The News
The latest articles and news relating to rural living...
Tech Jobs to Rural Places
Tech jobs — a path toward rural renewal? Nick Roseth explores this question in the following thoughtful TED talk.
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Technology Boosts Rural Life
Is it true that technology boosts rural life? Conventional wisdom has it that the rural economy is in decline due to seismic shifts in the modern economy. Traditional rural industries are shrinking, or are…
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Canal Flats Welcomes New Rural Tech Centre
Canal Flats welcomes new rural tech centre, as highlighted in this article by Kootenay Association of Science & Technology’s Tracey Connery. It’s a new era and the Village of Canal Flats, a small community…
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Investment Co-op Lets You Bank on Your Community
Investment co-ops are coming to the Kootenays, as reported in this recent article by Claire Paradis, appearing in the December 13, 2018 edition of the Valley Voice. If you’re putting your money into GICs,…
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Peter Kenyon to BC?
Peter Kenyon, Australian-based founder of the Bank of I.D.E.A.S and renowned rural development leader, has made a lasting impression on scores of rural BC stakeholders over the past couple of years. BC Rural Centre Executive…
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Deep Roots 2 — the Harrop-Procter Community Forest Story
Of the over 50 community forests in British Columbia, only one — in tiny Harrop-Procter, located on the rugged eastern shore of Kootenay Lake’s West Arm — has its own mill. With its emphasis on…
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Deep Roots 1 — the Harrop-Procter Community Forest story
Harrop-Procter Community Forest, located on the rugged eastern shore of Kootenay Lake’s West Arm, is one of Canada’s most innovative — and intriguing — community forest operations. Harrop-Procter Community Forest’s 11,300 ha community forest tenure comprises…
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BC First Nation turns residential school into resort
A B.C. First Nation near Cranbrook has turned a former residential school into a cultural tourism destination, reports Global News’Aaron McArthur.
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BC Forestry Trade Mission Heads to Asia
More than 40 senior forest sector representatives are heading to Asia from Dec. 5 to 14, 2018, to grow markets for B.C. wood products. They will explore opportunities and strengthen relationships in China, Japan and…
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Looking Back On 2018
Looking back on 2018, we’re proud to have greatly expanded the extent and breadth of our online — and live — efforts to help inform and inspire rural British Columbians and First Nations. We look…
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Agri-Tourism Succeeds in the Central Okanagan!
The Challenge For the past 30 years, the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) has faced challenges common to many agricultural communities, including higher production and land costs. Farmers were forced to supplement farm income with off-farm employment. By 2011,…
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Successful BC Farmers’ Market Farmers
In partnership with the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems, the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets has developed a resource guide to highlight successful farmers’ market farmers, and communicate their best business and operations management practices.…
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Public Participation — a Conversation with Lisa Moilanen
Public participation — without it, democracy simply can’t function. The International Public Participation Association (IAP2) was established in the 1990s to help foster public participation. The organization’s British Columbia chapter partners with other organizations to provide…
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Rural Innovation & Youth Attraction
If rural communities are to survive — let alone prosper — in the 21st century, they need to innovate. And through that innovation, attract a new wave of creative, entrepreneurial Millennials to our small towns…
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Government Takes Action on Abbott/Chapman Report
The Government of BC has released its action plan in response to the government-commissioned, independent Abbott/Chapman report on the unprecedented 2017 wildfire and flood seasons in British Columbia. The plan outlines actions taken and underway,…
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New Community Investment Co-Ops!
Two new BC Interior-based community investment co-ops have recently been formed — the East Kootenay Columbia Investment Co-op, and the West Kootenay Boundary Investment Co-op. Both are for profit Co-operative Association registered in British Columbia. They…
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Youth Exodus to Art Epicentre?
What kind of future should a struggling rural town choose? In the town of Green River, Utah, population 950, a nonprofit called Epicenter aims to use art and architecture to bring youthful new energy, life,…
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Youth Attraction: Rural Challenges, Successes
Introduction We have become a culture of nomads. “Where do you come from?” is a question we now routinely ask one another because we rarely expect the answer to be “here.” Discovering where…
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Kimberley Embraces the Great Outdoors!
Anyone who has visited the South Island New Zealand town of Queenstown knows that building a local economy around outdoor adventure activities can work — and work well — for a small mountain town,…
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For Sale: One Deserted Village Left Behind In Rush To New Zealand’s Cities
Rural de-population is a global issue, as evidenced in this article from New Zealand by reporter Eleanor Ainge Roy. An entire village which has been deserted for three decades is up for sale in New Zealand.…
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Decline of Greyhound Service Mirrors Rural Canada’s Plight
What does the decline of Greyhound service have to say about the current state of affairs in rural Canada generally. Will Doig of The Guardian files this report. It’s 10 to midnight when…
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BC Municipal Election Results 2018
The 2018 local elections are over. Here is a comprehensive listing of all the results, courtesy of CivicInfo BC. https://bc.localelections.ca/results/index_m.html
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Website Expands Public Review of Crown Land-Use Applications
A new government website expands access to information and public engagement on applications for Crown land use in B.C. Applications for Crown land use range from recreational to industrial use. Given that 94% of B.C.’s…
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