropriate housing for rural residents unable to crack the…
BC Rural Centre’s Recommendations for Rural Development
What kind of provincial policies and tools would help us with rural development in BC? This is an issue the BC Rural Centre/SIBAC has spent a lot of time and effort researching. We have developed…
Escape the City Contest — Win a Weekend in Alpine Nirvana!
Tired of the urban rat race? Wish you could afford your own home? Want to walk to work? Wish you had access to world class skiing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and climbing? Like the idea…
Contest aims to lure city folk to small-town B.C.
Contest aims to lure city folk… The BC Rural Centre’s Escape the City contest is beginning to create some significant media buzz, witness this CBC blogpost with nearly 1,000 shares & over 40 comments…
Escape the City!
Escape the City — that’s a concept that’s likely to become increasingly common as our major centres become increasing crowded — and expensive. Life in a major urban area isn’t always all it’s cracked…
Webinar — BC Farming’s Future!
BC farming’s future is the subject of an upcoming BC Rural Centre webinar, Tuesday, February 27, at 11AM Pacific, featuring Heather Pritchard of the Foodlands Cooperative of BC. Join us to listen, learn, and pose…
B.C. Government Invites Rural Strategy Suggestions
If you’re concerned about the future of rural B.C.’s communities and First Nations, you’ll be interested in the following invitation from B.C. Government to share your ideas and suggestions. Note that the deadline for submissions…
Cape Breton Business Offers ‘Land for Jobs’
Angela Antle is a producer who works from St. John’s and is the host of Atlantic Voice, a Sunday morning documentary program on CBC Radio. In the following blogpost and podcast, Angela describes one Cape…
Farmers Have a Future — Lindsey Shute
Farmers have a future. At least according to Lindsey Lusher Shute, Executive Director and co-founder of the National Young Farmers’ Coalition, (NYFC) a membership-based organization dedicated to the success of the next generation of…
BC’s FoodLands Cooperative Launches
FarmFolk CityFolk’s Foodlands Trust Project has been approved by the BC government. We are officially the Foodlands Cooperative of BC. Its founding members — FarmFolk CityFolk Society, Vancity Community Foundation, Fraser Common Farm Cooperative,…
Rosebud, AB Shows the Arts Can Transform a Small Town
Rosebud, AB is tiny (fewer than 100 citizens) but mighty — at least when it comes to using the arts as an effective means of economic transformation. Every year upwards of 40,000 patrons flock to…
Community Investment Sessions Coming to Southern Interior Communities
Community investment is the process of connecting local investors to local investment opportunities. While the demand for investing locally is increasing, traditional options available to investors limit where they can invest. The result is that…
BC Rural Centre’s Recommendations for Rural Development
What kind of provincial policies and tools would help us with rural development in BC? This is an issue the BC Rural Centre/SIBAC has spent a lot of time and effort researching. We have developed…
Community Impact Investing – Putting Your Money Where Your Life Is!
Community impact investing? In today’s interconnected world, it’s easy to see how your hard-earned money can end up going toward projects and businesses all around the world. In 2013, British Columbians contributed $4.5 billion of new…