The News
The latest articles and news relating to rural living...
Kaslo Jazz Fest 2017 Rocks!
Kaslo Jazz Fest 2017, just ended, the biggest and best ever by all accounts. The Festival was completely sold out. For three days, Kaslo Bay looked more like the south of France than the Kootenays,…
Read More
Latest on the BC Wildfire Situation
According to Vancouver’s News 1130, British Columbia’s wildfire situation is expected to get worse before it gets better. There are currently 125 fires burning across the province, including a “monster fire” at Elephant Hill. Sixteen…
Read More
Newcomer Engagement in Ontario Report
When newcomers and other community residents enjoy mutually beneficial relationships, rural communities are more likely to be healthy. The Rural Ontario Institute recently released a report, Newcomer Engagement and Social Capital in Rural Communities, that…
Read More
Rural Youth Engagement Showcase
In this brief video produced by the Rural Ontario Institute, we’re introduced to Emily Morrison, a young woman working to break the cycle of youth unemployment in rural communities.
Read More
Local Food, the Secret Ingredient for Vibrant Downtowns
Whether you are a foodie or a farmer, local food is something to embrace. In small towns, the local food movement is doing more than putting meals on plates—it is nourishing economies by keeping farms…
Read More
BC’s Wildfire Situation
We are re-posting this article from the BC Government on the province’s current wildfire situation. The latest information on the current wildfire situation in British Columbia, including Wildfires of Note. Wildfires of Note “Wildfires of…
Read More
Doug Donaldson BC’s New Minister Responsible for Rural Development
The new BC Government has named the Honourable Doug Donaldson as Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development. Prior to becoming an MLA, Doug worked for Storytellers’ Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on…
Read More
BC wildfires: calmer weather helping firefighters, but winds expected to return
Number of active fires has dropped below 200 for the 1st time in days This article by Mike Laanela, CBC News was first posted: Jul 12, 2017 8:41 AM PT Last Updated: Jul 12, 2017 2:08 PM PT Smoke…
Read More
How can rural B.C. thrive? Australian expert offers lessons from his country
‘Is a town too small? No. Is a town likely to die? Yes, if they aren’t prepared to adapt’ CBC News Posted: Jun 22, 2017 6:55 PM PT Last Updated: Jun 22, 2017 6:55 PM…
Read More
Peter Kenyon, Founder, The Bank of I.D.E.A.S., delivers an inspirational keynote
Peter Kenyon, renowned Australian rural development expert, delivers an entertaining — and inspirational — keynote at the KEEPING IT RURAL 2017 conference hosted by SIBAC/BC Rural Centre, on June 20 in Kelowna. Click…
Read More
Community Forests Important Says Report
An important report, Community Forests — Community Benefits: The Economic Contributions of Community Forest to Rural Communities, on the significant value of our province’s community forests, was released today. This timely effort is an economic analysis that quantifies the…
Read More
Keeping It Rural 2017 Just Got Even Better!
The old Norwegian proverb, “It’s never so good that it couldn’t be better” is a great way to describe this year’s exciting Keeping It Rural 2017 conference in Kelowna (June 20-21). For two days, rural…
Read More
all that jazz… a conversation with Paul Hinrichs
All those mountains, and all that jazz… For over 25 years, the tiny West Kootenay village of Kaslo has played host to one of the world’s most celebrated outdoor music festivals. USA Today has…
Read More
Old Masset Turns Up the Heat!
Energy/heat in the village of Old Masset on Northern Haida Gwaii, as in many remote BC First Nations and rural BC communities, has always been hugely expensive. On Haida Gwai, hydro is provided by diesel generation,…
Read More
Ants in your pants? Red Ants Pants founder Sarah Calhoun speaks out!
Do you have ants in your pants? Sarah Calhoun does. Or rather Sarah has created a successful clothing business, foundation, and music festival, all under the catchy title of Red Ants Pants. Sarah has…
Read More
Book it! Literature lives large on the Sunshine Coast
Literature is a big deal on BC’s Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, now in its 34th year, is the longest-running writer’s festival in the country. It celebrates Canadian writers…
Read More
Culture & rural development — how culture revitalized New York Mills, Minnesota
Culture & rural development — are they, or should they be, linked? Zachary Mannheimer, founder of the Des Moines Social Club, VP of Creative Placemaking for Iowa Business Growth, who has led numerous revitalization efforts…
Read More
John Davis to speak at Keeping It Rural 2017
We’re excited to report that John Davis, executive director of Minnesota’s Lanesboro Arts organization, will be speaking at the Keeping It Rural 2017 conference in Kelowna, June 20-21. John is internationally recognized for his success in using culture…
Read More
Keeping It Rural 2017 funding support from CBT
We’re pleased to announce that Columbia Basin Trust plans to help up to 20 Basin-based residents attend this year’s Keeping It Rural conference (June 20-21 in Kelowna), by offering up to $1,000 each to offset…
Read More
Paul Muir on the arts & small rural communities
For many small remote rural communities, the key to renewal and revitalization may well lie in the pent-up creativity of local residents. Culture, even if it starts out small, as it did in tiny (population…
Read More
Peter Kenyon to speak at Keeping It Rural 2017
We’re delighted that internationally recognized rural development leader Peter Kenyon will be joining us at this year’s Keeping It Rural conference, in Kelowna (June 20-21). A community enthusiast and social entrepreneur, Peter has worked with…
Read More
Funding success for a Slocan micro-hydro project
Funding success for a Slocan micro-hydro project, recently announced, demonstrates that consensus-based vision, with a large measure of determination, can make all the difference when it comes to making big things happen in small…
Read More
SIBAC announces upcoming Keeping It Rural 2017 conference
In the wake of 2015’s highly successful Keeping It Rural conference, SIBAC is pleased to announce that Keeping It Rural 2017 will take place this June 20th and 21st in Kelowna. As with the…
Read More
Community forum on investing in clean energy coming to Nelson
A community forum on investing in clean energy coming to Nelson. Ever wonder how small towns manage to find the funds needed to kickstart innovative new ventures? Are you concerned about the West Kootenay’s environmental…
Read More