The News
The latest articles and news relating to rural living...
Real-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…
Historic investment of $83 million in water storage for farmers and ranchers
VICTORIA, B.C. – February 22, 2024: Today, British Columbia’s Finance Minister, the Honourable Katrine Conroy, unveiled the government’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year which included a historic investment of $83 million in water storage…
Agritech 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…
Revitalizing Downtown Hope
Planning for a Resilient Future *originally posted on Etsi-BC News For thousands of people who travel to and from the Lower Mainland, the community of Hope, located at the junction of four major highways, is…
Indigenous food sovereignty is key to resilient farms, gardens and communitie
Communities are working toward food sovereignty one morsel at a time. Meet the experts bringing food to people’s plates and pushing for societal change… Gitxaała farmer Jacob Beaton says his Tea Creek project is more…
The 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…
Trail and Rossland Sign Recreation Agreement for 2024
ROSSLAND – In a move towards continued regional collaboration, the cities of Trail and Rossland have reached a Trail Resident Program (TRP) recreation services agreement for one year that would come into effect January 1, 2024. This…
The Heartbeat of Rural Communities: The Power of Volunteering
In the vast tapestry of our interconnected world, small rural communities often stand out as threads weaving the fabric of resilience and solidarity. Amidst the towering mountains, grasslands, and close-knit communities, the reliance on volunteering…
Not Enough Being Done to Prevent Future Flooding
Living in Merritt is like living on an active volcano, says city manager, as concerns loom over flood risk Residents and municipal officials worry not enough is being done to prevent future flooding Residents of…
The 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…
Framework for Creating a Smart Growth Economic Development Strategy
A Tool for Small Cities and Towns Many small and mid-sized cities around the United States are struggling because their economies were built largely on a single economic sector that has changed significantly. For example,…
Rural Voice Missing from Emergency Task Force
An expert task force on emergencies that will weigh in on revising the province’s emergency legislation lacks representation from the Cariboo Region and rural communities as a whole, say critics. Comprised of 14 experts appointed…
StrongerBC for everyone – Investing in Rural Communities
The B.C. government has released StrongerBC: Good Lives in Strong Communities, a new vision that outlines investments to help build a brighter future for rural communities and the people who call them home. “If you’re…
Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP)
Program Details The Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) is a new grant launched by the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation (JEDI). The Government of B.C. is investing up to $33 million this…
Canoe journey crosses colonial border, upholding syilx sovereignty: ‘this is still our territory’
For the 22nd year in a row, the Sukʷnaqin July 4th Canoe Journey made the trip from nk’mip into the ‘United States’ and back For the 22nd year in a row, syilx Okanagan people took…
BC Doctor Develops National Guide for the Greening of Health Care
The healthcare sector is among the most polluting, contributing 5 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas. A Kimberley-based physician, Dr. Ilona Hale, and a team of health care professionals have produced a new resource,…
Digitalization 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.,…
Keeping It Rural Conference…Thank You
Dear Sponsors, Attendees, and Speakers, On behalf of the BC Rural Centre Society and the Keeping It Rural Conference, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your participation and support. Your presence and contributions made…
HA NII TOKXW: OUR FOOD TABLE
The story of the indigenous Gitanyow people and their struggle to protect their traditional lands and “food table” in the face of climate change, industrialization and colonization in Northern British Columbia. SIGN THE PETITION TO PROTECT THIS SACRED PLACE: https://chng.it/h5rzcPgkXZ Featuring: Dr. David Suzuki Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs www.gitanyowchiefs.com A film by Farhan Umedaly VoVo Productions 2021 @vovoproductions Director’s Statement: Beyond its majestic beauty and nature hidden threats are pushing the delicate ecosystem of the Meziadin Lake watershed to the brink. Ha…
Building 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…
Agricultural Land Reserve Settles Treaty 8 Claims
First Nations will receive approximately 27,000 acres of protected agricultural land in BC’s Peace Region as a result of settlement agreements addressing their land entitlements claims under Treaty 8, signed in 1899. “For more than…
Innovative Approach to Medical Training
A visionary Canadian physician believes three new medical schools opening in Canada will flip the country’s medical training model on its head to focus more on family medicine. “It takes a community to raise a physician,”…
Keeping It Rural 2023
June 1st and 2nd, 2023 in Kelowna, BC at the Hampton Inn We are planning to cover many of the challenges and opportunities facing rural BC right now. From mill closures, and mega-projects to innovation…
20 Years of Fallout in the Forestry Sector
More than 20 years ago, a tiny insect changed B.C.’s forestry future. The fallout is still happening Job losses being seen across the province have been predicted for more than a decade, industry leaders say…